Continuity and Discontinuity in Marital Life after Retirement: Life Orientations, Gender Role Ideology, Intimacy, and Satisfaction

Abstract

The study examines differences in life orientations, gender role ideology, marital satisfaction, and marital intimacy between a sample of Israeli husbands on the verge of retirement (n = 137) and those who have already retired (n = 211). Results show that the retirees ascribe greater importance to the home and family, whereas the pre-retired husbands give priority to the instrumental aspects of their life. The retired group tended to hold more traditional views about gender roles, while males with working wives (regardless of their own employment status) were found to have more liberal attitudes. Pensioners also tended to report greater satisfaction with marital life. No significant differences were found in regard to marital intimacy; in both groups, the dominant type of intimacy was reciprocity. Except in regard to gender role ideology, no differences were found between husbands of working women and those whose wives did not work.