Transitions,Subjective Age,Wellness, and Life Satisfaction

ABSTRACT

A study of 221 midlife women, 35 to 65 years of age, was conducted to explore the relationships among transitions, subjective age, wellness, and life satisfaction for lesbian (n= 81), bisexual (n =14), and heterosexual women (n= 126). Although the sample of bisexual women was too small to permit valid statistical analyses for this group, it is noteworthy that experiencing physical signs of aging was the most frequently experienced transition by all groups. Entry into a committed relationship was the second most frequently experienced transition by the lesbian participants, and entry into perimenopause was the second most common for heterosexuals. Lesbians whose subjective age was less than or equal to their chronological age reported greater wellness, and total wellness was a significant predictor of their life satisfaction. These findings suggest that all women experience midlife as a time of change and development, and lesbian women face specific challenges that require coping to maintain a sense of well-being during the midlife years.