On Second Wind: Understanding How Academics from the Philippines Adjust to Retirement

Abstract

This article aims to 1) explore how retired academics experienced work-to-retirement transition and 2) offer insights that can be applied in addressing its potential opportunities and challenges. Toward this end, we conducted face-to-face interviews with retirees (n=7) from a comprehensive private university in Manila, Philippines. The descriptive phenomenological method surfaced a general psychological meaning structure depicting the participants' collective work experiences to retirement transition. Moreover, it identified three distinct but interrelated elements of the retirement phenomenon: moving on, passing time, and coming on stage. This paper contributes and supports accumulated empirical knowledge on the work-to-retirement transition that can be helpful for individuals preparing for or transitioning into retirement.

References

April, Kurt A., Babar Dharani, and Kai Peters. “Impact of Locus of Control Expectancy on Level of Wellbeing.” Rev. Eur. Stud. 4 (2012): 124.

Atchley, Robert C. “A Continuity Theory of Normal Aging.” The Gerontologist 29, no. 2 (1989): 183-190.

Avlund, Kirsten, Rikke Lund, Bjørn E. Holstein, and Pernille Due. “Social Relations as a Determinant of Onset of Disability in Aging.” Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics 38, no. 1 (2004): 85-99.

Barbosa, Leonardo Martins, Bárbara Monteiro, and Sheila Giardini Murta. “Retirement Adjustment Predictors—A Systematic Review.” Work, Aging and Retirement 2, no. 2 (2016): 262-280.

Bauger, Lars. “Developing Wellbeing as One Grows Older: A Mixed-Method Study.” (2020).

Bauger, Lars, and Rob Bongaardt. “Structural Developmental Psychology and Health Promotion in the Third Age.” Health Promotion International 33, no. 4 (2018): 686-694.

Bauger, Lars, and Rob Bongaardt. “The Lived Experience of Wellbeing in Retirement: A Phenomenological Study.” International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Wellbeing 11, no. 1 (2016): 33110.

Behncke, Stefanie. “Does Retirement Trigger Ill Health?” Health Economics 21, no. 3 (2012): 282-300.

Birkett, Holly, Fiona Carmichael, and Joanne Duberley. “Activity in the Third age: Examining the Relationship Between Careers and Retirement Experiences.” Journal of Vocational Behavior 103 (2017): 52-65.

Bonsang, Eric, Stéphane Adam, and Sergio Perelman. “Does Retirement Affect Cognitive Functioning?” Journal of Health Economics 31, no. 3 (2012): 490-501.

Butrica, Barbara A., and Simone G. Schaner. “Satisfaction and Engagement in Retirement.” (2005).

Conroy, Samantha, Danny Franklin, and Anne M. O’Leary-Kelly. “Turmoil or Opportunity? Retirement and Identity-Related Coping.” (2014).

Dave, Dhaval, Inas Rashad, and Jasmina Spasojevic. “The Effects of Retirement on Physical and Mental Health Outcomes.” Southern Economic Journal 75, no. 2 (2008): 497-523.

Dorfman, Lorraine T., and Douglas C. Kolarik. “Leisure and the Retired Professor: Occupation Matters.” Educational Gerontology 31, no. 5 (2005): 343-361.

Earl, Joanne K. “The Contribution of Spirituality to the Process of Retirement.” Journal of Management, Spirituality and Religion 7, no. 3 (2010): 223-240.

Ekerdt, David J., and Catheryn Koss. “The Task of Time in Retirement.” Ageing & Society 36, no. 6 (2016): 1295-1311.

Ekerdt, David J., and Evelyn Clark. “Selling Retirement in Financial Planning Advertisements.” Journal of Aging Studies 15, no. 1 (2001): 55-68.

Eibich, Peter. “Understanding the Effect of Retirement on Health: Mechanisms and Heterogeneity.” Journal of Health Economics 43 (2015): 1-12.

Fehr, R. “Is Retirement Always Stressful.” Potential Impact Creativity (2012).

Feldman, Daniel C. “Feeling Like it is Time to Retire: A Fit Perspective on Early Retirement Decisions.” (2013).

Freund, Alexandra M., and Paul B. Baltes. “Selection, Optimization, and Compensation as Strategies of Life Management: Correlations with Subjective Indicators of Successful Aging.” Psychology and Aging 13, no. 4 (1998): 531.

Gabriel, Zahava, and A. N. N. Bowling. “Quality of Life from the Perspectives of Older People.” Ageing & Society 24, no. 5 (2004): 675-691.

Gall, Terry L., David R. Evans, and John Howard. “The Retirement Adjustment Process: Changes in the Wellbeing of Male Retirees Across Time.” The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 52, no. 3 (1997): P110-P117.

Giorgi, Amedeo. Psychology as a Human Science: A Phenomenologically Based Approach. University Professors Press, 2020.

Giorgi, Amedeo. The Descriptive Phenomenological Method in Psychology: A Modified Husserlian Approach. Duquesne University Press, 2009.

Giorgi, Amedeo. “The Theory, Practice, and Evaluation of the Phenomenological Method as a Qualitative Research Procedure.” Journal of Phenomenological Psychology 28, no. 2 (1997): 235-260.

Goodman, Jane, Nancy K. Schlossberg, and Mary L. Anderson. Counseling Adults in Transition: Linking Practice with Theory. Springer Publishing Co, 2006.

Gorry, Aspen, Devon Gorry, and Sita Nataraj Slavov. “Does Retirement Improve Health and Life Satisfaction?” Health Economics 27, no. 12 (2018): 2067-2086.

Hansson, Isabelle, Sandra Buratti, Boo Johansson, and Anne Ingeborg Berg. “Beyond Health and Economy: Resource Interactions in Retirement Adjustment.” Aging & Mental Health 23, no. 11 (2019): 1546-1554.

Heaven, B. E. N., Laura JE Brown, Martin White, Linda Errington, John C. Mathers, and Suzanne Moffatt. “Supporting Wellbeing in Retirement Through Meaningful Social Roles: Systematic Review of Intervention Studies.” The Milbank Quarterly 91, no. 2 (2013): 222-287.

Hedge, Jerry W., Walter C. Borman, and Steven E. Lammlein. The Aging Workforce: Realities, Myths, and Implications for Organizations. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2006.

Henning, Georg, Magnus Lindwall, and Boo Johansson. “Continuity in Wellbeing in the Transition to Retirement.” GeroPsych (2016).

Henkens, Kène, Hendrik P. Van Dalen, David J. Ekerdt, Douglas A. Hershey, Martin Hyde, Jonas Radl, Hanna Van Solinge, Mo Wang, and Hannes Zacher. “What We Need to Know About Retirement: Pressing Issues for the Coming Decade.” The Gerontologist 58, no. 5 (2018): 805-812.

Hernaes, Erik, Simen Markussen, John Piggott, and Ola L. Vestad. “Does Retirement Age Impact Mortality?” Journal of Health Economics 32, no. 3 (2013): 586-598.

Hoxha, Agron. “Psychological Factors Influencing Adjustment to Retirement.” Prizren Social Science Journal 3, no. 3 (2019): 22-31.

Hyyppä, Markku T., and Juhani Mäki. “Social Participation and Health in a Community Rich in Stock of Social Capital.” Health Education Research 18, no. 6 (2003): 770-779.

Insler, Michael. “The Health Consequences of Retirement.” Journal of Human Resources 49, no. 1 (2014): 195-233.

Johnston, David W., and Wang-Sheng Lee. “Retiring to the Good Life? The Short-Term Effects of Retirement on Health.” Economics Letters 103, no. 1 (2009): 8-11.

Kim, Jungmeen E., and Phyllis Moen. “Is Retirement Good or Bad for Subjective Wellbeing?” Current Directions in Psychological Science 10, no. 3 (2001): 83-86.

Kloep, Marion, and Leo B. Hendry. “Pathways into Retirement: Entry or Exit?” Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology 79, no. 4 (2006): 569-593.

Koenig, Harold G., and Harvey J. Cohen, eds. The Link Between Religion and Health: Psychoneuroimmunology and the Faith Factor. Oxford University Press, 2002.

Löckenhoff, Corinna E. “Understanding Retirement: The Promise of Lifespan Developmental Frameworks.” European Journal of Ageing 9, no. 3 (2012): 227-231.

McLeod, Saul. “Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development.” Simply Psychology 3 (2018).

McLeod, Saul. “Erik Erikson.” (2013).

Moen, Phyllis. “A Life Course Perspective on Retirement, Gender, and Wellbeing.” Journal of Occupational Health Psychology 1, no. 2 (1996): 131.

Moon, J. Robin, M. Maria Glymour, S. V. Subramanian, Mauricio Avendaño, and Ichiro Kawachi. “Transition to Retirement and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: Prospective Analysis of the US Health and Retirement Study.” Social Science & Medicine 75, no. 3 (2012): 526-530.

Morrow-Howell, Nancy, Susan Kinnevy, and Marylen Mann. “The Perceived Benefits of Participating in Volunteer and Educational Activities.” Journal of Gerontological Social Work 32, no. 2 (1999): 65-80.

Osborne, John W. “Psychological Effects of the Transition to Retirement.” Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy 46, no. 1 (2012): 45-58.

Payne, Geoff, and Malcolm Williams. “Generalization in Qualitative Research.” Sociology 39, no. 2 (2005): 295-314.

Pinquart, Martin, and Ines Schindler. “Changes of Life Satisfaction in the Transition to Retirement: A Latent Class Approach.” Psychology and Aging 22, no. 3 (2007): 442.

Reynolds, Frances, Alexandra Farrow, and Alison Blank. “Otherwise, It Would Be Nothing but Cruises: Exploring the Subjective Benefits of Working Beyond 65.” International Journal of Ageing and Later Life 7, no. 1 (2012): 79-106.

Rosenkoetter, Faan Marlene M. “So, You Are Gonna Retire: Hit You “Now What?” Button” Plan, Talk, Re-tire. Life Rich Publishing (2016).

Rosenthal, Doreen, and Susan Moore. The Psychology of Retirement. Routledge, 2018.

Ryan, Richard. M., & Deci, Edward, L. “On Happiness and Human Potentials: A Review of Research on Hedonic and Eudemonic Wellbeing.” Annual Review of Psychology, 52(1), 141-166. 2001.

Ryff, Carol D. “Psychological Wellbeing Revisited: Advances in the Science and Practice of Eudaimonia.” Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 83, no. 1 (2014): 10-28.

Schlossberg, Nancy K. “Retire Smart, Retire Happy: Finding Your True Path.” (2004).

Sewdas, Ranu, Astrid De Wind, Lennart GL Van Der Zwaan, Wieke E. Van Der Borg, Romy Steenbeek, Allard J. Van Der Beek, and Cécile RL Boot. “Why Older Workers Work Beyond the Retirement Age: A Qualitative Study.” BMC Public Health 17, no. 1 (2017): 1-9.

Shim, Matthew J., David Gimeno, Sandi L. Pruitt, Christopher B. McLeod, Margaret J. Foster, and Benjamin C. Amick. “A Systematic Review of Retirement as a Risk Factor for Mortality.” Applied Demography and Public Health (2013): 277-309.

Shultz, Kenneth S., and Mo Wang. “Psychological Perspectives on the Changing Nature of Retirement.” American Psychologist 66, no. 3 (2011): 170.

Singh-Manoux, Archana, Nancy E. Adler, and Michael G. Marmot. “Subjective Social Status: Its Determinants and Its Association with Measures of Ill-health in the Whitehall II Study.” Social Science & Medicine 56, no. 6 (2003): 1321-1333.

Skerrett, Patrick J. “Is Retirement Good for Health or Bad for It.” (2012).

Smith, Deborah B., and Phyllis Moen. “Retirement Satisfaction for Retirees and Their Spouses: Do Gender and the Retirement Decision-Making Process Matter?” Journal of Family Issues 25, no. 2 (2004): 262-285.

Spirling, Shauna. “Psychosocial Development and Well-being in Retirement: The Relationship Between Generativity, Ego Integrity, and Regret Among Canadian Retirees.” (2019).

Smith, Deborah B. “Volunteering in Retirement: Perceptions of Midlife Workers.” Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 33, no. 1 (2004): 55-73.

Szinovacz, Maximiliane E. “Contexts and Pathways: Retirement as Institution, Process, and Experience.” Retirement: Reasons, Processes, and Results 6 (2003): 52.

Van der Heide, Iris, Rogier M. van Rijn, Suzan JW Robroek, Alex Burdorf, and Karin I. Proper. “Is Retirement Good for Your Health? A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies.” BMC Public Health 13, no. 1 (2013): 1-11.

Van Manen, Max. Phenomenology of Practice: Meaning-Giving Methods in Phenomenological Research and Writing. Routledge, 2016.

Van Manen, Max. (2016). Researching Lived Experience: Human Science for an Action- Sensitive Pedagogy. Routledge.

Van Solinge, Hanna. “Adjustment to Retirement.” (2013).

Van Solinge, Hanna, and Kène Henkens. “Adjustment to and Satisfaction with Retirement: Two of a Kind?” Psychology and Aging 23, no. 2 (2008): 422.

Van Willigen, Marieke. “Differential Benefits of Volunteering Across the Life Course.” The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 55, no. 5 (2000): S308-S318.

Von Essen, Elisabeth, and Magnus Englander. “Organic Food as a Healthy Lifestyle: A Phenomenological Psychological Analysis.” International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being 8, no. 1 (2013): 20559.

Wang, Lan, Douglas T. Hall, and Lea Waters. “Finding Meaning During the Retirement Process.”

Wang, Mo, and Junqi Shi. “Psychological Research on Retirement.” Annual Review of Psychology 65 (2014): 209-233.

Wang, Mo, Kène Henkens, and Hanna van Solinge. “Retirement Adjustment: A Review of Theoretical and Empirical Advancements.” American Psychologist 66, no. 3 (2011): 204.

Wang, Mo. “Profiling Retirees in the Retirement Transition and Adjustment Process: Examining the Longitudinal Change Patterns of Retirees’ Psychological Wellbeing.” Journal of Applied Psychology 92, no. 2 (2007): 455.

Waters, Lea, Jon P. Briscoe, Douglas T. Hall, and Lan Wang. “Protean Career Attitudes during Unemployment and Reemployment: A Longitudinal Perspective.” Journal of Vocational Behavior 84, no. 3 (2014): 405-419.

Weiss, Robert, and Robert S. Weiss. The Experience of Retirement. Cornell University Press, 2018.

Wollison, Susan. “Academics in Retirement, Updating and Extending previous research.” (2001).

Yeung, Dannii Y. “Adjustment to Retirement: Effects of Resource Change on Physical and Psychological Wellbeing.” European Journal of Aging 15, no. 3 (2018): 301-309.

Yeung, Dannii Y., and Xiaoyu Zhou. “Planning for Retirement: Longitudinal Effect on Retirement Resources and Post-Retirement Wellbeing.” Frontiers in Psychology 8 (2017): 1300.

Zhao, Meng, Yoshifumi Konishi, and Haruko Noguchi. “Retiring for Better Health? Evidence from Health Investment Behaviors in Japan.” Japan and the World Economy 42 (2017): 56-63.