title: Mobilizing Resources for Well-being: Implications for Developing Interventions in the Retirement Transition.
abstract: Good health and well-being in later life are central issues for public health. Retirement presents an opportunity to intervene to improve health and well-being, as individuals may adjust associated lifestyle behaviors. However, there is little evidence about how well-being is experienced in the context of increasingly diverse retirement transitions. Our objectives were to explore (a) views on health and well-being through retirement transitions and (b) acceptability of intervening in this period.
  
  
  
  Qualitative study involving 48 workers/retirees, aged 53-77 years of diverse socioeconomic status, were recruited from urban and rural areas in North East England. Data were collected iteratively through focus groups (n = 6), individual interviews (n = 13), interviews with couples (n = 4), using the constant comparative method. Analysis was informed by theories of the Third Age and Sen's capabilities approach.
  
  
  
  Diverse retirement transitions were shaped by unanticipated events. Central to well-being was the "capability" to utilize resources to achieve desirable outcomes. Participants rejected a "later life" identity, associating it with decline, and an uncertain future.
  
  
  
  Lifestyle interventions that address challenges within the retirement transition may be acceptable. Inducements to change behavior based on possible long-term outcomes may be less appealing. Providing assistance to use resources to address personal goals may be central to effective interventions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, UK ben.heaven@ncl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heaven
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, UK.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, UK.
authors.forename: Elizabeth H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, UK Centre for Diet & Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas at Houston.
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, UK.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mathers
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, UK.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moffatt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006295:Health Resources; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012179:Retirement
keywords: Intervention; Later life; Retirement; Well-being