Abstract
M.A.
The mid-life transition is the focus of this research. It is an in-depth qualitative study based on
a small sample of women between forty to sixty years of age. The research also examines the
significance of the story medium as a means of generating psychological data concerning the
experience of the mid-life transition. This data was analysed using grounded theory
methodology. The results suggest that there is a merging of the cognitive and affective
functions during the mid-life transition causing disequilibrium and the shifting of elements
within the psychic structure. The data further suggest that mid-life is a meaning generating
process at two levels. There is a clarification of goals, values and life direction. At a deeper
level there is a search for an inner purposiveness or soul centredness. Themes centred around
questions of identity and relationship. Identity issues surfaced with regard to appearance,
roles, future and the death/rebirth motif Relationship issues concerned relationship to
marriage, motherhood, work and money. Ultimately, at mid-life, there is an inner search for
soul purposiveness.