A research programme has shown that people's behaviour and activities in preparation for and after retirement can determine whether or not retirement is satisfying.

The findings of a major Australian retirement research programme were published recently in the Republic in Michael Longhurst's reader-friendly The Beginner's Guide to Retirement: Taking Control of Your Future.

It's a fascinating read. It distils eight areas that can influence whether we are happy or not in retirement.

Being able to retire of your own free will rather than retirement being forced on you is one key factor. A second is being able to retire aged 55 or younger. Financial independence not surprisingly is a third indicator, while engaging in "purposeful" activities for more than five hours per week makes for more satisfied retirees.

Having someone reliable in your life for emotional support is also a key factor. Pro-actively maintaining health through exercise, diet and regular medical check-ups was considered important. Planning for an active lifestyle in retirement, financial planning for retirement and receiving pre-retirement advice or education completes the picture of the satisfied retired person.

Employers would do well to study the finding that being able to retire of your own free will rather than being pushed out can be vital for a worker's psychological well-being.

"At a psychological level, involuntary severance from one's livelihood can result in a sense of loss and a need to grieve in much the same way we do following the loss of a friend or relative," says Longhurst.

Indeed senior managers who decide which workers are to retire early due to downsizing can "themselves experience anxiety that may continue for many years".

The research showed most of those surveyed in the 45 to 55 age bracket wanted to retire at 55. Only a few wanted to work until 65, while most said that only dire financial necessity would see them work beyond 65. People able to retire at 55 or earlier had lower anxiety levels than people who retired later.

Financial independence is a key to satisfaction. Surviving only on a government pension was associated with higher depression, particularly for people still paying off a mortgage.

Failure to achieve financial independence sometimes arose due to divorce, requiring refinancing of the family home to buy out the estranged spouse's interest in the house. Debt arose for others due to borrowing to help adult children who were in trouble with drugs or seeking to escape abusive relationships.

Purposeful activities engaged in for more than five hours a week were found to be an indicator of satisfaction in retirement.

This did not include playing golf! Rather, it refers to involvement in voluntary activities such as raising funds for charities or doing part-time work to supplement retirement income. Such activities can bring social and emotional rewards previously enjoyed in the workplace.

Those lucky enough to have someone upon whom they could rely for emotional support were less stressed than other retirees. Maintaining relationships with family and friends was deemed very important.

People not supported emotionally were advised to find emotional support from religion, counselling or telephone-based crisis referral organisations.

Self-promoted health activities such as taking physical exercise, eating a healthy diet and annual medical check-ups have a bearing on satisfaction during retirement.

Retired people who exercised daily were less stressed than those who didn't exercise. Those eating a healthy diet were found to be less likely to be depressed.

People who were pro-active about all three areas of exercise, diet and check-ups had "significantly lower levels of depression" than those who attended to only one or two of these health areas.

People who planned for their retirement were found to have less stress, anxiety and depression, and were more satisfied than those who did not plan. The research found that it was not only financial planning that mattered. Planning for the lifestyle you want is equally important.

Ideally, people getting ready for retirement become involved in their post-retirement activities before leaving work, making for a smoother transition between working life and retirement.

People who received pre-retirement advice and education manifested lower levels of depression than those who did not avail of such services.

Relying only on friends and relatives who have retired can be unsatisfactory given that people's values and expectations vary widely. Pre-retirement education leads to greater retirement satisfaction and well-being and a more positive attitude to life.

The Beginner's Guide to Retirement: Taking Control of Your Future by Michael Longhurst is published by Newleaf, 286 pages, paperback, priced £10.25.

jmarms@irish-times.ie