Because it is a chronic process that includes the proliferation of multiple stressors, chronic illness can lead to significant psychological distress. Within the framework of a stress proliferation model, chronic illness is a significant predictor of such distress. The 1996 National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) was utilized for this secondary analysis. There were 4242 adult respondents surveyed by phone on physical health, midlife development, and social support. Chronic illness was reported by 2095 (71%) respondents. Chronic illness, mediated by ...