title: Apprehensive about retirement: Women, life transitions, and relationships.
abstract: Understanding women's attitudes toward retirement is crucial for being able to help women adjust to this transition. The present study uses interviews and questionnaires to understand retirement ambivalence and the role that close relationships play in women's retirement experiences. Findings indicate that women have mixed feelings about retirement; they are both excited and fearful. They particularly enjoy the freedom and control this transition brings but are also moderately fearful of retirement, especially about shifting relationships. A better-quality relationship correlates with greater satisfaction and less fear. Such insights can be used to help women prepare for this major transition.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Colgate University , Hamilton , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sherry
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Colgate University , Hamilton , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
authors.affiliation: b Department of Sociology and Women's Studies , Colgate University , Hamilton , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Meika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loe
authors.affiliation: c Department of Educational Studies , Colgate University , Hamilton , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: d Department of Psychology , Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA.
authors.forename: Brooke C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Feeney
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Ambivalence; fear; marriage; retirement; social support