RETIREMENT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RETIREES FROM PROFESSIONAL AND NON-PROFESSIONAL LEVEL OCCUPATIONS IN A HIGHER EDUCATION SETTING
Abstract
This study employed an explanatory survey research design to determine what similarities and differences in life satisfaction exist between retired professionals and non-professional level workers who have dual sources of retirement income. The study variables related to the research questions included demographic data, information about the respondents' personal and social resources, participation in activities, labor force participation, and formal and informal preparation for retirement. The criterion for the selection of the participants in this study was their retirement date. A non-random purposive method of sample selection was employed to select retirees who had been retired for five years or less. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire mailed to the respondents' homes. The questionnaire was designed to determine the respondents' socio-demographic characteristics as well as subjective and objective information in five general areas: retirement experiences, formal supports, health, informal supports, and leisure activities. The Life Satisfaction Scale Z was used to measure the level of satisfaction in retirement. The findings identified commonalities as well as differences in the retirement experiences and sources of satisfaction of professionals and non-professionals. The professionals perceived the lack of role and the absence of structure as negative aspects of retirement. For the non-professionals, it was the loss of social contacts and the reduction of income. Significant differences in mean life satisfaction scores were observed between the subgroups formed by age, race, marital status, voluntary retirement, early retirement participation, and income. An examination of the total study population using multiple regression analyses showed that socio-psychological factors had the largest predictive power of life satisfaction for the group studied. The presence of a strong natural support system emerged as the most important variable in the life satisfaction of the older retirees and the retired women from non-professional occupations. Psychological preparation for retirement was a useful predictor of satisfaction for all retirees. It was particularly useful when predicting satisfaction among retired professional women.
Subject Area
Psychology
Recommended Citation
NEGRON, CARMEN V, "RETIREMENT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RETIREES FROM PROFESSIONAL AND NON-PROFESSIONAL LEVEL OCCUPATIONS IN A HIGHER EDUCATION SETTING" (1987). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI8724223.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI8724223
