Cross-cultural research on psychological and social determinants of older workers economic activity.

1. Project goals. The project has both scientific and practical character, considering issues of professional activity in pre-retirement age. Therefore, the objectives of the project are twofold. Firstly, scientific goal refers to designate the role of psychological factors as modifiers of continuing economic activity by employees in the pre-retirement age. Secondly practical goal is to determine the profile and the extent to which social support should be dedicated to older workers, so as to provide t hem most effective conditions to remain professionally active. 2. Why this project is worth realising? Research program considers actual social situation - the problem of activity of the ageing population. Not by accident were Poland and Norway chosen fo r this comparative study. Early retirement and inactive aging is a huge problem for Polish society. In contrast Norway has one of the highest in UE employment rate among workers. In the face of these differences, comparison of psychological and social det erminants of activity in the pre-retirement age in both countries have a great value to explore, because it could help to quantify the non-economic determinants of work in later life. Presented research plan is meant to be similar to the program, which wi ll be implemented earlier in Poland, in a comparable group of workers. As positive psychology point of view assumes, presented study will primarily focus on people, who in spite of adverse social conditions, remain active and have positive attitude toward s work. 3. Expected results. The proposed research program is primarily assumed to answer the question of what kind of psychological factors supports active ageing, even despite the unfavorable environment. Those factors could become essential for buildi ng the most effective, based on individual needs and resources, support systems. Comparative cross-cultural results will also open new ways for supporting the aging population of different nationalities.