Previous work and meaning in life post-retirement: a reminiscence perspective

Abstract

Objectives

To understand how different reminiscence functions and previously meaningful work predicted meaning in life in retired adults.

Method

We surveyed 240 retired adults recruited from ResearchMatch and had them complete questionnaires assessing their reminiscence functions, their meaning in life, and whether they perceived their previous work as meaningful. We tested a structural model that positioned meaningful work as a mediator of the relation between reminiscence functions and meaning in life and an alternative model that positioned reminiscence functions as mediators of the relation between meaningful work and meaning in life.

Results

After comparing fit, we retained the structural model. Findings indicated that participants who reminisced for the sake of consolidating their identities (identity) reported their previous work as more meaningful, but those that reminisced for the sake of maintaining negative emotions (bitterness revival) reported their previous work as less meaningful. In turn, participants who perceived their previous work as more meaningful reported greater meaning in life. Identity and bitterness revival reminiscence also related to meaning in life via meaningful work.

Conclusion

Results suggest that retired adults’ reminiscence functions and their perceptions of their previous employment are important to understanding retired adults’ ongoing construction of meaning in their lives.

Keywords:

• Retirement
• reminiscence
• meaning in life
• meaningful work
• older adults

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.