Life Stages

Life stages describe the major phases people move through as they grow, each with its own physical, emotional, and social changes. They typically include childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and older age, with each stage shaping identity, relationships, and responsibilities. Understanding these stages helps us recognise how needs and experiences evolve across a lifetime.

Basic Life Stages:

1. Prenatal Stage (Conception to Birth)

Focus on physical development, maternal wellbeing, and early foundations for attachment.

2. Infancy (0–2 years)

Attachment, trust, sensory development, emotional expression.

3. Early Childhood (3–6 years)

Identity, imagination, emotional regulation, social learning.

4. Middle Childhood (7–12 years)

Competence, friendships, learning, self-esteem, resilience.

5. Adolescence (13–18 years)

Identity formation, autonomy, emotional intensity, belonging.

6. Emerging Adulthood (18–25 years)

Exploration, independence, life direction, transition stress.

7. Early Adulthood (25–40 years)

Stability, intimacy, career building, financial independence.

8. Midlife (40–65 years)

Contribution, reflection, reinvention, health maintenance.

9. Older Adulthood (65+)

Legacy, wisdom, adaptation, connection, purpose.

10. End-of-Life Stage

Closure, acceptance, comfort, emotional and relational support.

Resource Reading:

• Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages A foundational model for understanding identity, development, and life transitions.

• Jean Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory Useful for understanding learning, reasoning, and decision-making in younger athletes.

• Arnett’s Emerging Adulthood Research Highly relevant for 18–25-year-old athletes navigating identity and independence.

Wellbeing & Mental Health

• Beyond Blue (Australia) Clear, accessible psychoeducation on anxiety, depression, and wellbeing.

• Black Dog Institute Evidence-based mental health resources, fact sheets, and training.

• Headspace (National Youth Mental Health Foundation) Excellent for adolescent and emerging adult wellbeing.

Sport-Specific Wellbeing

• AIS Mental Health Referral Network & Guidelines Best-practice frameworks for athlete mental health in Australia.

• International Olympic Committee (IOC) Mental Health in Elite Athletes Toolkit Global gold-standard guidelines for athlete wellbeing.

Trauma, Attachment & Relationships

• Dan Siegel – Interpersonal Neurobiology Useful for understanding emotional regulation and brain development.

• Circle of Security Attachment-based framework relevant for young athletes and parents.

Life Transitions & Identity

• William Bridges – Transition Model Excellent for explaining change, endings, and new beginnings.

• Positive Psychology Centre (UPenn) Strengths, resilience, and wellbeing science.

 Websites / You Tube / TED Talks 

• https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/women-nsw/toolkits-and-resources/perimenopause-and-menopause-toolkit

• Re-Thinking the Stages of Life  - Gregory Skutches  

• What Makes a Good Life (75 yr study) - Robert Waldinger  

• The Secret of Mastering Life’s Biggest Transition - Bruce Feiler