A study of retired physicians and their spouses by researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine and the Regenstrief Institute, Inc. reports that both doctors and their spouses enjoy very high life satisfaction following the retirement of the physician spouse. The results of the study were published in the Journal of Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology this spring and are being presented later this month at the Indiana University School of Medicine annual alumni gathering and at a workshop at the American Psychiatric Association meeting in San Francisco.
Approximately 88 percent of the retired physicians and an equal percentage of their spouses in the study indicated that retirement was going well. Those who were happiest in retirement were those who had chosen to retire at a young age (60 to 68 years) and had progressed through the initial post-retirement adjustment phase. The researchers found that retirees in their late 70s who had been retired for 8 to 10 years enjoyed retirement more than individuals of the same age range who waited longer to leave the workforce.
Each marital partner was surveyed individually. Factors associated with better life satisfaction for the physicians included good health, optimism, feelings of financial security, participation in activities and hobbies, and a good sexual relationship. For the spouses, good health, having a husband willing to help with chores, a good sexual relationship, and attending the theatre or sporting events, were associated with higher levels of life satisfaction. Spouses who had never worked and those spouses who were retired, reported higher levels of life satisfaction than spouses who were still working.
The study, which was funded by Indiana University School of Medicine and the Indiana University Alumni Association, should help people in their 40s and 50s plan for retirement in a more informed manner, according to Mary Guerriero Austrom, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry, who is first author of the paper. Co-authors are senior author IU Professor of Psychiatry Hugh Hendrie, M.B., Ch.B., Teresa Damush, Ph.D., and Tony Perkins, M.S., of the Regenstrief Institute.
A selection of questions and answers from the survey of physicians (group was 98 percent male) and their spouses shows that while both groups indicated that retirement was going well, their perspectives on retirement were significantly different with the physicians grieving over or celebrating their loss of professional responsibilities and their spouses coping with the altered family dynamics.
Q.: What do/did you find the most enjoyable about retirement
A. (65-year-old pathologist, retired 9 years): "…time to read, think, and write…"
A. (82-year-old male internist, retired 12 years): " assuming role of managing house, cooking…")
A. (76-year-old retired surgeon): "…decreased stress from surgical practice, freedom of time restraint, ability to enjoy family more."
A. (75-year-old female spouse): "…seeing him begin to appreciate me more…"
A. (female spouse, no demographics provided): "…he's happier, more relaxed, willing to participate in many more activities."
A. (79-year-old female spouse): "…nice to have spouse at home…he has time to fix things around the home."
Q.: What do/did you find challenging about retirement?
A. (male physician, no demographics provided): "too much time on hands"
A. (66-year-old retired male surgeon): "…going from somebody to a nobody."
A. (74-year-old retired male pathologist) "…feelings of no importance."
A. (66-year-old male retired radiologist in first year of retirement): "…extra time."
A. (69-year-old female spouse): "It took my husband a while to realize the house and the other responsibilities should be shared."
A. (56-year-old female spouse): "…him expecting to be waited on hand and foot
Q.: What advice can you give to those contemplating retirement?
A. (83-year-old female pediatrician, retired 4 years): "…retire while you are still healthy and can be active and enjoy the world and activities other than medicine."
A. (75-year-old male internist, retired 17 years): "Do not be afraid of retirement."
A. (83-year-old male surgeon, retired 14 years): "Realize you have contributed to society, do not have to do something purposeful every minutes of every day."
A. (75-year-old female spouse): "…be sure you enjoy the company of your spouse."
A. (61-year-old female spouse): "…talk about what you both want in retirement…"
Journal
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology