Research Highlight: Social Involvement and Physical Health

Retirement can be an opportunity to improve health, with more time for (better) sleep, eating healthier, and exercise. In fact, maintaining health is a top priority for retirees, next to finances. But studies are starting to suggest that we need to look beyond diet and exercise for living a long and healthy life in retirement.

A 2016 study by researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia found that retirees’ social involvement was comparable to physical exercise in terms of its association with physical health and mortality.* These researchers compared the number of social groups both before and after retirement: “In showing that it is group memberships following (rather than prior to) retirement that determine long-term life and health quality, findings also indicate that group memberships play a unique role in the transition to retirement by affecting people's health and quality of life once they cease formal employment.”

We know that social involvement is a critical part of general wellbeing, and now we are seeing more and more evidence of the impact it has on physical health (including brain health). With so much of our time spent at work, our social lives tend to also revolve around work. This means that, with retirement, we need to seriously consider changes to social networks and the quality of social interactions, in order to maintain or improve wellbeing following retirement. For some, retirement will mean leaving behind toxic relationships and having more time for healthy and supportive relationships. For others, it will mean leaving behind relationships that have very much been a part of one’s sense of community, belonging, and sense of identity.

At Retirement Life Plan, our research-based programmes take a deep dive into issues such as this, to ensure that the transition to retirement is about supporting enjoyment and wellbeing. Whether you are preparing for retirement yourself, or working with pre-retirees, we have solutions to support you.

*Steffens, N. K., Cruwys, T., Haslam, C., Jetten, J., & Haslam, S. A. (2016). Social group memberships in retirement are associated with reduced risk of premature death: Evidence from a longitudinal cohort study. BMJ Open, 6 (2). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010164

Retirement for Introverts

Positive social interactions are a critical part of general wellbeing, and even physical health. They are also particularly important in the retirement transition, as many of our social connections are formed through work. Spending more time at work than we do at home, retirement leads to a significant change in daily social involvements. Because of this, replacing our social interactions from work can require much more effort than most retirees anticipate.

For introverts, who thrive with alone time, reaching out to get involved in social pursuits may go against natural tendencies. Retirement simply seems like a great opportunity to get away from the daily interactions that can be so draining. So how can introverts prepare for social adjustments in retirement, without becoming drained by new involvements?

1. Embrace the increase in alone time. For introverts, work involves a bit more social interaction than they would prefer….leading to feelings of exhaustion. Retirement is a great opportunity for introverts to scale back on their daily social involvement and benefit from a bit more alone time.

2. Find an optimal balance for social involvement. Scaling back social involvement in retirement should not mean spending all of your time alone. Even introverts are still social creatures. Positive social connections are a critical part of our general wellbeing, physical health, and even longevity. This means we need to regularly evaluate how we are feeling with our social interactions: Does the interaction leave you feeling drained or energized? If it leaves you feeling drained, consider shifting gears to other types of interactions (e.g., with different people or smaller groups), or scaling back social involvements.

3. Commit to regular social activities. Committing to regular social activities is a great way to protect against natural inclinations to simply keep to oneself. This might mean joining a group that meets regularly (and aligns with your personal interests), or scheduling regular get-togethers with close friends and family. Ideally, as psychologist Marisa G. Franco suggests, you’ll want to commit to meeting regularly with a group for at least three months. This allows enough time for you to become familiar with other members of the group, and then decide whether the group is right for you.

4. Focus on quality over quantity. As introverts, the quality of interactions naturally tend to take priority over quantity. This is important for introverts to be conscious of as they are considering how to maintain social involvement in retirement. Rather than jumping into a large volunteer effort, they might start with some of their biggest goals and interests for retirement, and look for groups based on those interests. They might also prefer to focus on small groups and a few close personal connections, rather than large gatherings.

The social element of retirement is critical for all retirees, of all personality types. However, the social pursuits that provide fulfilment will look quite different depending on personality, values and preferences, and other personal characteristics.

For more on elements of retirement wellbeing and adjustment, please see our resources below:

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