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Counselling Connections Across Australia
A Literature Review

Regarding Men

in Retirement

By IAN PARKIN

SYNOPSIS that a person with good health, enough in service to others and as physical
financial resources and a strong social limitations emerge to discover more
A literature review of factors that may be support network would fare better than and more activities for the mind. He
predictors of whether a person is likely those experiencing a deficiency in any emphasises the shift from doing to being
to succeed in retirement. A successful one of these areas. (see also Palmore, and refers to the scriptures illustrating
retirement would be defined as a person Nowlin and Wong 1985). Despite these how the Christian life is possibly one of
who is well adjusted and has lived for hypotheses Australian statistics indicate graceful ageing.
no less than ten years after leaving paid a rising rate of suicide for males over 70
employment, enjoys reasonable health, years of age (ABS 2008).
is well adjusted mentally and physically ACTIVITY
and engaged in activities of daily life. Success in retirement is not necessarily

Factors that could be predictors might POSSIBLE FACTORS defined by level of activity. Fry (1992)
include financial security, family history, suggests psychological needs of people
religious beliefs, culture, attitude to life, entering old age does not change in the
age at retirement and relational support. PuRPOSE process but most ageing individuals
The research indicates a need for a continue to want an active lifestyle. This
long-term study of this important subject In 2005 a survey of 24 people over 100 may mean replacing work with other
given the possibilities of intervention years of age identified three common stimulating pursuits such as hobbies,
at either a pre-retirement or post themes for this cohort. These were volunteer work or part time employment.
retirement phase of development. lower stress levels, a sense of purpose (Havinghurst, Neugarten and Tobin
in life and resilience in the face of 1968). An energetic and outgoing
adversity (Kralik, Koch and Power, 2005). person could enjoy being active while
INTRODuCTION Tournier (1971) reported evidence of other adults may find satisfaction in
retired patients being bored because maintaining a few highly important roles,
A study in 2000 by Gall and Evans they do not know what to do with their relationships or personally meaningful
found that changes in physical health, retirement. Purcell (1982) contended that projects while withdrawing from others
psychological distress, expected income for all stages of life having a “purpose and still find their life as meaningful.
and pre-retirement income were not is to the soul, like oxygen to the lungs; (Baltes and Cartensen, 2003)
predictors of long-term quality of life an essential ingredient in existence”
when studying a group 6 to 7 years after (Purcell 1982, p28). Sanders (1981)
retirement. An earlier study by Gall, has also suggested that retirement is
Evans and Howard (1997) postulated an opportunity for the soul to engage

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edition 12 november 2020