The effects of retirement expectations and social support on post‐retirement adjustment: A longitudinal analysis

Abstract

Purpose

The aim is to examine the shifting effects of retirement expectations and social support on adjustment three and half and ten months post‐retirement.

Design/methodology/approach

For the purpose of this study, the authors used a survey methodology. Expectations regarding retirement and social support were used to predict three facets of satisfaction post‐retirement; life satisfaction, retirement satisfaction, and social satisfaction.

Findings

Results suggested that expectations consistently and significantly predicted satisfaction early and later in retirement. Social support was only a significant antecedent of retirement satisfaction at time 2, and had a non‐significant relationship to social and life satisfaction in retirement.

Practical implications

Results support the view that retirement expectations have a strong influence on retirement, life, and social satisfaction in the first year of an individual's retirement.

Originality/value

The paper's findings imply that interventions designed to create realistic expectations of the retirement experience may have a positive impact on adjustment.

Citation

Anne Taylor, M., Goldberg, C., Shore, L.M. and Lipka, P. (2008), "The effects of retirement expectations and social support on post‐retirement adjustment: A longitudinal analysis", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 23 No. 4, pp. 458-470. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940810869051