Assessing Retirement Satisfaction and Perceptions of Retirement Experiences

A 2-part investigation developed a measure of retirement as a life transition. Study 1 generated items from interviews with retirees ( n = 40) and service providers. Item analysis with recent retirees ( n = 86) produced a 51-item Retirement Satisfaction Inventory assessing 6 areas: preretirement work functioning, adjustment, and change, reasons for retirement, satisfaction with life in retirement, current sources of enjoyment, and leisure and physical activities. Study 2 examined a heterogeneous sample of men ( n = 159) and women ( n = 243) retirees. Factor analyses produced internally consistent subscales. Moderate, but acceptable, test-retest reliability was demonstrated. Satisfaction scores correlated with concurrent measures and, together with pre- and postretirement experiences, discriminated 4 groups of voluntary and involuntary retirees. Few effects related to gender, socioeconomic status, length of retirement, and part-time employment were found.