RETIREMENT PLANNING, USE OF TIME, AND PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT

This was a descriptive study to examine the relationship between retirement planning, use of time, and the psychosocial adjustment to retirement. A 72-item questionnaire was mailed to all retirees (N = 1565) from an international company residing in seven southeastern states with a response of 764 (48.82%). Significant differences were found when comparing what retirees indicated they had done to prepare for retirement, and what they believed after retirement was important for people to do to prepare. Following retirement greater emphasis was placed not only on financial factors, but also on psychosocial adjustment and use of time. Findings suggest that retirement as a psychosocial transition needs to be an integral component of nursing assessments and interventions for retirees and their families.