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.
Swan
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Health Sciences Program, SRI International, Menlo Park, California 94025.
Dame
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Carmelli
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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