Although it is only anecdotal, the evidence suggests that the work ethic plays a significant role in providing meaning and purpose in life, thereby eliminating the conditions that contribute to a midlife crisis. People who have a strong work ethic enjoy a zest for living and an enthusiasm for their work that serves to insulate them from psychological stress and depression.

It is estimated that about 15% of our adult population in the Western countries experiences a period of intense depression, self-doubt, and frustration that typically lasts two or three years and usually occurs sometime between the age 35 and 55. This emotional upheaval is described by those who experience it as a midlife crisis and it can be caused by many factors, including aging, romantic disappointments, family problems, health change, and career challenges.

The central thesis of this article is that the work ethic mitigates, if not eliminates, mid-life crisis. This idea first occurred to me in 1975 while studying the work ethic and how the work values of adult employees impact their productivity. I was interviewing workers who had been identified as highly productive workers to learn what they were like and I discovered that they were people with an extraordinary work ethic. These people were described by others in the organization as individuals who loved to work and were highly productive. My interviews focused on their attitudes about work and the developmental experiences that made work such an important component of their lives.

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