But the lowest morale and highest rates of depression are experienced by men who decide to make retirement permanent. All these links to morale and depression are regardless of age, income and health. Men who are free from the demands of their career jobs but are re-employed are happiest, probably because they are working by choice and part time. Kim and Moen presented their research Aug. 23 at the American Psychological Association's 107th Annual Convention in Boston. Their study is unique in that it looks not only at the retirement transition period but also at how working after retirement contributes to life quality.
Many retirees go on to new careers or are rehired as consultants by their old employers.
With early retirement becoming more frequent and more working women retiring than ever before, couples are facing two retirements with more time for each other. Previous research has focused on the psychological well-being of individuals, especially men, during and immediately after the retirement transition. In this study, the researchers investigated the relationship between retirement and the subsequent psychological well-being for couples. By contrast, the researchers found that women's well-being and morale are not strongly linked to work or retirement status but to the quality of their marriages. Whether retired or not, women's well-being is not necessarily affected if they experience a lot of marital conflict, the researchers found, but tends to be higher when marriage is harmonious.