Retirement as a Social Institution

Does retirement affect cognitive functioning?

“…A second potential explanation comes from the gerontological literature that describes the different phases of retirement. Atchley (1976Atchley ( , 1982 has suggested that retirees may experience a "honeymoon phase" following retirement, which is characterised by a period in which the individual engages in different activities that he/she has put off for years because of work-related constraints. This engagement in desired activities may attenuate the negative effect of retirement on cognition.…”

Actor and Partner Effects Among Marital Dyads in Retirement Adjustment and Well-being

“…Contrary to Atchley's (1982) and Jewson's (1982) findings, however, are several studies which indicate that women have more difficulty with the retirement transition. Szinovacz (1982) found that women missed the feeling of doing a good job and work-related social contacts more than men did, and they experienced higher levels of loneliness, less satisfaction and more financial strain in retirement.…”

“…Another study by Quick & Moen (1998) Other studies suggest women adjust to retirement more easily than men, for example, two studies found women to have significantly more positive attitudes toward adjustment (Atchley, 1982;Jewson, 1982). Contrary to Atchley's (1982) and Jewson's (1982) findings, however, are several studies which indicate that women have more difficulty with the retirement transition.…”

Factors Affecting Prolonged Working Life for the Older Workforce: the Swedish Case

“…As pointed out by a recent public investigation (SOU, 2013), there is a complicated web of legislations and negotiated agreements that are based on the assumption of a set retirement age, and parts of the income protection systems, such as the Employment Protection Act, unemployment insurance, and sickness benefits, are still organized around the idea of a set retirement age. There are also normative age criteria that describe the normal and expected method of retirement, and therefore act as a pressure mechanism that an individual will have to fend off if she or he wants to make a 'deviant' choice (Atchley, 1982;Ekerdt, 2010). One of the reasons why people might want to make the deviant choice to remain in employment is that they strongly associate their identity with the social role they hold.…”