A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Most people who retain steady careers throughout their lives spend a fair amount of time thinking about, and planing for, their eventual retirement. Hailed as a momentous and positive occasion, retirement is often considered in terms of its potential to allow for some much-needed relaxation and personal time following a lengthy dedication to one’s work. But a number of people may find that once they’ve retired, the sense of purpose with which they worked is absent, and this sudden absence may lead to feelings of depression and other negative emotions. To stay active and socially involved, some pensioners may choose to participate in local clubs or groups, but a study recently conducted at the University of Maryland suggests that going back to work may be just the thing for preserving mental health.

The study is unique in that while other academic efforts have linked working after retirement to the enjoyment of improved mental health, controls have not been in place to determine whether pre-existing health benefits were enjoyed by those who scored higher ostensibly as a result of the continued work. This study made the effort to incorporate precisely such controls, enabling the researchers to conclude that working after retirement does in fact improve mental health. Read the rest of this entry

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A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Most of today’s prospective job seekers do their best to put a positive spin on their search, even as the national market proves difficult for a wide range of professions. Considering the factors that can influence successful job hunting, a team from the University of Missouri has completed a study investigating the roles of planning and a positive attitude. The researchers found that a moderate to high rate of planning early on in the job seeking process was associated with a higher rate of successful employment, while expressing and maintaining a positive, extroverted attitude later on in the process, such as during second interviews, was indicative of more final job offers. Those experiencing depression or other mental health concerns due to lack of employment may benefit from incorporating equal measures of planning and a positive attitude.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Seal Beach Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

In the modern economic environment, many people are struggling with job loss or with the fear of losing their sources of income, and some are turning to temp jobs in an effort to stay afloat. While this may be a wise choice financially, a study conducted at McGill University has concluded that such jobs may actually be a threat to mental health. Analyzing data recorded over a ten year period, the researchers found that not only were those workers in temp positions more likely to exhibit symptoms of mental health concerns, but that the association became stronger as workers stayed in a temp job capacity for extended periods of time. The work suggests that greater care for temp workers and the unemployed may be necessary.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Mill Valley Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

The modern drive to perform well and achieve great things has a lot of momentum behind it, and some employees can sometimes feel emotionally overwhelmed by even the smallest of failures or mistakes. Taking a leave of absence is an especially stressful process for many people, as there can be feelings of shame or anxiety about being able to return to work. Relevant for both therapists and their clients, a discussion piece over at canada.com takes a look at why we sometimes feel in upheaval about taking time off of work, and also suggests a few steps for making it a positive and relaxing experience, such as not waiting too long to take a break.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Bethesda Bureau - All Rights Reserved.