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SAGE Journal User Guide

Article 1:

Chen, C. P. (2011). Life-Career Re-Engagement: Considerations and Implications for Counselling People in Retirement Transition—Part 2. Australian Journal of Career Development, 20(2), 32-41.

Abstract:

New ideas and perspectives are needed to form effective counselling strategies and approaches in an effort to promote and enhance the psychological well-being of individuals in retirement transition. This article is the second of two co-published articles. The first, ‘Life-career re-engagement: A new conceptual framework for counselling people in retirement transition’, proposed the new conceptual framework of life-career re-engagement (LCRE) by expanding on the work of Donald Super (1957, 1990). In this second article, counselling considerations that are guided by and supportive of the concept of LCRE are discussed, along with implications for helping intervention. Three essential factors of retirement transition are considered, the importance of contextualizing the experiences of retirees is emphasized and issues around identity, personal interests and lifelong learning are explored.

Questions to Consider:

1. Discuss your knowledge of the transition to retirement within varying cultural contexts.
2. Describe how you may mitigate the practical and emotional concerns of a retiring individual in the therapeutic setting.
3. As counseling professionals, life-long learning is encouraged. How may you model this behavior in session with an older client?

Article 2:

Phillips, L. J. (2015). Retirement Community Residents’ Physical Activity, Depressive Symptoms, and Functional Limitations. Clinical nursing research,24(1), 7-28.

Abstract:

This study examined the types of physical activity (PA) retirement community residents report and the effects of PA and depressive symptoms on functional limitations. Elders (N = 38) enrolled in a 2-year sensor technology study in senior housing completed regular assessments of functional limitations and depressive symptoms with the Short Physical Performance Battery and Geriatric Depression Scale, respectively. Evaluation of reported PA using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly coincided with 12-month functional limitation testing. Subjects were 69% female with mean age of 85 years. Individuals reporting greater PA had significantly fewer functional limitations at 12 months. In multiple regression analysis, baseline functional limitations explained 66% of the variance in 12-month functional limitations, while current PA explained an additional 5%. Although PA explained a small amount of variance in 12-month functional limitations, as a modifiable behavior, PA should be championed and supported to help ameliorate functional limitations in older adults.

Questions to Consider:

1. How may you integrate physical activity into an aging client’s mental health routine?
2. Discuss your thoughts about retirement home environments and the benefits and challenges for counseling residents.
3. Describe the methodological sophistication of this study and how it may be replicated with some adjustments.

Article 3:

Curl, A. L., & Townsend, A. L. (2013). A Multilevel Dyadic Study of the Impact of Retirement on Self-Rated Health: Does Retirement Predict Worse Health in Married Couples? Research on Aging, 0164027513486900.

Abstract:

Objectives: This study examined the effects of retirement on self-rated health for married couples, using interdependence and social stratification theoretical frameworks. Method: Dyadic multilevel modeling of data (N ¼ 2,213 non-Hispanic couples) from 1992 to 2010 of the Health and Retirement Survey. Results: Retirement was associated with worse self-ratings of health (SRH) short term (ST) for both husbands and wives during the first couple of years of retirement. In addition, the longer the husbands (but not wives) were retired, the worse was their SRH. Cross-spouse effects varied by gender: When wives retired, their husbands’ SRH improved ST, but when husbands retired their wives’ SRH improved long term. Spouse education moderated the relationship between years since spouse’s retirement and SRH for wives. Discussion: Practitioners can use this information to help married couples through retirement planning and transitions. Results suggest that models of retirement in couples should pay greater attention to gender and other social stratification factors, spousal interdependence, and length of time since retirement.

Questions to Consider:

1. In what significant ways are marital status and retirement stage related to health in older adults?
2. As a counselor, how may you use your role to promote healthy behaviors in older adults?
3. How is retiring as a couple different than retiring as a single individual?