ABSTRACT
One thought-provoking link with poor health is the experience of loneliness and social isolation. While not specifically a problem of retirees, retirement may trigger increased loneliness and decreased social connections. Psychological wellbeing refers to the extent to which an individual experiences life in a positive way and functions well psychologically and is often described in studies of retirees as 'adjustment', although few researchers have actually measured pre- and post-retirement psychological adjustment specifically. Psychological wellbeing and adjustment are greatly dependent on all the resources that individuals bring to the retirement transition. Actively planning for retirement and retirement at a time of their own choosing are both positively related to retirees' psychological wellbeing. Drug abuse among retirees and older people has focused largely on prescription drug use, by far the most common category of drug abuse among this group. The observed increase in physical activity after retirement corroborates findings in many other studies, confirming the importance of post-retirement physical activity.
