Truly Satisfied With Your Retirement or Just Resigned? Pathways Toward Different Patterns of Retirement Satisfaction

Abstract

The main aim of the present study was to explore different patterns of retirement satisfaction. Following the dynamic model of job satisfaction, we identify different retirement satisfaction forms. We also examined a set of antecedents of observed retirement satisfaction forms and their impact on psychological well-being. Using a sample of 270 Spanish retirees, cluster analytical results showed four retirement satisfaction forms. These were stabilized-progressive, resigned-stabilized, and resigned retirement satisfaction and constructive-fixated retirement dissatisfaction. Gender, retirement intentions, and voluntariness of retirement transition predicted retirement satisfaction forms. Finally, our findings showed that participants experiencing constructive-fixated retirement dissatisfaction reported lower psychological well-being compared with participants from stabilized-progressive and resigned-stabilized retirement satisfaction forms. These findings provide preliminary support for the study of retirement satisfaction from the dynamic perspective and call for more research on this issue. The findings could also imply the potential value of attending to retirement transition factors to achieve better adjustment to retirement.