| Summary: | Researchers have concluded that throughout adulthood, throughout the world, marriage is the single familial relationship most closely linked to personal happiness, health, and companionship. It's no wonder, then, that the majority of middle-aged adults consider their spouse or partner their closest friend. We examine the current research on these intimate relationships and discuss how they adapt and change during the years when many couples become 'empty nesters.' Also, in middle-adult years many men and women feel themselves less tightly bound to traditional gender roles; this phenomenon of gender convergence is identified and its impact discussed. And what does it mean to be in the Sandwich Generation? Viewers will learn about the issues middle adults confront when they must continue to care for their children while at the same time they assume greater responsibility for their aging parents.
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