How to Retire Well? A New Tool to Assess (and Overcome) Risks

Retirement is an opportunity to focus on passions, family, and friends, but it can also be a period of transition marked by uncertainty—one of the most stressful life events a person may face.

Promoting a healthy and positive transition into retirement is the goal of REWIRE, a new PRIN research project led by the University of Bologna in collaboration with the University of Pavia. The initiative seeks to help new retirees fully embrace the opportunities of this new phase of life by identifying potential risks and providing practical solutions.

“In popular perception, retirement is seen as a positive opportunity to pursue personal aspirations, but in reality, this transition can sometimes lead to distress, even causing physical and psychological issues,” explains Alessia Tessari, professor at the Department of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari" at the University of Bologna and coordinator of the project. “REWIRE aims to create tools and conditions that promote well-being among new retirees, offering targeted, non-pharmacological interventions, such as physical and cognitive activities.”

To identify the factors that may negatively affect well-being in retirement, researchers will track a large group of new retirees over the course of a year, analysing sociodemographic data alongside health, cognitive, personality, psychological, and emotional factors. Anyone retiring within the next three months can participate in REWIRE by completing a questionnaire (in Italian) and engaging in a series of online activities.

“The goal is to calculate a risk index that indicates an individual’s likelihood of facing depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, or social isolation,” says Professor Tessari. “This tool will be publicly available online, free of charge, and will provide personalized recommendations—highlighting aspects of life to nurture and areas that may need adjustment for a smoother transition into retirement.”

Once researchers establish an effective risk index, they will develop an intervention programme combining physical and cognitive activities for participants who are about to retire or have just retired. Specifically, group-based physical activities—designed to foster social connections—will be paired with cognitive exercises that enhance attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. All information on how to participate in the project is available on the official REWIRE website.