Final answer:
Those who respond most poorly to retirement are typically those who lack a sense of purpose and identity outside of their professional life. A strong social network, retirement plans, and financial security can aid in the transition, but may not substitute for the loss of work-associated identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individuals who typically respond most poorly to retirement are those who lack a sense of purpose and identity outside of work. The transition into retirement can be distinctly challenging for these individuals because they have strongly associated their self-worth and daily structure with their professional life. Without this anchor, they may feel adrift and struggle with finding new ways to define themselves and their usefulness.
A strong social network, clear retirement plans, and financial security can often help ease the transition into retirement, but they may not be enough to overcome the loss of purpose and identity that work provided. It is essential for retirees to develop interests and activities outside of work before retiring, to ensure a smoother adjustment to this new life stage. Those who do not establish a robust sense of self independent of their work careers are more susceptible to experiencing difficulties when they retire.