Perception of "appropriate" age for retirement among young adults, middle-aged adults, and elderly people

The "appropriate" age for retirement as it is perceived by young adults, mi ddle-aged adults, and elderly people has been studied. No respondents were surprised or had trouble expressing an opinion about the minimum and maximu m "appropriate" ages for retirement. Representations of the "appropriate" r etirement age vary primarily as a function of the perceived physical constr aints involved in the occupation, and also depend on the age of the person being questioned; the younger the respondent, and lower the perceived "appr opriate" minimum age. There was no tendency among the young adults to prolo ng the work life of older individuals. Nor was there a tendency to associat e aging with the loss of intellectual capacities likely to lead to early re tirement.