Stress and adaptation: Preparation for successful retirement

INTRODUCTION

Retirement has become the major normativeevent of the second half of life (Ekerdt, Vinick,& Bossé, 1989). The variable consequences andthe strategies individuals use to negotiate thisevent are the concern of health professionals.Retirement is no longer just a few years of restfrom the rigours of work before death. It is adevelopmental stage that may occupy 30 years ofone’s life. In 1900, the average man spent 3% ofhis lifetime in retirement. Now the average ismore than 20% (U.S. Senate Special Committeeon Aging, 1985–1986). Individuals are increas-ingly retiring early as the option becomes moreavailable and attractive to the majority of citizens(Ebersole & Hess, 1990).

‘Retirement’ is a term with multiple meanings.Retirement indicates withdrawal from a certainservice and carries innuendoes of passivity anddetachment. Brown (1994) argued that retire-ment ages are socially defined, with retirementages varying tremendously between countries.The average worker in Norway, Denmark andHolland re t i res at 67 years (both men andwomen). In Italy, men retire at 60 years andwomen at 55 years (Brown, 1994). In Australia,it has become common practice for men to retireat 65 years and women at 60 years. In December1990, the New South Wales (NSW) Governmentamended the NSW Anti-discrimination Act1977, so that discrimination on the grounds ofretirement age became unlawful. From January1991, employees in the public sector were ableto work to any age they chose and could not beforced to retire by their employers on the groundsof age. Local government employees werec o v e red by the NSW Anti-discrimination( C o m p u l s o ry Retirement) Amendment Act1990, as it is called, from 1 January 1992 and theprivate sector from 1 January 1993. Other states

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing (1999) 8, 30–38

FE AT U R E ART I C L E O A 1 2 7 E N

Stress and adaptation: Preparation for successful retirement

Ruth Lo and Ron BrownSchool of Nursing and Health Care Practices, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New SouthWales, Australia

ABSTRACT: Retirement from work can present a significant adjustment challengefor the older population financially, socially and emotionally. Retirement has beenidentified as a significantly stressful event. Work provides both a structured activitywithin a regular time frame and a sense of purpose and daily meaning. Energy ischannelled into intellectual, creative, and/or physical tasks that offer a sense of sat-isfaction when they are completed. The planning for retirement is associated withsuccessful adaptation. A realization of the potential and rewards of retirement willalso facilitate this adaptation.

KEY WORDS: adaptation, stress, successful retirement.

Correspondence: Dr Ruth Lo, School of Nursing & HealthCare Practices, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157,Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia. Email: <[email protected]>

Ruth Lo RN, BA, MSc, PhD.Ron Brown RN, RPN, DNE, BEd(N), MEd.Accepted November 1998.

have enacted similar legislation (The SocialSecurity Act, Section 43(1), 1991). From 1 July1995, the age at which women can qualify for agepension will increase incrementally until it is thesame as the male qualifying age. The qualifyingage will be increased by 6 months on 1 July ande v e ry second year there a f t e r, with the finalincrease to age 65 occurring from 1 July 2013.Women qualify when they reach the age speci-fied for their particular age gro u p(Centrelink/Social Security, Commonwealth ofAustralia, 1998).

There are a number of sociological perspec-tives on ageing. Disengagement theory(Cumming & Henry, 1961) operates on the basisof the functional premise that the individual andthe society seek to maintain equilibrium. This canonly occur if there is a progressive loss of socialroles and partnerships with age. This process ofdisengagement is the mechanism by whichsociety enables the replacement of the old by theyoung with minimal disruption to the function-ing of the social system. Disengagement isregarded as a functional necessity because of theinevitability of death, the presumed decline ofabilities in old age, the value placed on youth, andthe need to ensure that roles are efficiently filledand tasks completed. Irrespective of how with-drawal takes place, it is assumed to be mutuallysatisfying to both the individual and societybecause it provides relief from normative oblig-ations for the individual and allows youngermembers of the system to enter functional roles.In this framework, ‘successful’ ageing is achievedby the older person reducing both activity ande ffective involvement, seeking more passiveroles, and becoming progressively more preoc-cupied with the inner life (Aroni & Minichiello,1992).

The worker, regardless of work role, functionswithin a social stru c t u re. Social interactionsoccur; friendships and acquaintances result thatoften expand beyond the workplace. The finan-cial re w a rd, originally the motivating forc ebehind the chosen occupation, is only one facetof work benefits. Persons assume an identity fromtheir choice of care e r. This determines howothers view them and often results in how persons

view themselves. Fewer social interactions androle change may cause the retiree to feel useless,bored and lonely (Hogstel, 1990).

Research suggests that persons who have ahigh commitment to the work role place littlevalue on leisure time. Such people are less likelyto view retirement favourably. People who arem o re likely to succeed with the re t i re m e n tdecision are those who are actively involved inservice organizations and have a positive outlooktoward leisure activities (Hooker & Ventis, 1984).

The present paper examines the complexissues of retirement from the workforce, withemphasis on the affects of retirement on peoplein adjusting and adapting to the various changesthat retirement from paid work brings. A searchof the literature was conducted to obtain currentresearch and to access recent information onretirement issues. A qualitative interview wasalso carried out with one retiree to gain a sub-jective perspective on retirement.

In introducing the complex topic of retire-ment and adaptation to retirement, an anecdotalqualitative encounter is presented as a foreword,as this serves to raise many pre-retirement issuesand feelings.

The staff were all gathered in the tea room tosay farewell to a long-serving staff member. I wassitting next to Michael, who was also due to retirein a few months or so. I decided to ask Michaelhow he felt about his anticipated retirement after40 years in education and health-related work.

Well, mate! If we live long enough, retirementcomes sooner or later for everyone in the work-force. I guess many of us get very attached toour work, after all its been a major componentof our lives. The greater the attachment to ourwork, the greater the loss, separation, anger,void when you do retire unless you prepare forretirement in some way.

I think it was Kubler-Ross who said that we gothrough various stages of grieving after a loss. Ican align with this. When your card comes tothe top of the pack, there is nothing much youcan do about it; however, you often deny yourage, possibly because many of us don’t feel muchdifferent to being 45 or 50 years of age, in ourminds anyway. Our workmates do however, con-

ADAPTATION IN RETIREMENT 3 1

stantly, both directly and indirectly, remind youof retirement with comments such as, ‘I guessyou are next to go Michael?’ Or, ‘When are youhanging up the saddle?’ Or, ‘I suppose you arelooking forward to a life of leisure?’ Well, I won’ttell you what I said under my breath, but I oftenthink, “Your turn will come too, sooner or later,mate!” projection of fear, I guess, at the forth-coming loss.

Michael, you were talking of Kubler-Ross, hersuggested stages of grieving?

Oh yes, I remember the bargaining stage well.I asked the boss why I had to retire at 60 years,and of course these days you don’t have to. Theboss was very fair. She even suggested an earlyre t i rement package. I believe people liketeachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers and others,find it difficult to suddenly part from their life’swork and detach. For many there are oftengrieving periods until resolution and acceptanceof retirement is reached. Some people may evenget depressed at the thought of retirement andwonder what they will do to fill in time. On theother hand, many cannot wait to retire and togo on a special overseas trip, move house, takeup fishing, or other hobbies. One day you lookin the mirror and you say to yourself, ‘My God!In another 10 years I’ll be 70 years old!’ Thatreally causes a real knee-jerk reaction. Anyway,my friend, like my old father said to me the dayb e f o re he died, ‘I’ve worked through manythings in this life. I’ve no choice but to workthrough this one also.’ How true. For many,when we face re t i rement, adjustment onlycomes when we work it through.

Well, Michael, what of counselling and all thatpreparation before retirement? Michael thoughtfor a moment and said:

Many people worry about money, and I guesspeople need good advice on what to do withtheir superannuation, property and so on, andit’s a wise thing to get such advice from a knowl-edgeable, trusting person. Healthwise it’s also atime for all those check ups, to see how the bodyis getting along. You know you may need glasses,or medication for blood pressure, or some othertherapy. One big change in your life is that youwill certainly spend more time with your partner— if you’re lucky enough to have a wife andfamily. Like so many things in your life, you and

your partner help each other prepare and adjustto changes, and hopefully find happiness.

My biggest fear about retirement is the actualfarewell — the afternoon tea party — as I’veseen so many farewells. The staff often say let’shave a whip round and collect some money tobuy a farewell present for ‘old Joe’. He’s beengreat to work with. On the other hand, I’ve heardsuch remarks as, ‘They will have his farewell ina phonebox. Even that may be too large.’ Thefarewell is so final, not a catastrophic event, butcertainly breaks all work ties. I guess it’s nec-essary, but I’d rather fade away like the oldsoldier really. By the way, retirement, once youcome to accept it that is, is when you startlooking forward to a new lifestyle. You havemore time for your garden, family and self. Youlook inward at yourself, try and connect to yourspirituality and gain some contentment. Onceresolution and acceptance of retirement comes,you start to look at your work colleagues in anew way, without competition or rivalry,knowing during your time that you did your best.Well, mate, thanks for asking me about myfeelings about retirement, but remember it isjust another step in life’s process and progres-sion.

Michael quietly walked off.

STRESS, CRISIS AND ADAPTATION

Brown (1994) stated that retirement has beenidentified as a significantly stressful event, ratingtenth on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale.Retirement means more than just a cessation ofa job. It can result in loss or reduction in income,influences, authority, status, social relationships,activity, professional skills, and an increase inunstructured time. He suggested that retirementis probably more of a crisis in men as most womenhave had to remain flexible because of theconstant role modifications and crises associatedwith having and rearing children, home-making,and carer responsibilities and pressures (Brown,1994).

Weiss (1997), who re s e a rched re t i re m e n tconcerns of 45 men and 27 women from man-agerial and professional occupations, found thatmany of the respondents were pleased to recog-

32 R. LO AND R. BROWN

nize in themselves a diminution of stress now thatthey no longer needed to mobilize themselves todeal with challenges and crises of the workplace.H o w e v e r, he pointed out that adaptation toretirement did not always occur. Weiss’s studyalso found that adaptation to re t i re m e n trequired, for most respondents, accepting them-selves as no longer active in the world of work.Furthermore, Weiss felt that married respon-dents needed to restructure the marital relation-ship because retirement is a turning point inmarriage, as well as in work life.

Following a study of 348 men and 385 womenretirees, Sharpley (1997) listed three issues thatcaused the retirees’ stress in everyday living. Thethree greatest sources of stress were: (i) missingwork; (ii) personal health issues; and (iii) rela-tionship issues. Measures of these issues corre-lated significantly with standardized measures ofanxiety and depression.

G e o rge (1980) summarized data fro mnumerous research studies and identified threepersonal resources that influence adjustment toretirement:(1) Income: positive adjustment with higherincome levels.(2) Health: poor health often hastens a retire-ment decision and hinders adjustment to retire-ment (positive health increases positivewell-being in retirement).(3) Social support: a marital relationship con-tributes to successful retirement adjustment.

Hamilton (1988) stated that in order toachieve successful later life adjustment, the fol-lowing adaptations are recommended for theolder person:(1) Maintenance of feelings of worth.(2) Resolution of old conflicts.(3) Adjustment to loss of power roles.(4) Adjustment to the deaths of significant others.(5) Adaptation to environmental changes.(6) Maintenance of an optimal level of wellness.

GENDER ASPECTS OF RETIREMENT

Although existing literature implies that womenwill re t i re more rapidly following a spouse’s

retirement, a study by Henretta, O’Rand, andChan (1993) of 607 couples showed no overalldifference between men and women. However,their study showed that there are gender differ-ences in subgroups of families. Couples in whichthe wife was employed during child re a r i n gshowed smaller gender differences in retirementages. In couples in which the wife was notemployed during child rearing, women retirelater than men. Belgrave (1989) found otherdistinct gender diff e rences in re t i re m e n tpatterns of persons between 60 and 64 years ofage. Women more often engaged in volunteerwork than men, more worked full-time, andfewer were fully retired. In other words, womenare far more likely to be working and unlikely tohave the opportunity to retire early. However,women are often called on to retire because ofthe illness of a spouse or parent.

A study by Talaga and Beehr (1995) of arandom sample of older employees and retireesfrom a large mid-Western manufacturing orga-nization in the United States examined the inter-action between re t i rement predictors andgender. Their findings indicated that retirementdecisions differed between men and women pri-marily when dependents lived in the household,when the health of the spouse was a considera-tion, and when the spouse was retired.

ECONOMIC STATUS AND RELOCA-TION FOLLOWING RETIREMENT

Cross-sectional data show that, among the aged,widows and widowers are significantly worse offeconomically than married couples. A study byB u r k h a u s e r, Butler, and Holden (1991) con-ducted a 10 year retirement history study on thefamilies of married men. Their findings foundthat the incidence of a fall into poverty and of asignificant drop in the income-to-needs ratio dra-matically increases for widows, but not forwidowers, on the death of a spouse. Widowers,they reported, are actually less likely to experi-ence a bad economic outcome following thedeath of a spouse than prior to it.

Relocation to another area or migration is alsocommon following retirement. Many people plan


to retire and migrate to a warmer climate, or anarea with a slower pace or lower cost of living, ora place requiring less upkeep (Ebersole & Hess,1990). There f o re, the relocation move afterretirement may add to a retiree’s sense of sepa-ration and loss. Yet, Weiss (1997) argued thatretirement is only one of several turning pointsin later life, and the only one that is not an unmit-igated loss. Therefore, preparation for relocationor migration may need to include counselling forthose re t i rees moving away from family andfriends.

Tripple, McFadden, and Makela (1992)examined environmental factors important to958 male and 248 female university personnela p p roaching re t i rement. The study looked atenvironmental factors such as neighbourhoodpreferences, general services, migration charac-teristics, and geographical conditions. Theresults showed that women tended to be con-cerned more about services such as medical facil-ities, and men tended to be concerned aboutgeographical conditions such as low humidity.

Retired people may not wish to live with theirfamily or relatives, even when this is open tothem. Neither do they wish to be a burden ontheir family or friends. This may be why manyretirees prefer the security and comfort of retire-ment villages. Some retirement villages have at h ree-level system of care: (i) group homes; (ii) hostels; and (iii) nursing homes, which offera continuity of care from independence tocomplete dependence (Brown, 1994). Otherretired people prefer to live in their own homeswith assistance as needed from family membersand aged care services.

STATE OF HEALTH DURINGRETIREMENT

Antonovsky’s (1992) study of 805 retiring menand women in a longitudinal study conductedover 4 years, examined the central issues of per-sonality and health. This showed that life is fullof stressors, with life-situation stressors deserv-ing the most attention by far. The outcomes ofAntonovsky’s study suggested that the health con-sequences of retirement can only be understood

if the coping process is understood, at the heartof which is the individual’s attitudes and sense ofcoherence.

The Retirement Descriptive Index was usedby Dorfman (1995) to measure retirement satis-faction. Dorfman investigated the effects ofspecific health conditions on perceived quality oflife in retirement. The effects of health condi-tions on satisfaction with health, activities,finances, and social interaction in re t i re m e n twere evaluated. The participants were 252 menand 199 women. The results showed that anumber of life threatening and non-life threat-ening conditions had negative effects on per-ceived quality of life. Pulmonary disease was apredictor of dissatisfaction with health for bothsexes. The strongest predictors were pulmonarydisease and heart attack for men and arthritis forwomen.

A study conducted by Leigh and Fries during1992–3, looked at the health habits of 1864 Bankof America re t i rees. Data analysis showedwomen were more likely than men to smoke, touse seat belts, and to eat foods high in fibre. Menwere more likely than women to exercise and todrink excessively. The researchers found thateducation was significantly and positively associ-ated with high dietary fibre intake and with noother habit.

ADAPTATION TO WIDOWHOOD

The ratio of widows to widowers is about five toone across middle and later adulthood (U.S.Bureau of Census, 1990). Survivors of widow-hood often face emotional, economic and healthproblems (Bound, Duncan, Laren, & Oleinick,1991). Because women live longer than men, thehealth problems of late adulthood tend to bew o m e n ’s health problems. Many women endtheir lives ill, lonely, dependent and poor (Houseet al., 1990). Research has revealed that most ofthe variance in health and depression of womensurvivors appears to be accounted for by theirlower economic status and prior illnesses(Lowenstein & Rosen, 1989; Murre l l ,Himmelfarb, & Phifer, 1988).

Losing a part n e r, when there has been a long,


close and satisfying relationship, is essentiallylosing part of one’s self and one’s core. Them o u rning is as much for one’s self as for the deadperson, and even with satisfactory grief re s o l u t i o n ,this part of one’s self will never re t u rn. Even thosewidows who re - o rganize their lives and invest inf a m i l y, friends, and activities often find that manyyears later they still miss their ‘other half’ pro-foundly (Ebersole & Hess, 1990). Erikson,Erikson, and Kivnick (1986) identified the charac-teristics that predict a satisfactory resolution afterthe loss of a spouse. Individuals who have been self-confident and competent seem to fare best.

G e n t ry, Rosenman, and Schulman (1987)studied differences in widows who do not wishto remarry, those who wish to but do not, andthose who remarry. Widows considering remar-riage were on the average 10 years younger, weremore educated, and had a higher income. Themajor reasons women gave for not wanting tore m a rry were valuing independence and theinability to find a husband as nice as the deceasedspouse. Other reasons mentioned included: stillm o u rning husband, too old, economics, notenough eligible men, and children’s disapproval.

TOWARDS A SUCCESSFUL RETIREMENT

As retirement includes the cessation of a job ormay result in a loss or reduction in income, influ-ences, authority, status, social re l a t i o n s h i p s ,activity, professional skills and an increase inunstructured time, steps should be taken to over-ride some of the negativism of re t i re m e n t .Planning for retirement is associated with suc-cessful adaptation.

Pre-retirement planning and educationRetirement planning and education is advisableduring middle age and essential in late middleage. Many men comment that they must find aninterest or some leisure activity to attend to fol-lowing retirement as they do not wish to just sitaround feeling bored and unwanted. However,some men feel that they are merely bowing to thewishes of society, rather than their own particu-lar wish to retire from the workforce.

The nurse who is aware of the negative impli-cations of financial insecurities can urge familiesto seek pre-retirement counselling. In middleage a couple can anticipate retirement income bymeans of a pension plan, financial investments,and savings. Most companies have a benefitscounsellor who can calculate the employee’sassets at the time of retirement. Planning aheadmay relieve future problems.

Financial considerations are only part of pre-retirement planning. Pre-retirement educationthat includes preparation for psychological reac-tions to retirement produces positive outcomes(Ebersole & Hess, 1990). Suggested topics forre t i rement education (U.S. Department ofHealth, Education and Welfare, 1979) are seenin Table 1.

However, it is difficult to evaluate the effec-tiveness of pre - re t i rement pre p a r a t i o n .Inconclusive findings indicate its potential use-fulness in: (i) increasing pre-retirement aware-ness of the retirement experience; (ii) providingan opportunity to share concerns with others; (iii) preparing the person for developmental and retirement life changes; and (iv) providingguidance for a new lifestyle (Brahce, 1983;Dennis, 1989).

VolunteerismIt is not uncommon for an older person to adoptan ‘elder’ role in society and provide guidance,


TABLE1: Topics for retirement education

Family and couple concernsNormal ageing processMaintenance of physical and mental health in the lateryearsFinancial planning: pensions, Social Security, investments,discounts, property tax rebatesBudgetingFull- and part-time employment opportunitiesHousing and relocationLegal arrangements and estate planningManagement of real estateHealthcare services; MedicareDeath and dyingLeisure and recreational pursuitsCommunity organizations for elderlyGovernment role in retirement

support, and counselling to a younger generation.M o re o v e r, this role has become form a l i z e dthrough the adoption of specific programmes(Hogstel, 1990). Schultz and Galbraith (1993)examined the subjective context within whicholder adults approach leadership roles and theprocesses by which they become involved in vol-unteer community leadership roles. Their studyconsisted of 17 men and 10 women involved in ap rogramme with the title, ‘LeadershipEnhancement for the Active Retired’ (LEAR).The results of their study showed that the per-centage of women who were occupying leader-ship roles after taking the LEAR programme wasgreater than men. Marital status did not seem tohave an effect on participation in leadershiproles, but was a factor in participation in theLEAR programme. The results of the study sug-gested that training for older adults is importantin encouraging them to adopt community lead-ership roles.

Volunteer service provides an attractive rolefor many aged individuals. Although women havetraditionally volunteered, men have experiencedthe greatest increase in volunteerism among theelderly. The number of older women who arevolunteers has remained relatively constant. Theheaviest current volunteer activity and potentialactivity are found among the college-educatedand more affluent older citizens (Ebersole &Hess, 1990). Most people involved in volunteerwork feel they are contributing to the commu-nity and filling gaps in services that otherwisemight be unmet. Thus, self-esteem and a senseof usefulness prevail among volunteers.

Mishra (1992) examined whether there was anassociation between re t i rees’ engagement invarious activities and their life satisfaction. Theresults from interviews with 720 retired menrevealed a significant positive association of lifesatisfaction with involvement in activities con-nected with occupation, hobbies, and interactionwith friends and members of voluntary organi-zations. Yet engagement in religious and house-hold activities and interaction with familymembers, neighbours, and relatives had noimpact on the subjects interviewed and their hap-piness.

Leisure and intellectual pursuitsImplicit in the theories of successful adjustmentto retirement is the chosen lifestyle that accom-panies new-found leisure time. Use of free timevaries according to the desires of the retiredperson and constraints that include finances,health and social milieu, community opportuni-ties, and the abilities of the older person. Beyondchoices that include work, volunteerism, or edu-cational pursuits, there are some older personswho want to devote their free time to activitiesseparate from a work orientation. These may becreative, challenging, and/or expressive. Creativeand artistic pursuits provide a satisfying, stimu-lation outlet (Hogstel, 1990).

Often people look forw a rd to travel afterre t i rement, although many find they cannotafford it when the opportunity arrives. Travelagencies have tapped into this market. Butler(1978–9) has given suggestions that may maketravel more possible and more enjoyable; forexample, organizations that offer cheaper faresfor retirees, reduced rates for charter flights orin less popular months, social security benefits,and Medicare coverage.

The intellectual stimulation of informal orformal study often attracts the older person. Tothat end the University of the Third Age (U3A),which is found in major centres and cities inAustralia, provides diverse programmes for itsmembers. Often the members of U3A providethe input to these programmes.

Grandparenting roleGrandparenting, by definition, is an extension ofparenting (Troll, 1971). Grandparents providesupport, caring, and material goods for grand-children. They can be models of ageing, a link toother generations, and a friend. Sometimes theygive unwanted advice and may actively disagreewith parents. They may be indulgent in a mannerthat leaves their adult children agape withwonder while remembering stern and strict par-enting in their own childhood (Ebersole & Hess,1990).

Kalliopuska (1994) interviewed 79 re t i re dpersons about their relations and particularlyrelationships with their grandchildren. The


average number of children per subject inter-viewed was three. The results showed that amajority of retirees judged relations with thegrandchildren as very good or good. The grand-p a renting role was diverse, and the findingsrevealed that their grandparent gave a grand-child, love or affection, care, shelter, life expe-rience, moral values, company, closeness, trust,help and support. The grandchild gave a grand-parent joy, inspiration, tenderness and love, con-tentment, and hope and faith for the future.

CONCLUSION

Contentment and adaptation in re t i re m e n tdepends heavily on successful transition andadjustment after leaving the paid workforc e .Early preventative intervention and investigationof the retiree’s health patterns can assist theprocess. Preparation with sound advice and edu-cation re g a rding economic management, andrealistic decision about relocation or migrationfollowing retirement is also likely to be helpful.The persuit of interests, hobbies, and the con-tinuation of social contacts are other priorities.Retirees living with partners may need to restruc-t u re their roles within the household, whichrequires both partners to work through change.Learning to live with leisure, maintaining life’sinterest, and maintaining contact with friends,children and grandchildren aid in the preventionof isolation and loneliness. Whereas manyretirees in their latter years have to live with someform of chronic illness, it is important that theylive with some dignity and with some enjoymentas long as possible, ideally within their own homeand community. Elderly retirees also need thesupport, security and knowledge that, as theirindependence and health fails, communityresources will be available to help them meettheir needs.

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Documents

Stress and adaptation: Preparation for successful retirement