This gender role ideology influences couples retirement decisions. Women adjust their retirement plans to their husbands situation. If he is already retired or if he opposes the wife s employment, the wife is more likely to retire. Husbands are less likely to retire if they fear that retirement may undermine their status in the marriage. Husbands retirement decisions are also influenced by their wives retirement benefits and by their wives illness.
Husbands delay their retirement until their wives reach benefit eligibility.
Husbands whose wives are sick are more likely to retire to take care of them, while wives tend to continue working while caring for a spouse. Both husbands and wives tend to postpone retirement if they have an unhappy marriage. The prospect of spending most of the day with your spouse is not very appealing when the marital relationship is in trouble. In this situation work serves as an escape, said Szinovacz. The wife s retirement is particularly important for how well couples get along.