An exploration of the relationship between retirement reasons and retirement congruency
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Date
2012-06
Authors
Boswell, Janet
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Mount Saint Vincent University
Abstract
Research has typically regarded retirement as forced or chosen, but the retirement
decision is not necessarily a dichotomous one. Researchers have identified a third choice,
part forced/part wanted category (Schellenberg & Silver, 2004; Szinovacz & Davey,
2005). A study carried out by Schellenberg and Silver (2004) examined how retirement
experiences corresponded with retirement preferences, which they referred to as
retirement congruency (RC). Three RC categories are possible: (a) low (no choice), (b)
moderate (restricted choice), and (c) high (choice), however to date, limited research has
been carried out on moderate congruence retirees (retired voluntarily, but would have
continued working if conditions had been different). Using a modified version of
Szinovacz and Davey’s (2005) perceptions of forced retirement model, the relationship
between retirement reasons and an individual’s assessment of their retirement congruency
was explored.
Secondary data analysis of the 2007 General Social Survey was conducted on a
sample of 1166 individuals who retired between the ages of 50 and 78 years. The
percentages of individuals in the retirement congruency categories were: High: 30% (n =
347); Moderate: 53% (n = 615); and Low: 17% (n = 204). Multinomial logistic regression
examined the factors that predicted RC membership. Eight variables (age at initial
retirement, health, mandatory retirement, job loss, adequate income, early retirement
plan, wanted to pursue leisure activities, and wanted to stop work) were significant in the
low/high RC comparison (no choice versus choice). Nine variables (life satisfaction, age
at initial retirement, job loss, discrimination, adequate income, early retirement plan,
worked at an early age, wanted to pursue leisure activities, and wanted to stop work) were significant in the low/moderate RC comparison (no choice versus restricted choice),
of which three were unique to this comparison (life satisfaction, discrimination, and
having worked at an early age). Six of the same variables (age at initial retirement, job
loss, adequate income, early retirement plan, pursue leisure activities, and wanted to stop
work) were significant in the low/high and low/moderate RC comparisons. Five variables
(health issues, mandatory retirement policies, CPP/tax rules, work was stressful/physical,
and wanted to change career/work part-time) were significant when comparing moderate
RC (restricted choice) with high RC (choice), of which three were unique to this
comparison (CPP/tax rules, work was stressful/physical, and wanted to change
career/work part-time).
Overall, the results indicate that various factors lead to differing types of
retirement congruency and that moderate RC is theoretically different from low and high
RC. Furthermore, the results affirm that retirement decision making should be viewed
along a continuum rather than as a dichotomous concept (forced versus chosen), as some
retirement reasons are unique to moderate RC (part forced/part wanted) and have not
been reported on in previous research. This study provides insight into what
characteristics and conditions impact older workers’ decision to retire, which will assist
employers, unions, educators, policymakers and government officials in the development
of strategies and policies that will benefit many individuals.
Description
Keywords
Retirement , Retirement congruency