Retirement planning, use of time, and psychosocial adjustment.

This was a descriptive study to examine the relationship between retirement planning, use of time, and the psychosocial adjustment to retirement. A 72-item questionnaire was mailed to all retirees (N = 1565) from an international company residing in seven southeastern states with a response of 764 (48.82%). Significant differences were found when comparing what retirees indicated they had done to prepare for retirement, and what they believed after retirement was important for people to do to prepare. Following retirement greater emphasis was placed not only on financial factors, but also on psychosocial adjustment and use of time. Findings suggest that retirement as a psychosocial transition needs to be an integral component of nursing assessments and interventions for retirees and their families.

Psychosocial changes following retirement.

This study was designed to: (a) identify the perceptions of retirees about changes in their life patterns during retirement; (b) investigate the kinds of adjustment problems occurring in retirement as a basis for developing prevention oriented pre-retirement programs; and (c) identify extant factors which could demonstrate underlying themes relating to retirement adjustment. A 72-item, multiple response questionnaire was used to gather demographic data, information on use of time, pre-retirement planning, health problems, changing life patterns, and adjustment to retirement. It is the latter which is reported in these findings. The population included 1565 retirees from a designated company living in the south-eastern United States of America, with a response of 764 subjects (48.82%). Findings suggest the respondents were generally healthy and well adjusted; however, numerous adjustment problem areas were identified within the six life patterns. Additional factor analysis (principal components) demonstrated four factors of particular importance: satisfaction with retirement, retirement concerns, spousal relationships, and pre-retirement preparation outcomes.