The relationship between retirement life cycle changes and older men's labor force participation rates

This study probes the utility of older men's labor force participation rates (LFPRs) as indicators of the work-to-retirement transition. Specific attention is directed at how shifts in the retirement life cycle are related to LFPRs. Based on Current Population Survey data for the 1970s, a life table modeling approach showed that LFPRs are relatively weak indicators of the work-to-retirement transition. This was demonstrated by the relative stability in older men's age profiles of LFPRs despite significant changes in the timing and "organization" of the work-to-retirement transition. The 1970s evidenced a contraction of the main career and the expansion of both post-retirement work activity and retirement, yet none of these changes substantially altered the age profiles of older men's labor force participation rates.     

The role of occupational complexity in trajectories of cognitive aging before and after retirement.

We examined the association between complexity of the main lifetime occupation and changes in cognitive ability in later life. Data on complexity of work with data, people, and things and on 4 cognitive factors (verbal, spatial, memory, and speed) were available from 462 individuals in the longitudinal Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging. Mean age at the first measurement wave was 64.3 years (SD = 7.2), and 65% of the sample had participated in at least three waves of data collection. Occupational complexity with people and data were both correlated with cognitive performance. Individuals with more complex work demonstrated higher mean performance on the verbal, spatial, and speed factors. Latent growth curve analyses indicated that, after correcting for education, only complexity with people was associated with differences in cognitive performance and rate of cognitive change. Continued engagement as a result of occupational complexity with people helped to facilitate verbal function before retirement, whereas a previous high level of complexity of work with people was associated with faster decline after retirement on the spatial factor. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Heterogeneity of cognitive trajectories in diverse older persons.

This study examined trajectories of cognitive change in psychometrically matched measures of episodic memory, semantic memory, and executive function in an ethnically, demographically, and cognitively diverse sample of older persons. Individual rates of change showed considerable heterogeneity in each domain. Baseline clinical diagnosis predicted differential change in semantic memory and executive function, dementia > mild cognitive impairment (MCI) > normal, but average decline in verbal episodic memory was similar across all 3 diagnostic groups. There was substantial overlap of distributions of cognitive change across baseline diagnostic groups for all 3 measures. Cognitive change was strongly related to change in clinical diagnosis. Rapid and similar change was present for all 3 cognitive measures in patients with dementia and in those with normal cognition and those with MCI who progressed clinically. In cognitively normal patients, verbal episodic memory change was greater than change in the other two domains. Global status, measured by the Clinical Dementia Rating scale (Morris, 1993), predicted change in semantic memory and executive function, whereas APOE genotype predicted change in verbal episodic memory, and age had no effect on rates of change in any domain independent of global status and APOE. Results show important limitations in using cross-sectional diagnosis to predict prognosis and suggest that research to identify robust predictors of cognitive change across the full spectrum from normal to dementia is needed for better early identification of diseases that cause progressive decline. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cinema composers: Career trajectories for creative productivity in film music.

It was hypothesized that film composers, like classical composers, have career trajectories that are endogenously rather than exogenously driven (i.e., contingent on internal processes rather than external influences). Study 1 examined 153 composers who composed original film music or music adapted later for film. The correlations among the number of total hits and the ages at first hit, best hit, and last hit followed the same pattern as found for classical composers. Study 2 concentrated on a subset of 78 composers who were nominees or awardees for best score or song from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The analyses indicated the same predicted configuration of correlations among the number of total nominations and the ages at first nomination, first award, last award, and last nomination. Furthermore, the longitudinal placement of the career landmarks corresponded closely across the two studies: first hit with first nomination, best hit with first award, and last hit with last award. The endogenous determination of the career course helps explain the poor association between exceptional film music and the corresponding film's cinematic success. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessing retirement satisfaction and perceptions of retirement experiences.

A 2-part investigation developed a measure of retirement as a life transition. Study 1 generated items from interviews with retirees (n?=?40) and service providers. Item analysis with recent retirees (n?=?86) produced a 51-item Retirement Satisfaction Inventory assessing 6 areas: preretirement work functioning, adjustment and change, reasons for retirement, satisfaction with life in retirement, current sources of enjoyment, and leisure and physical activities. Study 2 examined a heterogeneous sample of men (n?=?159) and women (n?=?243) retirees. Factor analyses produced internally consistent subscales. Moderate, but acceptable, test–retest reliability was demonstrated. Satisfaction scores correlated with concurrent measures and, together with pre- and postretirement experiences, discriminated 4 groups of voluntary and involuntary retirees. Few effects related to gender, SES, length of retirement, and part-time employment were found. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Growth trajectories of exercise self-efficacy in older adults: Influence of measures and initial status.

Objective: This study examined differential trajectories of exercise-related self-efficacy beliefs across a 12-month randomized controlled exercise trial. Method: Previously inactive older adults (N = 144; M age = 66.5) were randomly assigned to one of two exercise conditions (walking, flexibility-toning-balance) and completed measures of barriers self-efficacy (BARSE), exercise self-efficacy (EXSE), and self-efficacy for walking (SEW) across a 12-month period. Changes in efficacy were examined according to efficacy type and interindividual differences. Latent growth curve modeling was employed to (a) examine average levels and change in each type of efficacy for the collapsed sample and by intervention condition and (b) explore subpopulations (i.e., latent classes) within the sample that differ in their baseline efficacy and trajectory. Results: Analyses revealed two negative trends in BARSE and EXSE at predicted transition points, in addition to a positive linear trend in SEW. Two subgroups with unique baseline efficacy and trajectory profiles were also identified. Conclusion: These results shed new light on the relationship between exercise and self-efficacy in older adults. They also highlight the need for strategies for increasing and maintaining efficacy within interventions, namely targeting participants who start with a disadvantage (lower efficacy) and integrating efficacy-boosting strategies for all participants prior to program end. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Physicians' retirement

There are few guidelines available for physicians approaching retirement. Since many physicians do not enjoy their years after practice, guidelines for making this time of life enriching and a period of intellectual growth can be helpful.     

Social support and depression among older adults living alone: the importance of friends within and outside of a retirement community

Using socioemotional selectivity theory as a framework, the study described in this article examined the extent to which social support from friends both within and outside of a retirement community was associated with depression. Although levels of social support from friends within the retirement community were quantitatively high, they failed to have a significant effect on depression. In contrast, social support from friends living elsewhere consistently predicted low levels of depression. Practice implications include the importance of maintaining friendship ties with people living elsewhere and of strengthening friendship ties within the retirement community.     

Leisure attributes and retirement satisfaction.

301 South Australian retirees completed an interview/questionnaire regarding their regular leisure activities and retirement satisfaction. Leisure activities were reliably rated on the attributes of influence, variety, skill utilization, and interaction. Retirement satisfaction was measured along factors of activities, people, health, finances, and life satisfaction. Results generally do not support the hypothesis that attributes of work that are associated with job satisfaction would also be the attributes of leisure that are associated with retirement satisfaction. Following the use of decomposition procedures, it was found that the number of leisure activities and leisure interaction, together with health and financial satisfaction, were significant predictors of satisfaction with retirement activities. Of these variables, only satisfaction with retirement activities was a significant predictor of life satisfaction. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Protect your retirement assets

69 patients with superficial forms of panaritium were treated with the use of applicational b-therapy in postoperative period. It is well known, that b-radiation produces an anti-inflammatory effect, promotes lysis and elimination of necrotic tissues which promotes healing. Applicational b-therapy was used straight away after the operations and later--after each dressing. In all patients favourable process of wound healing was observed. Mean treatment duration in comparison with control group of patients in which conventional method of mattery wound treatment was used (dressings with antiseptics, UHF-, UVI of the wound), showed to be 1.6-1.8 times less.     

Psychosocial changes following retirement

This study was designed to: (a) identify the perceptions of retirees about changes in their life patterns during retirement; (b) investigate the kinds of adjustment problems occurring in retirement as a basis for developing prevention oriented pre-retirement programs; and (c) identify extant factors which could demonstrate underlying themes relating to retirement adjustment. A 72-item, multiple response questionnaire was used to gather demographic data, information on use of time, pre-retirement planning, health problems, changing life patterns, and adjustment to retirement. It is the latter which is reported in these findings. The population included 1565 retirees from a designated company living in the south-eastern United States of America, with a response of 764 subjects (48.82%). Findings suggest the respondents were generally healthy and well adjusted; however, numerous adjustment problem areas were identified within the six life patterns. Additional factor analysis (principal components) demonstrated four factors of particular importance: satisfaction with retirement, retirement concerns, spousal relationships, and pre-retirement preparation outcomes.     

Are men's and women's brains really different?

Suggests that sex hormones have been shown to determine basic sexual differentiation in utero and to influence the level of certain cognitive abilities. Sex differences in brain morphology are known to undergo systematic changes throughout the prenatal period. In the adult, brain organization for basic speech and related motor praxic function and for some verbal intelligence functions differs for women and men. Adult cognitive sex differences may to some extent reflect pre- and perinatal sexual dimorphism in brain organization at critical stages of development. Possible evolutionary bases for sex differences in brain organization are discussed. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multivariate models of men's and women's partner aggression.

This exploratory study was designed to address how multiple factors drawn from varying focal models and ecological levels of influence might operate relative to each other to predict partner aggression, using data from 453 representatively sampled couples. The resulting cross-validated models predicted approximately 50% of the variance in men's and women's partner aggression. The 3 strongest direct predictors of partner aggression for men and women were dominance/jealousy, marital adjustment, and partner responsibility attributions. Three additional direct paths to aggression for men were exposure to family-of-origin aggression, anger expression, and perceived social support. The 1 additional direct path for women was a history of their own aggression as a child or teenager. Implications for more integrative theories and intervention are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Guidance on ill health retirement

Doctors are increasingly being asked by their patients to provide a report in support of an application for them to retire from work on the grounds of ill health. There is evidence that some applications may be motivated more by financial incentives than by ill health. Doctors should be wary of a conflict of interest, know the pension company's criteria for ill health retirement and provide objective medical evidence. The decision as to whether the patient fulfils the criteria is best left to another doctor who is acting as an advisor to the pension company.     

Military times and turning points in men's lives.

Used data from the Berkeley Guidance Study (N?=?214) to test the hypothesis that military service functioned as a turning point for American veterans born in 1928–1929 and serving in the armed forces from the late 1940's into the Korean War. Findings indicate that, as "children of the Great Depression," these Ss faced life choices with a personal history of disadvantage that increased the appeal of military service; a deprived family during the 1930's, poor grades, and self-inadequacy. Ss with such histories were most likely to enter the service at the earliest possible moment and to change the course of their lives. Early entry, in particular, entailed a later transition to adulthood in terms of completing their educations, getting married, and having their 1st child later than nonveterans. Despite a more erratic work life than others, the young veterans managed to use their work to enable them to equal the occupational achievements of nonveterans. Veterans generally had more stable marriages up to middle age than did nonveterans. Early entrants showed a larger gain in psychological strength and health from adolescence to midlife than did nonveterans. Overall, military service turned some Ss toward a brighter future, even though for others it produced a tragic side in terms of damaged health or death. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Career planning and development

Germinating conidiospores (conidia) of Aspergillus nidulans amino acid-requiring strains are hypersensitive to heat, oxidative stress, UV radiation and chemical mutagens when compared with other strains. They also showed an increased mutation rate. Sensitivity to stress conditions has been correlated with an abnormal RAS/cAMP pathway in mutants of S. cerevisiae. We suggest that the RAS/cAMP pathway is defective in germinating conidia of Aspergillus amino acid auxotrophs and that this is responsible for suppressing DNA repair and conferring sensitivity to oxidative stress and heat shock.