Psychological adaptation of older workers: Findings from the Western and Eastern countries

As the baby boomers are entering into old age, the upsurge of older workers in the labour force is leading to a major concern over their maintenance of work performance. Previous research in the West suggests that older workers are capable in adapting to physical and cognitive changes through resource reallocation and regulatory behaviors. However, the generalizability of these research findings to Eastern populations remains largely unknown. In this chapter, empirical findings on SOC strategies (including selection, optimization and compensation), emotion regulation, and conflict management from the Western labor force are first reviewed, followed by a discussion on the compatibility of these findings in Chinese working populations. Implications and future directions on aging workforce are also discussed. Copyright © 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.