Utilizing the Resource and Strategic Mobilization model (RSM) to Understand Productive Aging in the US

Purpose: The literature on productive aging has documented reasons the elderly are involved in different activities, but the theoretical frameworks examining their engagement in productive activities are limited. To systematically investigate what factors influence older people's involvement in productive activities, this study introduces and tests a theoretical model, the Resource and Strategic Mobilization model (RSM), applying it to productive aging. This model combines and modifies two political participation models (Resource model and Strategic Mobilization model) used to explain individuals' participation in various political activities. Specifically, the author examines how personal resources and social networks, the key fabric to mobilize individuals strategically, influence older people's participation in three major productive activities: employment, volunteering, and family caregiving.

Method: Using nationally representative data from the 2004 Health and Retirement Study, this study includes over 16,000 community-dwelling older adults who are 55 years and older. Predicted variables include (1) personal resources (financial resources and physical resources), and (2) social networks (family demands and social events). Financial resources are measured by an older person's homeownership and his/her household income. Physical resources include no report of chronic health conditions, cognitive problems and functional limitations. Family demands include the number of grandchildren, and whether his/her own parents live within 10 miles. Social events are measured via the frequency an older person attends religious services, and visits/chats with neighbors in the past year. To obtain accurate impacts from resources and social networks, several variables are controlled: age, gender, marital status, race/ethnicity and education. Three logistic regression models are applied to elucidate whether older people's personal resources and social networks influence their decisions in employment, volunteering and family caregiving.

Results: Findings show that greater financial resources increase the probability for an older person to remain employed, and to volunteer. However, financial resources do not influence whether an older person cares for other family members. In general, good health (physical resources) increases the chances for older adults to work and volunteer, but the effect on family caregiving is less pronounced. The greater family demands an older person has, the more likely he/she would care for other family members. The impact from social events on their involvement in productive activities is generally unfounded, except that older people are more likely to stay in the labor force when they attend religious services more often. Although two control variables (e.g. age and race) do not show significant impact on three productive activities, older people who are married or are male are more likely to work and less likely to volunteer or provide care. People with higher educational levels are consistently more likely to participate in all three productive activities.

Implications: The diverse contexts of older persons, as indicated by personal resources and social networks, matter. Future research examining the interactions between personal resources and social networks is needed. Social work practitioners aiming to involve older persons in employment, volunteering or support them in caring for others should understand the role of these contexts in the sustained participation of older persons in such activities.