Involuntary retirement, Type A behavior, and current functioning in elderly men: 27-year follow-up of the Western Collaborative Group Study.
Data from 1,103 community-dwelling male participants (mean age = 71.7 years) in a 27-year cardiovascular disease follow-up were used to examine health and mental health sequelae in voluntarily and involuntarily retired Type A individuals. After controlling for age, education, and occupation, Type A subjects, determined both at intake (1960-1961) and at follow-up (1986-1987), reported significantly more frequently that retirement was involuntary. Regardless of Type A status, those reporting involuntary retirement also tended to have poorer adjustment to retirement, more illness, poorer physical status, and more depressive symptomatology. Minimal evidence was obtained on a broad array of indicators for psychological, physical, cognitive, and health status that Type As who retired involuntarily fared worse in retirement than those who retired voluntarily.
Health Sciences Program, SRI International, Menlo Park, California 94025.
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Swan
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Dame
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Carmelli
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012179:Retirement; D012931:Social Environment; D014434:Type A Personality