Moodie, Kirsty J. (2022) Enhancing the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Older Men: The TOMNET model. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Australia’s population is rapidly ageing with a declining birth rate and improvements to health care (ABS, 2021) meaning that an estimated 1 in 4 Australians will be at retirement age by 2056 (Handley et al., 2021). Retirement presents a unique challenge to the mental health and wellbeing of men who tend to experience a greater loss of identity, physical changes, financial difficulties, and social isolation than women (Stenling, 2021). Despite the growing prominence of this issue, there is limited research exploring the impact of intervention approaches on the metal health and wellbeing of men over the age of 50. This study explored the participation of men in The Older Men’s Network (TOMNET) and described its impact on their lives. TOMNET is a community based, not-for-profit organisation that supports and promotes the wellbeing of men over the age of 50 years, through a person-centred approach. Data was gathered through a series of semi-structured interviews with members (n = 14, M = 79.79 year, SD 4.10) and partners (n = 2) of TOMNET members. Data was thematically analysed using a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding (Fereday & Muir-Cochrane, 2006) based on the theoretical frameworks of self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000) and stages of psychosocial development (Erikson, 1968). This resulted in the generation of the following five themes: autonomy, competence, relatedness, generativity and integrity. Analysis of the data indicated that the TOMNET model enhances the mental health and wellbeing of older men in retirement by meeting their needs for relatedness and integrity. Further research should explore the impact of the TOMNET model on younger retired men aged 50 – 70 to improve their mental health and wellbeing earlier in retirement.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
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| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Wellbeing (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Lorelle Burton; Michael Ireland |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 17 Jun 2025 03:24 |
| Last Modified: | 17 Jun 2025 03:24 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | mental health; older men; retirement; self-determination theory; psychosocial stages |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52589 |
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