An adult daughter is concerned about her 85-year-old mother’s disinterest in activities since retiring from a full-time teaching position. Which aging theory should the nurse use to explain this behavior?

• A. Developmental
• B. Disengagement
• C. Activity
• D. Continuity

Answer: (B)

Disengagement theory explains this pattern. It suggests that aging involves a gradual withdrawal from social roles and activities, a mutual adjustment between the older adult and society. After retiring from a central role like teaching, an older adult may reduce involvement and interest in activities as part of this natural shift. While not universal, seeing less engagement after retirement aligns with this theory.

In contrast, activity theory would predict that staying engaged maintains well-being, so it wouldn’t explain a drop in interest. Continuity theory emphasizes keeping consistent patterns from earlier life, and developmental perspectives focus on adapting through later-life tasks rather than specifically describing retirement-induced withdrawal.