Retirement can be challenging, depending on myriad factors. The transition itself, in addition to the context in which it occurs – such as whether retirement is planned or unplanned - may lead some older adults to renegotiate their identities (Whitbourne & Skultety, 2006). Moreover, retirement and its associated psychosocial response can ultimately affect retirees’ well-being (Wang & Hesketh, 2012), whether assessed as hedonic or eudaimonic. The current study examines the relationship between identity processes (assimilation, accommodation, balance), planned/unplanned retirement, activity participation, and four types of well-being (meaning in life; activity-linked positive and negative affect; life satisfaction) in a sample of retired Canadians (N = 124; Mage = 68). Preliminary results indicate that, while retirement context is important, identity processes are significantly associated with different types of well-being in different ways, thus highlighting the need to comprehensively measure context and individual differences in order to maximize well-being during retirement.
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