title: [From early retirement to retirement--change and stability of the social status of East Germany early retirees].
abstract: This article deals with the social effects of early retirement in East Germany. On the basis of a panel survey with two waves (1993 and 1996) it is shown that the social effects of early retirement have to be considered on a differentiated level and with regard to the time when the survey was carried out. After a difficult phase of transition the social situation of the people gradually starts to stabilize. Despite the experience of loss the judgements are ambiguous and often unstable. The results of the second wave mainly show an improvement of the social situation and a change in the set of criteria. Moreover, people recognize deficits in their social relations and tend to activate contacts outside their families.
authors.affiliation: Universität Leipzig Institut für Arbeitsmedizin und Sozialmedizin.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ernst
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011640:Public Policy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012922:Social Change