Candy Crush and the Middle-Aged Mind: Why Moms Love Their Sweet Escape

Have you ever wondered why your mum, aunt, or other middle-aged women seem so engrossed with Candy Crush? This seemingly quirky habit may be more than just a pastime; it may be indicative of the fascinating changes in cognitive and physical development that occur during middle adulthood. 

In conversation with Mrs. D, a 53-year-old mother of two, when asked about how her body has changed since entering the phase of middle adulthood, she described thinning and whitening of hair and an increase in weight as compared to early adulthood. These changes are typical of this age group as hair follicles stop producing as much hair, melanin production decreases (Martin, 2014), and hormonal and chemical changes can lead to weight gain. We also see the occurrence of wrinkled, sagging skin with dark spots that can be caused by loss of an underlying layer of fat and sun exposure (Moskowitz, 2014). Apart from these things that we can see for ourselves, a lot goes on behind the scenes that may be contributing to the obsession with this game.

There are a few significant biological milestones that are expected of women during this developmental period- menopause being perhaps the most notable of all. At around 50 years of age, a decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels brings about symptoms such as, in Mrs. D's experience, hot flashes, irritability, and weight gain (Madden et al., 2010). The drop in estrogen is also characterized by a drop in dopamine reuptake by our brain (Yoest et al., 2014), which could be one of the reasons why a game like Candy Crush, providing instant gratification after every win and causes dopamine rushes, may be especially addictive to this age group. Achieving goals and progressing through levels can provide a sense of accomplishment and a source of reward outside of traditional roles. 

Mrs. D mentioned having been prescribed reading glasses for presbyopia recently- a change that is common for most middle-aged adults, where weakening elasticity of the lens makes it harder for the eye to focus on objects nearby. Do the colorful and differently shaped candy of this popular game perhaps then become easier to distinguish than the words of a Times of India article or the blocks of a sudoku puzzle?

Through the years, Mrs. D also noticed a significant shift in her stamina levels- she no longer had the same amount of energy as in her younger days and experienced joint pains in areas like her knees and hips that she didn't before. Metabolism can slow down by up to a third during middle adulthood (Berger et al., 2005), implying that muscles may reduce in their capacity to repair themselves, and the body slows down the rate at which food can be metabolized to energy. This may make it harder to find or continue more active habits, causing a shift towards the convenience of mobile games. 

Between looking after her children and taking care of her in-laws, Mrs. D often felt as though the course of her life was dependent on the well-being of her family. Although locus of control is subjective from person to person, many middle-aged women find themselves in a similar scenario which may lead to a deficit in control beliefs in the midst of a hectic lifestyle. Candy Crush can thus be seen as an outlet for stress relief, cognitive load management and even just physical relaxation.

What if our mums aren't just playing Candy Crush for fun- it may just be a perfect match for their cognitive, biological, and physical stages of development! By engaging in strategic gameplay, they sharpen their minds, manage stress, and maintain fine motor skills. The social and emotional benefits further enhance their overall well-being, making Candy Crush not just a game, but a tool for healthy aging. So next time you see a middle-aged woman matching candies, know that she’s not just playing; she’s thriving.

References

Berger, K. S., Rainey, R. R., & Saxon, J. L. (2005). Test Bank to Accompany Kathleen Stassen Berger, the Developing Person Through the Life Span. Worth Publishers.

E Yoest, K., A Cummings, J., & B Becker, J. (2014). Estradiol, dopamine and motivation. Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry-Central Nervous System Agents), 14(2), 83-89.

Madden, S., St Pierre-Hansen, N., Kelly, L., Cromarty, H., Linkewich, B., & Payne, L. (2010). First nations women’s knowledge of menopause: Experiences and perspectives. Canadian Family Physician, 56(9), e331-e337..

Martin, L. J. (2014). Aging changes in hair and nails. US National Library of Medicine.

Moskowitz, R. J. (2014). Wrinkles. US National Library of Medicine.