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The purpose of this paper is to extend the study of work-life balance (WLB) by exploring the influence of WLB amongst older workers. Theoretically, this study suggests that the psychological benefits of age on relationships between WLB and well-being might be stronger for those “younger” older workers than those working toward or beyond retirement age. This study tests a moderated mediation model whereby the effects of WLB on anxiety and depression (through job stress) are moderated by age.

Survey data from 512 New Zealand employees in three older age cohorts (55–59 years, 60–64 and 65+ years).

This study finds that WLB reduces job stress and leads to lower anxiety and depression. Job stress positively influences anxiety and depression and partially mediates the influence of WLB. Significant interaction effects are found by age, with the lower age cohort (55–59 years) reporting the strongest benefits from WLB and this effect reduces as employees get older but remains significant.

Even when focusing on older workers, the findings show younger older workers elicit stronger benefits from WLB toward well-being, although all age groups find WLB beneficial.

This paper offers novel insights into the question of whether the importance of WLB for well-being differs among older workers.

This study aimed to identify which positive psychological factors are associated with the mental health of older adult retirees. Positive psychology is an emerging discipline of psychology. The study and identification of such factors could lead to increased mental health and lower stress levels of individuals (Ho et al., 2014; Abbas et al., 2019).

The authors searched the following electronic databases: Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus. Thematic synthesis was used for analysis. Database search resulted in the recruitment of 948 articles; after the screening process, only 7 articles were left for further analysis.

Thematic synthesis of resulting articles from systematic literature review revealed that “staying active after retirement, participation in social activities, volunteering, and presence of loved ones” are positive psychological factors that are positively associated with the mental health of older adult retirees. A few positive psychological factors and their association with the mental health of older adult retirees have been examined. Other positive psychological factors and their association with the mental health of older adult retirees are yet to be investigated in future research.

First, many studies have investigated meaning and purpose in life, relationships or having intimacy, well-being, transcendence, flow or engagement, spirituality and flourishing (pleasant life, engaged life and meaningful life, relationship and achievement) (LeBon, 2014). However, many other positive psychological constructs need to be studied yet in this age group examples include wisdom, courage, mindfulness, forgiveness, resilience, emotional intelligence, hope and humor. Second, there is need of theory in the field of successful aging with respect to the positive psychology. Third, which factors negatively contributed toward the mental health of older adult could be another area of future systematic literature review. Finally, role of culture needs to be examined with reference to which positive psychological factor could be important in a specific given cultural context.

The findings of the current research will be useful for clinical psychologist, counselors and gerontologists to understand which factors positively contributed toward the mental health of older adult retirees, which in turn will help to improve mental health of older adult retirees. Findings of the present study set grounds for future research in the field of gerontology in specific cultural context. The findings of this study have added to scientific body of existing literature. Better understanding of retirement can lead to increase in use of positive intervention-based programs for retirees that can facilitate them with life after retirement.

Policymaker working on the well-being of older adult retirees can take help from this study’s evidence-based findings for developing any policy.

Systematic literature review consolidated the existing literature review on the present topic of research. This systematic literature review highlighted factors that are associated with the enhanced mental health of older adults’ retirees. Furthermore, findings revealed the important gap in literature that is many positive psychological constructs are need to be studied yet in this age group examples includes wisdom, courage, mindfulness, forgiveness, resilience, emotional intelligence, hope and humor. Hence, this study has implications for future research.