Retired Husband Syndrome (RHS)

From Barbara Lawrence at RetirementJobs.com, we learn that Japanese women are increasing referring to their retired husbands as “Sodaigomi” or “nureochiba”, which can roughly be translated as over-sized garbage and wet fallen leaves.

For older Japanese, brought up to believe women were subservient to men, the husband’s retirement can be so difficult that experts estimate as many as 60% of wives of Japanese retirees suffer debilitating physical symptoms. These health problems, now known as “Retired Husband Syndrome” include stomach ulcers, slurring of speech, rashes around the eyes, growths in the throat, palpitations, tension headaches and depression as well as “agitation, gas, bloating, muscle aches, and other symptoms of stress."

The illness has been particularly striking in Japan due to a combination of factors including: a) the differences in roles traditionally assigned to men and women, b)Japan has the highest percentage of population in the world over 65; and c) the long lifespan of Japanese couples--the longest on Earth. The result is that 40% of wives of prospective retirees describe themselves as "depressed by their husband’s imminent retirement".

Another contributing factor is that "when Japanese men retire, they lose connection with people and activities, as well as with the primary source of approval and self-image that sustained them throughout their careers. A domain that may have included employees and opportunities for command suddenly evaporates and his home becomes the retiree’s castle."

I think we can see why Japanese wives might take exception to this. Like a king without a country, Japanese husbands retire and start acting demanding while intruding into the daily routines of housekeeping that their wives have perfected over decades.

While issues somewhat unique to Japan may make RHS for profound there, experts say that it is also quite common in the United States and the relations between retired spouses is at risk as millions of baby boomers hit their retirement years.

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