title: Social connectedness and the transition from work to retirement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although there are numerous studies on the role of social connections in early working life, research that examines how social connectedness matters in the later stages of a career is scarce. The present study analyzes to what extent social connectedness affects the timing of the transition from work to retirement.
  
  
  METHODS
  We draw on data from the German Socioeconomic Panel Study (GSOEP) from the years 1985-2009 (N = 10,225), and we apply techniques of event history analysis. Social connectedness includes social gatherings with friends, relatives, and neighbors (informal participation) as well as engagement in voluntary and civic associations and local politics (formal participation).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings demonstrate that social connectedness matters for the transition from work to retirement, but its impact depends on the type of participation. Whereas informal participation results in earlier retirement, formal participation delays labor force withdrawal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest a trade-off between informal participation and work in later life, which leads people with frequent social contacts to opt for early retirement. By contrast, the fact that formal participation is associated with postponed retirement points to employment benefits of volunteering and civic engagement among older workers.
authors.affiliation: Social Science Research Center Berlin, Germany. lancee@wzb.eu
authors.forename: Bram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lancee
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radl
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005859:Germany, East; D005860:Germany, West; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*