b'| CAREER GUIDEMore than 15 years into retirement from a strong work identity to a post-workcially forming a network of relationships to Maintaining health and independence is evenidentity can be a slow process, especially withreplace those left behind by a retiree who has more important. Most leisure time is spentthose who have a strong emotional connectionmoved to a retirement destination. It may relaxing and spending time with family andto their career. Primavera suggests increasingtake longer than expected to find truly mean-friends. Retirees focus on simplifying theirinvolvement with non-work-related activitiesingful engagement in retirement. Osborne lives and enjoying familiar activities ratherand forming relationships outside the workrecommends making plans prior to the tran-than discovering new ones. environment prior to retirement. sition in order to alleviate stress and anxiety. During this stage, retirees need to conserveA change in a long-time identity can be their energy, have fewer financial resources,devastated by the loss of the work role unlessCONCLUSIONand may be more physically limited. They seeka person has formed an identity that can beThe transition to retirement is one of lifes to connect with family and friends includingcomprised of several roles: parent, spouse, vol- major changes, and the decision to retire is one multigenerational travel with grandchildrenunteer, athlete, or activist. These can sustainof the most important decisions that people and heritage trips. an individuals identity during the transitionmake, especially if they enjoy their work. The Health conditions (72 percent) are moreperiod. Nevertheless, some retirees initiallyprocess of retirement planning needs to begin prevalent and limit leisure experiences. Inexperience an emptiness in terms of theirbefore an individual retires in order to facili-addition, a vast majority (61 percent) of retir- identity, and this often results in depression,tate growth rather than stagnation and depres-ees are dealing with an increase in doctor vis- which deepens as retirement time increases. sion. Retirement can be a time of enrichment its and medical care, with some involved inRetirement can lead to renegotiatingand discovery when individuals embark on caregiving for a spouse/partner. These chal- domestic responsibilities regarding cooking,new friendships, hobbies, and discover how to lenges can limit leisure activities. shopping, household chores and workspaces.engage in life in meaningful ways. Retirement Men who are no longer the breadwinneris a new occupational role that requires shed-PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF RETIREMENT and have a partner who continues to work canding former identities and creating new ones. Experts have identified three emotionalfeel a sense of shame and worthlessness. ACultivating resilience and the ability to adapt factors that influence the transition toretiree with a working partner spends manyto change are qualities necessary for a success-retirement: hours alone. This can lead to insecurity andful transition to retirement.The loss of professional status that isanxiety unless the retiree is skilled at find-closely related to self-image ing meaningful engagement with others in aCarol has been an occupational therapist for Change shared activity. 37 years. She recently returned from volunteer-Concern over how to spend the extraIf a male retirees partner is a homemakering abroad where she taught in the first occu-time who did not seek employment outside thepational therapy program in Vietnam. Carol Studies have found that approximately one- home, he may find that she has a full life out- is in the process of transitioning to retirement.third of retirees have poor adjustment stylesside their marriage. This can lead to problemsREFERENCESin retirement. For many retirees, the mostif the retired male becomes too dependent1.Dychtwald, Kenneth (2017) New Studyimportant psychological challenge result- upon his partner for companionship. WhenReveals Four Distinct Stages of Retirement ing from retirement is the loss of a work/lifewives continue to work, this can increase con- Leisure. Retrieved from https://www.huff-structure and creating a retirement/life struc- flict leading to a decline in marital relations,post.com/entry/four-distinct-stages-of-re-ture to replace it. The transition to retire- especially power struggles when the maletirement_b_9875128ment is made more difficult, particularly forretiree is no longer the breadwinner. 2. Hannon, Kerry (2019) My Work Life men, by the loss of identity and status relatedAccording to Nancy Schlossberg, a pro- Is Over. Whats Next? Retrieved from to their jobs. Retired men were found to befessor emerita of counseling psychology athttps://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/12/40 percent more likely than employed menthe University of Maryland, Change is verybusiness/retirement/planning-finan-to experience depression, and the greatestunsettling. There are people afraid becausecial-social.htmlincrease in suicide rates between 2000 andthey cant forecast the future, and because3. ayson, Sharon (2017) Are You Afraid J2016 occurred among 45- to 64-year old men,they fear they no longer have a purpose.to Retire? Recognize the emotional fear according to theCenters for Disease ControlIn addition, relationships change.factors to make the leap. Retrieved from and Prevention.Friendships in the workplace may be missedhttps://www.aarp.org/retirement/plan-According to psychologist Louis Primaverawith retirement. The human connection thatning-for-retirement/info-2017/retire-of Touro College in New York City, Workis so vital for wellbeing is often severed result- ment-fear-fd.htmlstructures us and gives us routine in our lives.ing in depression, loneliness, and isolation. 4.Osborne, J.W. (2012) PsychologicalWe plan around work. It is part of our identity.Psychologist John Osborne at theEffects of The Transition to Retirement. The fear of loss of identity is a major fear. University of Alberta states, Finding engage- Canadian Journal of Counselling, Vol. 46, Furthermore, Primavera says the changement in meaningful activities is crucial, espe- No. 1, 45-5821 ELITEHEALTH GUIDE|2019| www.elitecme.comwww.elitecme.com |2020| CAREER GUIDE 21'