Retirement

The definition of retirement has evolved over the past several decades based on the economic landscape and related sociopolitical trends. Many people think of retirement as a time around midlife when an employee stops working at a job they held for most of their professional career which, in turn, provides them with retirement benefits. However, the use of the term retirement has evolved to encompass a developmental construct that considers a series of life span transitions through which individuals adjust, and readjust, as needed throughout their lives. These transitions involve people’s professional occupations, identities, and activity. A thorough understanding of retirement, the process, social and family support as well as health, financial, and cultural implications will be addressed and explored. This entry further discusses conceptualizations ...