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.
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.