Assessing retirement satisfaction and perceptions of retirement experiences.
A 2-part investigation developed a measure of retirement as a life transition. Study 1 generated items from interviews with retirees (n = 40) and service providers. Item analysis with recent retirees (n = 86) produced a 51-item Retirement Satisfaction Inventory assessing 6 areas: preretirement work functioning, adjustment and change, reasons for retirement, satisfaction with life in retirement, current sources of enjoyment, and leisure and physical activities. Study 2 examined a heterogeneous sample of men (n = 159) and women (n = 243) retires. Factor analyses produced internally consistent subscales. Moderate, but acceptable, test-retest reliability was demonstrated. Satisfaction scores correlated with concurrent measures and, together with pre- and postretirement experiences, discriminated 4 groups of voluntary and involuntary retirees. Few effects related to gender, socioeconomic status, length of retirement, and part-time employment were found.
Floyd
F J
FJ
Psychology Department, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824-1117.
Haynes
S N
SN
Doll
E R
ER
Winemiller
D
D
Lemsky
C
C
Burgy
T M
TM
Werle
M
M
Heilman
N
N
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors