אובדן משאבים, מצוקה נפשית ומשמעות בחיים בתקופת הפרישה מהעבודה מהיבט מגדרי

Background: The research is based on the dynamic resources approach for explaining adaptation to retirement. This approach claims that loss of resources following retirement will harm adjustment,where one of its expressions is psychological distress.Aims: To test the relationship between loss of resources after retirement and psychological distress,and whether the sense of meaning in life moderates this relationship, through a gender comparison.Methods: The study was conducted using a quantitative method and included 208 participants (114women, 94 men) who retired during the past ten years. The data were collected via an online link.Findings: The greatest loss of resources was experienced in the areas of health and finance. The smallest loss was in interpersonal relations. Women reported a greater decrease in financial and mental health resources and in their ability to function after retirement, compared to men. The degree of loss of resources was positively related, whereas the sense of meaning in life was negatively related to psychological distress. The sense of meaning in life moderated the relationship between the degree of loss of most tested resources and psychological distress among both genders.Conclusions: Finding meaning in life is extremely important in the period after retirement from work. Women are more vulnerable during the retirement period than men.Implications for practice/policy: Professionals should guide retirees to attempt to find meaning in life. Policy makers should create work conditions that are beneficial for women during the working period, including proper salaries, and organizations should offer financial advice for retirement savings in order to improve their economic resources in the retirement stage.