Abstract
Retirement is a transition that requires reorganizing priorities, routines, activities, and life roles. The continuity theory considers that this reorganization will be all the greater when the professional career is a priority or when career goals have not been achieved. Measures of career salience, career achievement, retirement adjustment, perceptions of health, financial resources, and mastery were answered by 454 retirees, with a mean age of 64, active and inactive, of which 66% were women. Career achievement and career salience explained the adjustment beyond demographic data and financial and health resources. Career achievement increased the adjustment in inactive retirees and impaired it in active retirees, revealing a moderating effect of post-retirement activity. There was a suppressive effect of career salience on the influence of career achievement on adjustment. It is concluded that salience and career achievement are variables to be taken into account when planning retirement preparation programs.
Keywords:
retirement; adjustment; career