Midlife couples: Studies with portuguese couples in a systemic perspective

Abstract

In this work we treat the theme of middle-aged couple in a systemic perspective. We start by characterizing the women and men evolutive tasks at that stage of the life cycle, studying in depth the changes in conjugal relationships and also in inter-generational relationships. Starting from data obtained from quantitative and qualitative research with Portuguese couples, we show, through cases studies, a marital typology – traditional, independent and ambivalent – at this stage of the life cycle (Fitzpatrick, 1989; Ribeiro, 2002). In spite of couples diversity and consequently, its singularity – each couple is unique and unrepeatable – it’s possible to find regularities in different forms of living conjugality, namely at middle age.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v19i1/2.398