CONSIDERATION OF SELECTED SOCIAL THEORIES OF AGING AS EVIDENCED BY PATTERNS OF ADJUSTMENT TO RETIREMENT AMONG PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

摘要

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the characteristic patterns of adjustment to retirement among professional football players supported one or more of three current social theories of aging. Data for the study were derived primarily from a structured interview which incorporated questions representative of disengagement theory, identity crisis theory, and activity theory, and questions regarding the individual's professional career in general. Additional data were obtained from three standardized scales given as pencil-paper tests which assessed life satisfaction, morale, and self-esteem. In order to provide an overview of the sample, a written questionnaire was designed to elicit biographical information on each subject.;During May and June of 1980, interviews were conducted with five retired professional football players. Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale (1955), the Life Satisfaction Index B (Neugarten, Havighurst, and Tobin, 1961) and The Revised Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (Lawton, 1975) were administered to each subject following the interview session. The biographical questionnaire was given prior to each interview.;The recorded interviews were transcribed and reviewed for evidence which would support or refute one or more of the three social theories of aging. In addition, subject's scores on the self-esteem scale, life satisfaction index, and morale scale were analyzed for further evidence regarding the support or nonsupport of the aging theories.;In general, results from this investigation varied in their support for the three social theories addressed. In some cases, the characteristic patterns of adjustment tended to indicate support for more than one theory; four out of the five retirees interviewed evidenced patterns of adjustment which showed some support for activity theory, while two retired players appeared to experience an identity crisis following their retirement from professional football. Only one former player exhibited an adjustment pattern providing support for disengagement theory.;The results of this study disclosed negligible support for disengagement theory. Only one of the five subjects interviewed showed partial withdrawl from society. This was evidenced by a decreased interest in people in general and decreased interest and involvement in physical and social activity as well as a score falling within the midrange on the life satisfaction index.;Partial support was found for identity crisis theory as evidenced by the responses of two of the five subjects to the interview questions coupled with low self-esteem scores. The results from this study seemed to suggest that variables other than involuntary retirement might be considered as causal factors in creating an identity crisis. Such factors include complete identification with the role of athlete prior to retirement, insufficient preparation for the nonsport job market, degree of commitment to professional football, and unfulfilling second careers.;Convincing support was found for activity theory as reflected through the responses of four of the five subjects. The four subjects showed a maintenance of, or an increase in various forms of activity as well as scores ranging from the mid-range to high on both the morale scale and the life satisfaction index.;It was concluded from this investigation that in terms of social theories of aging, activity theory appeared to be more applicable to this select group of retired professional football players as opposed to disengagement theory and identity crisis theory.