Evidence Summary
What is an Evidence Summary?
Key messages from scientific research that's ready to be acted on
Got It, Hide thisMeaningful social roles may improve health and well-being for people in retirement
Heaven B, Brown LJ, White M, et al. Supporting well-being in retirement through meaningful social roles: Systematic review of intervention studies Milbank Q. 2013;91:222-87.
Review question
What kinds of interventions have been developed to support social roles in retirement?
How much have the interventions improved perceived roles?
Have these roles improved health or well-being?
Background
Understanding how to optimize the health and well-being of older people is increasingly important as the number of older people living in developed nations continues to rise.
Social roles in later life have been found to improve health and well-being, but after retiring from work, people may lose roles that provide them with purpose and social contacts.
How the review was done
The review focused on studies from developed countries like Canada, and evaluated interventions that create meaningful and socially engaging activities for healthy adults between the ages of 55 and 75, during their transition to retirement.
The studies included in the review had to focus on perceived social roles, individual health or well-being as outcomes.
14 eligible articles were identified that reported on 11 different studies conducted between 1965 and 2009. These studies evaluated seven unique interventions.
What the researchers found
Interventions that included providing clear roles to older adults and that involved support groups had some effect on improving life satisfaction, social support and activity, physical health, functional health and cognition.
Taking on tasks can increase social contact, physical activity and income, all of which may independently improve health and well-being.
Demographic factors such as gender and socioeconomic status (having limited income, for example) may affect what social roles people prefer.
There are problems with the quality of studies included in this review, limiting the confidence one can place in the results.
Conclusion
Social role interventions may improve health and well-being for adults aged 55-75 who are in retirement transition.
Explicit, meaningful roles and group support can lead to improved:
- life satisfaction
- social support and activity
- physical health, functional health and cognition.
Related Evidence Summaries
-
Tai Chi can improve cognitive function in older adults with cognitive impairment and healthy older adults
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (2014) -
The evidence is unclear about whether it is better for older adults to receive long-term care through home and community-based services or in a nursing home
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2012) -
Computerised cognitive training for 12 or more weeks for maintaining cognitive function in cognitively healthy people in late life.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2020)
Register for free access to all Professional content
RegisterOur Content
About
Support for the Portal is largely provided by the Labarge Optimal Aging Initiative. AGE-WELL is a contributing partner. Help us to continue to provide direct and easy access to evidence-based information on health and social conditions to help you stay healthy, active and engaged as you grow older. Donate Today.
