The social psychology of aging in industry.

In 3 previous studies, H. Meltzer (see PA, Vols 33:4955, 38:4107, and 39:1533) investigated the relationship between work attitudes and mental health. Results show that as workers got older, attitudes toward place of employment increased favorably, satisfaction increased, and work took on more significance. In a 4th study, content analysis of life and work stories was used to investigate the relationship between positive mental health and age of workers. 143 workers were divided into 5 groups according to age: 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, and 60+ yrs. Mental health indices were adapted and condensed from M. Jahoda's (1958) 6 categories of criteria for total positive mental health. Results suggest that the stereotype of decreasing cognitive capacity and ineffectual role execution was largely false. Older Ss seemed more satisfied and less prone to change jobs but when compared with 30–39 yr old Ss, they scored lower on signs of mental health. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)