Values and Well-being in the Retirement Transition

The transition from work to retirement is a period in the adult lifespan during which changes can occur on many levels, including shifts in daily routines, relationships, and monthly income. What happens to core aspects of ourselves when the circumstances of life change in such a fundamental way? Do we hold on to core aspects of our identity, or do we adjust them to match new opportunities and constraints? This study examines the perceived continuity of a core aspect of the self - personal values - across a major transition in the adult lifespan - the transition from work to retirement. Personal values can be thought of as desirable, trans-situational goals that serve as guiding principles in people's lives. This study examined two main questions: 1) Do recent retirees see their values as similar or different compared to 10 years before retirement? And 2) Are specific values related to retirees' sense of well-being? This book is a summary of an empirical study and is therefore addressed primarily to a scientific audience of researchers in the field of adult develop-ment and aging. It should also be of interest, however, to organizations looking to address the psychological aspects of retirement planning, as well as to individuals who are approaching or living in retirement.

M.A. Doctoral candidate, Department of Psychology,Centre for Research in Human Development,Concordia University,Montreal, Canada.