Study reveals shifts in job and leisure satisfaction before retirement

A recently published international study co-authored by Graciela Muniz-Terrera, Ph.D., the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Ralph S. Licklider, D.O. Endowed Professor in Health and Aging at 花季传媒鈥檚 Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, has found that job satisfaction gradually becomes less important than leisure time for individuals nearing retirement.

Published in the , the study offers new insight into the psychological transition that occurs during the decade before retirement as personal fulfillment outside of work becomes increasingly central to overall wellbeing.

Using data from the German Socioeconomic Panel Study, Muniz-Terrera and her co-authors Gina Gonzales with the University of Glasgow, Alexander Schmidt with the University of Mannheim and Heidi Wagner with the German Institute for Economic Research, tracked the happiness and satisfaction of more than 2,500 participants over a 10-year span prior to their retirement. They used a method called latent growth curve analysis to understand how changes in work and leisure satisfaction influenced overall life satisfaction. The findings revealed that job satisfaction gradually loses its influence on overall happiness during the years before retirement, whereas leisure satisfaction remains consistently important and grows in influence.

鈥淲hile retirement can be perceived as a reward after working decades, the transition can also have profound psychological and social effects on a person鈥檚 life,鈥� said Muniz-Terrera. 鈥淒aily routines, social interactions and even a person鈥檚 identity can be disrupted.鈥�

The study comes at a critical time. Global demographic trends show that by 2050, one in five Americans will be 65 or older. Countries like Iran, Indonesia, Brazil and South Korea are also bracing for a surge in their retiree populations.

Studies have shown that retirement satisfaction and life satisfaction are closely linked, and those who report a higher quality of life also say they are more satisfied in retirement.

鈥淥ur research underscores the need for policies and programs that support both job satisfaction and opportunities for fulfilling leisure activities as individuals transition into retirement. By understanding these dynamics, society can better support individuals in achieving a satisfying and healthy retirement,鈥� said Muniz-Terrera.