The impact of men's and women's retirement on marital relations: A comparative analysis

The study examined whether men's and women's retirement have a differential impact on several aspects of marital life: Power relations (as reflected i n decision-making), spousal resources, division of household tasks, and qua lity of marriage. Questionnaires were distributed to a sample of 519 pre-re tired and retired Israelis. The findings indicate that in general, both men 's and women's retirement have a similar impact on marital relations in all of the areas examined. No appreciable change in spousal resources was foun d after retirement, but there was evidence of change in decision-making pat terns about spending time and carrying out feminine and general tasks. Reti red respondents of both sexes reported fewer marital complaints than the pr e-retired respondents, but also expressed less marital enjoyment. It was al so found that men's retirement has a different impact than women's retireme nt on decisions about household affairs and performance of feminine tasks. In addition, gender-based differences were found in several areas, irrespec tive of employment status. The women reported higher quality of marriage th an did the men, and more resources for strengthening the family, whereas th e men perceived themselves as making more decisions in the important areas of life, as more hardy, and as controlling the family's financial resources .