Increasing numbers of people are delaying retirement. Studies of their motives are scarce and biased to Western contexts.
The aim was to explore internal and external motives of older Slovenians who ...continue to work after becoming eligible for retirement.
Nine workers, aged 59-72, were interviewed. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.
Three main themes were extracted. The 'Foundations' described the prerequisites for continued work engagement that were often non-negotiable. The 'Rewards' included the benefits of working and suggested a strong pull towards the non-material aspects of work. 'Negotiating occupational challenges' summarized an internal crisis that was experienced when faced with a potential occupational void of retirement.
Although the participants' motivations were not homogenous, we identified a pattern in the way they constructed their motives in relation to the occupational life trajectories and contextual factors. Based on our findings and multidisciplinary theories, we proposed a hierarchy of motives for prolonged work activity.
The study offers an occupational perspective of the phenomenon of delayed retirement and argues that the efforts of the discipline of occupational therapy should be directed at different levels of motives, including empowering people to nurture higher level occupational motives.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Choosing to continue working after retirement eligibility can attract both negative and positive sentiments from the general public. Studies examining the motivations of older workers have so far ...been conducted in times of relative social and economic stability. However, little is known about what it means for older workers to work during a lockdown or pandemic situation. The present longitudinal study aimed to explore experiences of retirement-aged workers in Slovenia in relation to their motives for prolonged work activity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, using the theory of gerotranscendence as a theoretical framework. Nine workers were interviewed before and after the start of the pandemic. The qualitative analysis was based on 18 interviews and observations, juxtaposing two analytical methods in order to illustrate common themes across the data as well as tensions in specific situations within a narrative context. Four main themes are presented: Unchanged plans, Motive developments, Psychological preparation for retirement and Views of society. In addition, a narrative analysis is presented with a focus on self-transcending elements in some of the participants' narratives. The findings suggest that during a pandemic, older workers' individual experiences might be constructed more positively compared to other groups, especially if they develop agentic identity and pursue meaningful activities. We discuss an innovative approach to gerotranscendence, complementing this theory with concepts from occupational science to develop a clearer distinction from the now dated disengagement theory and examine the life trajectories of older workers in novel situations such as a pandemic.
•Prolonged labour activity attracts both negative and positive rhetoric.•Gerotranscendence as a new perspective to explore the motives of older workers.•Life direction remains undisturbed while work motives can change during a pandemic.•COVID-19 lockdown a psychological preparation for positive retirement.•Agentic identity in older workers can be achieved via meaningful activities.
Background: Although extended work activity is often associated with active and healthy ageing, it meets with a polarized response. Studying workers' lived experience may provide important insights ...into their motives for working beyond typical retirement age. Objective: This systematic review aims to explore why people who could retire continue to work and applies the dimensions of doing, being, becoming, and belonging to describe prolonged participation in work. Methods: Our search strategy followed the guidelines of the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD, 2009). Original studies were identified from databases CINAHL, Web of Science, Business Source Premier, ERIC, and ProQuest. Data were analyzed from the perspective of doing, being, becoming, belonging. A thematic synthesis was applied to summarize key motives. Results: Eleven qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria and achieved the quality criteria of the The Qualitative Assessment Research Instrument. Eight motives were identified that were associated with extrinsic and intrinsic motivational factors. Health was a theme of salience and was both a prerequisite for work and an important motivator in itself. The dimensions of doing, being, becoming, belonging emerged in the description of workers' motives and formed an interwoven selection of motives that included achievement, positive relationships, helping others, and enjoying work. Conclusion: Retirement-aged workers appear to be a poorly represented population in the scientific literature on work motives. The main findings indicate that workers who prolong labour activity experience work as much more than the act of 'doing' or acquiring additional financial resources. This urges us to include the dimensions of 'being, becoming, belonging' into contemporary age management.
Delovna okolja postajajo vedno bolj generacijsko raznolika. Vendar pa sodelovanje starejših in mlajših delavcev pogosto otežujejo stereotipi o starostnih skupinah in staromrzništvo. Namen ...kvalitativne raziskave je bil proučiti izkušnje starejših delavcev z medgeneracijskimi odnosi na delovnem mestu pred in po pojavu pandemije covida-19. Z devetimi delavci, starimi med 59 in 72 let, je bilo izvedenih 18 intervjujev. Tri glavne teme, ki so izšle iz tematske analize intervjujev, so se navezovale na (1) medgeneracijsko sodelovanje in pomoč, (2) medgeneracijsko napetost in (3) skrb za prihodnost mlajše generacije. Raziskava je pokazala, da v nekaterih delovnih okoljih deluje kompleksna medgeneracijska dinamika in določena mera napetosti, ki pa so jo udeleženci doživljali različno intenzivno. V času prvega vala covida-19 so nekateri starejši delavci napovedali, da se bodo medgeneracijski odnosi zaradi ekonomske krize lahko poslabšali, skrbela pa jih je tudi prevlada tehnologije. Izpostavljen je bil pomen dobrega medgeneracijskega vodenja za sodobna delovna okolja.
Purpose: For working age adults, return to work (RTW) after severe COVID-19 can be an essential component of rehabilitation. We explored the expectations and experiences related to RTW in a group of ...workers recovering from severe COVID-19 in Slovenia.
Materials and methods: Four focus groups were conducted between May 2021 and August 2021. Fifteen men and three women, aged between 39 and 65 years, participated. We analysed data using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results: Four main themes were developed in the analysis, pertaining to (1) work identity, (2) challenges to work re-entry, (3) personal strengths and support systems, and (4) possible adaptations at work. The disruption of work triggered sentiments about its role in identity. Workers' personal agency and self-advocacy helped participants cope with various barriers that were beyond their control, such as physical limitations and lack of systematic routines to address RTW. Workers recovering from severe COVID-19 were at risk of developing negative expectations regarding their work re-entry.
Conclusions: RTW after severe COVID-19 involves different personal, organizational and systemic dimensions that need to be considered and carefully aligned. Due to the individuality of the process, the worker should be involved as a key partner in the RTW process.
IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION
Lack of clinical pathways can negatively impact return to work (RTW) after severe COVID-19.
RTW processes should start early but timely and include individual follow up.
Patients expect the interdisciplinary team of experts to work together and involve them in all phases of decision-making regarding their rehabilitation and RTW process.
Positive expectations regarding work re-entry are essential for the RTW process.
Background.
Collaborative goal setting is an important part of client-centered occupational therapy. However, not all therapists have comparable skills when it comes to setting goals.
Purpose.
The ...aim of our study was to explore the experiences of novice and expert occupational therapists who use the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure in the process of goal setting.
Method.
This study followed a focused ethnography approach. Four beginners and four experienced occupational therapists were interviewed about their experiences with goal setting. We also observed them during a goal setting session. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Findings.
The four main themes that emerged from the analysis showed both similarities and differences between novice and experienced therapists, especially in the areas of communication, guidance, and flexibility, as well as dilemmas they were facing.
Implications.
Our findings challenge the client-centeredness of the participants and the relevance of work experience when it comes to collaborative goal setting.
Among individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 around the world, there is a substantial number who would need support in finding their way back to meaningful and productive work. The aims of this ...paper are to demonstrate the multitude of factors that shape return to work (RTW) practices across and within several countries, and argue for the need to explore RTW from an international perspective during an on-going pandemic, focusing on working age adults who have recovered from COVID-19. Conditions for RTW differ across countries. Occupational therapy has a central role in medical rehabilitation after injury and illness (including COVID-19), but the occupational therapy community has, to the best of our knowledge, yet to raise awareness and advance evidence regarding its role in post-COVID RTW processes. A robust evidence-based knowledge on RTW that can be utilised by occupational therapists during the present and future pandemics is needed.
This article is based on an ethnographic study that used empirical data and social sciences literature to explore the social dimensions of Qi Gong as a community from an occupational perspective. ...Interviews, participant observations, and 'hanging out' sessions were conducted with 9 participants over a 6-month period. Data were analysed using a constant comparative method. The findings suggest that a collective occupational experience of sharing and validating facilitated the formation of a community. Moreover, through the use of a symbolic or coded language, participants connected with each other through occupation. Relationships with people who did not engage in Qi Gong were also discussed. It is argued that new knowledge concerning occupation can be generated when seeing occupation as a central aspect of forming a sense of or context for community.
Migracija je ena najbolj stresnih tranzicij. Imigranti se pogosto soočajo z negativnimi občutki in identitetno krizo. Avtorica je k problematiki pristopila s stališča delovne terapije in osvetlila ...vlogo stroke pri integraciji te populacije. Znanje o človekovih okupacijah, ki je specifično za delovne terapevte, lahko doprinese k teoretičnemu razumevanju imigracijskih situacij. Podrobneje so predstavljene švedske izkušnje. Fenomen imigracije je švedska realnost, saj naj bi bilo v petih letih že tretjina Švedov imigrantov. Raziskave so pokazale, da ekonomski imigranti v preteklosti niso bili posebno uspešni. Značilen zanje je bil tudi velik delež predčasnih upokojitev. Poleg tega se, v medgeneracijsko dobro mobilni švedski družbi, otroci imigrantov, v primerjavi z avtohtonim prebivalstvom, lažje ekonomsko premaknejo navzdol in težje navzgor glede na dohodke staršev. Za imigrante so značilni trije različni adaptacijski stili. Identifikacija z novo kulturo ali predanost izvorni etnični identiteti sta manj zaželeni varianti. Najbolj uspešen je razvoj bikulturne identitete in transkulturacija. Tako so se na imigracijo odzvali Slovenci na Švedskem vključeni v kvalitativno raziskavo avtorice. Raziskavo je vodila delovno terapevtska paradigma. Proces adaptacije in integracije ter bikulturnost udeležencev so prikazani skozi njihov izbor okupacij in navad. Aktivnostim vezanim na primarno socialno okolje so se sčasoma pridružile nove okupacije in navade. Z vidika delovne terapije je integracija pomenila združitev novih in starih navad in okupacij v okupacijskem vzorcu posameznika. Imigracija je življenjska sprememba, ki sledi dinamiki drugih življenjskih sprememb zajetih v omenjeno raziskavo. Avtorica spoznanj ne želi generalizirati. Zanimajo pa jo človekovi okupacijski odzivi na spremembe in kako so povezani s temeljnimi psihološkimi značilnostmi, v katerih smo si, kljub svoji individualnosti, podobni.
