Motivation and Healthy Aging at Work

Hannes Zacher; Rana Sagha Zadeh; Jutta Heckhausen; Gabriele Oettingen

doi:10.1093/geronb/gbab042

Motivation and Healthy Aging at Work

J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2021 Sep 13;76(Suppl 2):S145-S156. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbab042.

Authors

Hannes Zacher¹, Rana Sagha Zadeh², Jutta Heckhausen³, Gabriele Oettingen^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Psychology - Wilhelm Wundt, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.
² Department of Design & Environmental Analysis, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
³ Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
⁵ Institute of Psychology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.

PMID: 33891014
DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbab042

Abstract

The aims of this paper were to review theoretical and empirical research on motivation and healthy aging at work and to outline directions for future research and practical applications in this area. To achieve these goals, we first consider the World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of healthy aging in the context of paid employment and life-span development in the work domain. Second, we describe contemporary theoretical models and cumulative empirical findings on age, motivation, and health and well-being at work, and we critically discuss to what extent they are consistent with the WHO's definition of healthy aging. Finally, we propose several directions for future research in the work context that are aligned with the WHO's definition of healthy aging, and we describe a number of interventions related to the design of work environments and individual strategies to promote the motivation for healthy aging at work.

Keywords: Employment; Healthy aging; Motivation; Organizations; Work.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Aged
Behavioral Research
Employment / psychology*
Healthy Aging* / physiology
Healthy Aging* / psychology
Humans
Mental Health
Motivation*
Physical Functional Performance
Psychosocial Functioning*
Psychosocial Support Systems*
Social Environment
Work / psychology*
Work Engagement