The midlife crisis is not universal
www.nature.com
Study of thousands of people in rural communities shows that many do not experience a slump in well-being during their forties and fifties.
  • namarupa@lemmy.worldEnglish
    141·
    2 months ago

    That’s because their well-being is not superficially tied to the western fetishization of youth and material wealth.

  • mouserat@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    7·
    2 months ago

    Maybe because they are not constantly facing stupid advertisements telling them their worth depends on a youthful appearance; they are probably in good shape due to healthy diets and physical activity; they do not face the same pressure to perform by capitalism when their age starts to impact their abilities, though that probably happens at a higher age compared to us because of their shape; and they probably don’t know FOMO and don’t think about what could and what couldn’t be achieved in the years left, highlighted by companies who want to sell you stuff or vacations or services, if you are surrounded by ads all the time. Ads can be disastrous to mental health if you are receptive. Simple wellbeing is not a thing if it doesn’t cost you money, happiness is tight to consumption.

    • bran_buckler@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      2 months ago

      I thought the same. I wonder, if there has been a shift, if it’s related to a general trend of starting families later in life, too. Does it hit as their kids grow up and become independent?

      • HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com
        1·
        2 months ago

        I swear there was an episode of an old show like one day at a time or something where it talked about someone having a midlife crises and they said. that can’t be im only 35 and they were like most people live to seventy something so that is midlife.

      • Kyrgizion@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        2 months ago

        I can’t speak for anyone else but at 40 I’m very keenly aware that I’m halfway or over it already.

  • ynazuma@lemmy.worldEnglish
    35·
    2 months ago

    I’ll take an industrialized society over an agrarian almost hunter-gatherer society anyday, even with a mid-life crisis

    Romanticizing a society without antibiotics and modern healthcare, with a life expectancy of 40 is the height of stupidity

    • acockworkorange@mander.xyzEnglish
      101·
      2 months ago
      1. Their life expectancy is around 70.
      2. Who’s romanticizing? The study says that mid life crisis isn’t a biological imperative. Therefore, there is a way to avoid it.
      3. False dichotomy. It’s not an either-or scenario. We can build more options. Several, actually.