Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-xm8r8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-29T11:20:56.008Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

“Why Not Think Carnegie Hall”? Working and Retiring among Older Professionals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Joan E. Norris
Joan E. Norris
Affiliation:
University of Guelph
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Gerontologists have regarded retirement as a negative event and seldom have investigated the successful retiree or older worker. This study provided descriptive data about both of these groups by triangulating quantitative and qualitative methods. Twenty-one retired and 30 employed professionals over the age of 60 were assessed for general levels of well-being and life satisfaction. They were then interviewed about the meaning and significance of their careers, and the strategies used to cope with job-related problems. Results showed both groups to be involved in meaningful social relationships, and well-adjusted and satisfied with their current lives. Differences between the groups emerged from the interviews: Employed professionals valued the prestige and challenge of a career; retirees mentioned supportive interpersonal relationships and the need to complete a job. Workers also mentioned delegating authority and establishing networks as valuable coping strategies. Some disciplinary differences were also noted within each group. These results underscore the usefulness of blending qualitative and quantitative data in research on work and retirement.

Résumé

En règle générale, les gérontologues ont toujours considéré la retraite sous un jour négatif et ne se sont que rarement penchés sur la réussite du retraité ou du travailleur âgé. La présente étude a permis de fournir des données descriptives sur ces deux groupes en triangulant des méthodes quantitatives et qualitatives. Vingt et un professionnels retraités et trente professionnels âgés de plus de 60 ans toujours sur le marché du travail ont été évalués selon leur bien-être général et leur satisfaction face à leur vie personnelle. Ces personnes ont ensuite été questionnées sur le sens et l'importance de leur carrière, ainsi que sur les stratégies utilisées pour surmonter les difficultés liées à leur travail. Les résultats ont démontré que les deux groupes entretenaient des relations sociales significatives, qu'ils étaient bien adaptés et qu'ils étaient satisfaits de leur vie actuelle. Des différences entre les groupes se sont toutefois révélées au cours des entrevues: les professionnels encore sur le marché du travail accordaient de l'importance au prestige et au défi que leur procurait leur carrière; les retraités, quant à eux, signalaient l'importance des relations inter-personnelles de soutien et le besoin de terminer un travail. Par ailleurs, les travailleurs ont aussi affirmé que la délégation des responsabilités et l'établissement de réseaux constituaient des stratégies efficaces pour surmonter les difficultés liées à leur travail. D'autre part, des différences disciplinaires ont aussi été notées au sein de chaque groupe. Tous ces résultats soulignent l'utilité de combiner données qualitatives et données quantitatives dans la recherche sur le travail et la retraite.

Keywords

WorkRetirementQualitative ResearchTriangulationOlder Professionals.Travailretraiterecherche qualitativetriangulationprofessionnels âgés.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 12 , Issue 2: Qualitative Methods/Les méthodes qualitatives , Été/Summer 1993 , pp. 182 - 199
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Acuff, G., & Allen, D. (1970). Hiatus in meaning: Disengagement for retired professors. Gerontologist, 25, 126–128.Google ScholarPubMed
Beck, S.H. (1982). Adjustment to and satisfaction with retirement. Journal of Ger ontology, 37, 616–624.Google ScholarPubMed
Birren, J.E. (1969). Age and decision strategies. In Welford, A. & Birren, J. (Eds.), Interdisciplinary topics in gerontology. Basil: S. Karger.Google Scholar
Brody, E.M. (1985). Barriers to labor market participation among the elderly. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans.Google Scholar
Bromley, D.B. (1966). The psychology of human aging. Baltimore: Penguin.Google Scholar
Dawson, A.M., & Bailer, W.R. (1972). Relationship between creative activity and health of older persons. Journal of Gerontology, 8, 49–58.Google Scholar
Dennis, W. (1966). Creative productivity between the age of 20 and 80. Journal of Gerontology, 21.Google Scholar
Denzin, N.K. (1989). The research act: A theoretical introduction to sociological methods (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Elwell, F., & Maltbie-Crannell, A. (1981). The impact of role loss upon coping re sources and life satisfaction of the elderly. Journal of Gerontology, 36, 223–232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eran, N., & Jacobson, D. (1976). Expectancy theory prediction of preference to re main employed or retire. Journal of Gerontology, 31, 605–610.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fillenbaum, G.G. (1971). The working retired. Journal of Gerontology, 26, 82–89.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Frank, G. (1980). Life histories in gerontology: The subjective side to aging. In Fry, C.L. & Keith, J. (Eds.), New methods for old age research. Chicago: Loyola University Press.Google Scholar
George, L.K., & Maddox, G.L. (1977). Subjective adaptation to loss of the work role: A longitudinal study. Journal of Gerontology, 32, 456–462.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Guba, E.G., & Lincoln, Y.S. (1988). Do inquiry paradigms imply inquiry methodologies? In Fetterman, D. (Ed.), Qualitative approaches to evaluation in education: The silent scientific revolution (pp. 89–115). New York: Praeger.Google Scholar
Heidbreeder, E. (1972). Factors in retirement adjustment: White collar/blue collar experience. Industrial Gerontology, 12, 69–79.Google Scholar
Hornstein, G.A., & Wapner, S. (1985). Modes of experiencing and adapting to retirement. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 21, 291–315.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johnson, E.S., & Williamson, J.B. (1987). Retirement in the United States. In Markides, K.S. & Cooper, C.L. (Eds.), Retirement in industrialized societies: Social psychological and health factors (pp. 9–42). Chichester: J. Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Kilty, K.M., & Behling, J.H. (1986). Retirement financial planning among professional workers. Gerontologist, 26, 525–530.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Langness, L.L., & Frank, G. (1981). Lives: An anthropological approach to biography. Novato, CA: Chandler & Sharp.Google Scholar
Lehman, H. (1962). The creative production rates of present versus past generations of scientists. Journal of Gerontology, 17, 409–417.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Markides, K.S., & Cooper, C.L. (Eds.). (1987). Retirement in industrialized societies: Social, psychological and health factors. Chichester: J. Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Martin Matthews, A., Brown, K., Davis, C, & Denton, M. (1982). A crisis assessment technique for the evaluation of life events: transition to retirement as an example. Canadian Journal on Aging, 1, 28–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McClosky, H., & Schaar, J. (1965). Psychological dimensions of anomy. American Sociological Review, 30, 14–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McCracken, G. (1988). The long interview. Qualitative Research Methods Series 13. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Morris, T., & Sherwood, S. (1975). A retesting and modification of the Philadelphia Geriatric Rating Scale. Journal of Gerontology, 30, 77–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norris, J.E. (1979). Disengagement in later life: Controversial, but measurable. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario.Google Scholar
Norris, J.E. (1981). Career maintenance in old age. Paper presented at the joint annual meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology and the Gerontological Society of America, Toronto.Google Scholar
Norris, J.E. (1984). Qualitative methods in the study of aging and intergenerational relations. Gerontology Research Centre Publication Series, Paper # 84–3. Guelph: University of Guelph Gerontology Research Centre.Google Scholar
Norris, J.E. (1987). Psychological processes in the development of late-life social identity. In Marshall, V.W. (Ed.), Aging in Canada: Social Perspectives (2nd ed.) (pp. 60–81). Toronto: Fitzhenry & Whiteside.Google Scholar
Norris, J.E. (1989). Intergenerational family relations: Problems in translating from lab to life. Presented at the annual meeting of the Ontario Psychological Association, Toronto.Google Scholar
Norris, J.E., & Rubin, K.H. (1984). Peer interaction and communication: A life-span perspective. In Baltes, P.B. & Brim, O.G. Jr, (Eds.), Life-span development and behavior (Vol. 6, pp. 355–391). Orlando: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Palmore, E.B., Fillenbaum, G.G., & George, L.K. (1984). Consequences of retire ment. Journal of Gerontology, 39, 109–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Palmore, E., & Luikart, C. (1972). Health and social factors related to life satisfaction. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 13, 68–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Patton, M.Q. (1990). Qualitative evaluation and research methods (2nd ed.). Newbury Park: Sage.Google Scholar
Pillemer, K. (1988). Combining qualitative and quantitative data in the study of elder abuse. In Reinharz, S. & Rowles, G.D. (Eds.), Qualitative gerontology (pp. 256–273). New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Rank, M.R. (1992). The blending of qualitative and quantitative methods in understanding childbearing among welfare recipients. In Gilgun, J.F., Daly, K. & Handel, G. (Eds.), Qualitative methods in family research (pp. 281–300). Newbury Park: Sage.Google Scholar
Reid, D., & Ziegler, M. (1977). A survey of the reinforcements and activities elderly citizens feel are important for their general happiness. Essence, 2, 5–24.Google Scholar
Reinharz, S., & Rowles, G.D. (Eds.). (1988). Qualitative gerontology. New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton: Princeton University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rotter, J. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external locus of con trol for reinforcement. Psychological Monographs, 80.Google Scholar
Rowles, G.D., & Reinharz, S. (1988). Qualitative gerontology: Themes and challenges. In Reinharz, S. & Rowles, G.D. (Eds.), Qualitative gerontology (pp. 3–33). New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Russell, R. (1985). Correlates of life satisfaction in retirement. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans.Google Scholar
Ryff, C. (1984). Personality development from the inside: The subjective experience of change in adulthood and aging. In Baltes, P.B. & Brim, O.G. Jr, (Eds.), Life-span development and behavior (Vol. 6, pp. 244–281). Orlando: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Salthouse, T.A. (1990). Cognitive competence and expertise in aging. In Birren, J.E. & Schaie, K.W. (Eds.), Handbook of the psychology of aging (3rd ed.) (pp. 311–319). San Diego: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Schooler, C. (1990). Psychosocial factors and effective cognitive functioning in adulthood. In Birren, J.E. & Schaie, K.W. (Eds.), Handbook of the psychology of agin (3rd ed.) (pp. 347–358). San Diego: Academic Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sharon, N., & Argov, E. (1983). Post-retirement orientation to work and successful placement. Aging and Work, 6, 261–276.Google Scholar
Shaw, L.B. (1984). Retirement plans of middle-aged married women. Gerontologist, 24, 154–159.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Slesinger, J.A. (1961). Personnel adaptation in the federal junior management assistant program. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Institute of Public Administration.Google Scholar
Snow, R.B., & Havighurst, R.J. (1977). Life style types and patterns of retirement of educators. Gerontologist, 17, 545–552.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Streib, G.F. (1983). The frail elderly: Research dilemmas and research opportunities. Gerontologist, 23, 40–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thompson, G.B. (1973). Work versus leisure roles: An investigation of morale among employed and retired men. Journal of Gerontology, 28, 339–344.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tindale, J.A. (1991). Older workers in an aging society. Writings in gerontology (9). Ottawa: National Advisory Council on Aging.Google Scholar