'Looking forward': An actionable framework for proactive health and well-being behaviours in Australian midlife women.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: The health and well-being of midlife women are not well-researched. This study uses an actionable framework to demonstrate the influence of biosocial, psychological and cognitive factors on proactive health and well-being behaviours (PHWB) of midlife women, including setting and evaluating their well-being goals. METHODS: Quantitative cross-sectional data from Australian middle-aged women (N = 904) aged 40-65 residing in Australia was used. Multinomial logistic regression examined associations with three PHWB outcomes (low, medium and high) and biosocial, psychological and cognitive factors. RESULTS: Proactive health behaviours are influenced by a positive attitude towards ageing, a stronger sense of stoicism and self-control, and a clearer life purpose. Compared to a high PHWB group, low proactiveness was associated with poor biosocial influences, fewer personal relations and less perceived behavioural control, but a higher level of self-acceptance. CONCLUSION: Findings demonstrate how significant biosocial, psychological and cognitive determinants may empower midlife women to be proactive and to set and achieve a broader set of physical, mental, relationship and financial health and well-being goals for positive health outcomes and healthy ageing. SO WHAT?: The actionable framework provides directions for public health agencies to develop health and well-being communication strategies and health promotion initiatives targeting women at both early and later midlife. The findings point to the importance of understanding and fostering proactiveness in the context of midlife women's health and well-being.

To stay or to go? Postretirement housing choices of single Baby Boomer women.

Single women of the Baby Boomer generation are often financially disadvantaged in the retirement planning process due to their lower accumulated savings compared to male retirees. This disadvantage impacts significant consumption decisions such as postretirement housing choices. This study uses the theory of planned behavior to examine how certainty in intentions influences preparing and planning for postretirement housing. A typology of single Baby Boomer women is developed based on their financial, demographic, and psychological circumstances. Each segment likely requires different informational strategies and financial services to foster proactive planning for retirement. Significant implications exist for social policy and the financial services sector.

State of inertia: psychological preparation of single Australian and UK baby boomer women for retirement housing change.

The transition into retirement is an important life phase that presents significant challenges in respect to well-being, lifestyle, and consumption choices. This article examines the consumption context of housing after retirement, in particular for the low-resourced cohort of single baby boomer women. Utilizing an extended Theory of Planned Behavior model, we examine the relationship between intention and actual behavior, in this case financial advice seeking, as an important component of the psychological preparedness of single female baby boomer women. Our analysis showed both Australian and UK single baby boomer women display different behaviors in terms of seeking advice and their mental preparedness to adjust to a change in their living arrangements. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for policy and further research.