The impact of the dream on mental health functioning in the male midlife transition

In the area of adult development, Levinson's notion of the personal Dream is important in understanding the male midlife transition. Levinson suggests that during this period in the life cycle the status of the Dream becomes a prominent issue, as men become increasingly aware of the limits of their achievements. Sixty-four midlife men filled out questionnaires examining whether they had a Dream, and whether they experienced or anticipated experiencing success or failure of that Dream. The Beck Depression Inventory, the IPAT Anxiety Scale, and the Purpose-In-Life Test were included to assess the mental health status of the respondents. The results support the conclusion that whether a man has a Dream, and the degree to which he experiences success in achieving it are significantly related to his mental health status (i.e., depression, anxiety, and purpose-in-life) during the midlife transition.