Personal Values, Subjective Well-Being, Generativity, and Salient Life Experiences in Midlife: A Pre-Retirement Guidance Program for Professionals

The study explored the relationship between personal values, subjective well-being, and generativity of senior professionals. Also, it aimed to trace the differentvariables influencing the senior professionals’ perceptions of life in general and aging inparticular to facilitate concerns in Counseling, Gerontology, and possibly Anthropology.The descriptive survey was utilized in the first phase of the study using the ESS HumanValues Scale, Subjective Well-being Inventory, and Loyola Generativity Scale while anopen-ended questionnaire life story interview of Dr. MacADams was utilized for thesecond phase. The results showed that the majority of senior professionals has a highlevel of personal values, is satisfied with their well-being, and has a high level ofgenerativity. High correlation was noted between the personal values (benevolence,self-direction, hedonism, achievement, and power) and subjective well-being. Highcorrelation was also noted between generativity and subjective well-being, and between generativity and personal values (benevolence, self-direction, achievement, power, and universalism.

Most of the positive experiences of senior professionals were about theirachievements in life. Death in the family and sickness were the majority of theirunpleasant life experiences. Important changes in their life were the selfless deeds theyhave done for family members and others. Their reflections about the interview revealedappreciation of life and pride in what they have become. However, inadequacy, hesitation, and shyness were also apparent in their reflections.

A pre-retirement guidance program was developed for senior professionals. Coordination with DOLE and other NGO’s could be done for training programs that will provide additional skills and livelihood programs that are appropriate to their age, interest, and expertise to sustain their financial capability, finally this research can be replicated utilizing other segments of midlifer’s population not included in the study likethe LGBT group and the non-professional so that appropriate programs can be developto address their needs and concerns.

As an after thought, it is important that one should be open to change. Learning should not stop as one grows older, it should be a continuous process. Age should not be a deterrent for one to learn and to do something that will not only benefit oneself but also other people.