In cross-cultural research on self-concept and personality on adults ranging in age from the late teens into the seventies, what three qualities increased from early to middle adulthood? What do these findings indicate?

What will be an ideal response?

In cross-cultural research on self-concept and personality on adults ranging in age from the late teens into the seventies, and in cultures as distinct as the United States and Japan, three qualities increased from early to middle adulthood:
- Self-acceptance: More than young adults, middle-aged people acknowledged and accepted both their good and bad qualities and felt positively about themselves and life.
- Autonomy: Middle-aged adults saw themselves as less concerned about others' expectations and evaluations and more concerned with following self-chosen standards.
- Environmental mastery: Middle-aged people saw themselves as capable of managing a complex array of tasks easily and effectively.
These findings indicate that midlife is generally a time of increased comfort with the self, independence, assertiveness, commitment to personal values, and life satisfaction. Perhaps because of this rise in overall psychological well-being, middle age is sometimes referred to as "the prime of life."