Redirection: an extension of career during retirement.
OBJECTIVE
This study explores (a) whether retirees' formal volunteer experiences represent an extension of their career in the paid workforce; and (b) how this integration of life roles affects career self-concept, as interpreted through Donald Super's life-span, life-space theory of career development.


METHODS
A survey was conducted involving a Canadian sample of 214 individuals aged 55-75 years to examine retirees' volunteer activities and their sense of self.


RESULTS
The results demonstrate the need to further develop Super's theory with the addition of a new developmental stage, which I am labeling "Redirection" to better reflect postretirement experiences. During "Redirection," retirees develop a "new self."


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that retirees experienced a new stage of "Redirection" and found new meaning through volunteer work during retirement. The results will be of interest to professionals and researchers focused on career development, older workers, and retirement.
Department of Sociology, Youth and Life Course Studies, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. cooks@yorku.ca.
Suzanne L
SL
Cook
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D012941:Social Responsibility; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014838:Volunteers
Career development; Donald Super; Retirement; Volunteerism and civic engagement; Work (after retirement; occupation)