Expanding, Reducing, Concentrating and Diffusing: Post Retirement Leisure Behavior and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

This study examined patterns of continuity and change in leisure behavior of recently retired individuals. The study investigated post-retirement leisure behavior in an Israeli national sample. It explored the differences among four defined groups: reducers, concentrators, diffusers and expanders, and measured their leisure participation and life satisfaction. Results indicated that the expanders and the concentrators enjoyed a significantly higher life satisfaction. The findings supported activity theory and continuity theory. They also led to the conclusion that for people who had a limited leisure repertoire prior to retirement, experiencing new activities was just as important as continuity in the adaptation process of retirement.

Keywords:

• retirement
• activity
• life satisfaction
• continuity
• innovation

The research was financially supported by Brookdale Institute of Gerontology and Human Development; Eshel—the Association for the Planning and Development of Services for the Aged in Israel; The Department of Communication and Journalism, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; The Harvey L. Silbert Center for Israel studies; Israel's Social Security Institute; The Israeli Local Community Centers Corporation; The Kama Foundation; The Israeli Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare; The Levi Eshkol Institute for Social, Economic, and Political Research in Israel; The Shaine Center for Research in Social Sciences; The Smart Family Foundation Communications Institute; and by Strauss Group.

Notes

∗ α < 0.05.

∗Origin is classified by (a) respondent's place of birth—(b) respondent's father place of birth.

^a Numbers presented are beta coefficients.

∗∗∗ p < .001

∗ p < 0.01

∗ p < .05.