EXCLUSIVE NEW SURVEY FROM AARP THE MAGAZINE LOOKS AT EFFECT OF RETIREMENT ON MARRIAGE
Source: AARP Press Center
WASHINGTON – AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world’s largest-circulation magazine with more than 34.5 million readers, today released the results of an exclusive new survey that looks at what the effect is on a relationship for couples where one or both partners are retired. More than 1,000 people age 55-75 who are married or living as married were polled about a variety of topics including:
• Increased Tension at Home: 74% are happier though 21% say there’s more tension in their marriage
• Less Sex: 22% report having sex less often post-retirement
• More Housework: 71% of those retired but still have a working spouse said their housework increased
“For many couples, retirement can trigger a significant impact on the dynamics of their relationship,” said Nancy Graham, Vice President and Editor of AARP The Magazine. “Some may experience a period of adjustment to the increase in time spent together. Others might face a time of soul searching as they consider what to do with the rest of their lives. We wanted to find out what our members were experiencing, and the results of this study unveiled some surprising trends.”
Adjusting to Retirement and the Effect it Has on Relationships and Activities
Results of AARP The Magazine’s Retired Spouses survey showed most retirees found adjusting to their retirement to be what they expected (64%). Only 12% found it harder and 23% actually found it easier than they expected. The survey also found that retirement has had significant impact on the frequency of travel, eating out, exercising and volunteering/hobbies. In regards to romance, retirees who are in a relationship where both spouses are retired are happier, less stressed and spend more time together. Interestingly, results showed that retired men seem to think they have taken on more of the housework since they retired, but working women with a retired spouse tend to disagree.
Retirement and Sex
As expected, people’s time is spent differently after retirement than before. Activities that see an increase after retirement include: sleep, housework, and TV watching.
The good news is that for 38% retirement has made the relationship stronger – only 2% said retirement has made the relationship weaker. Retirement has had little effect on the romantic life or the amount of arguing for most retirees between the ages of 55 and 75. Three-fourths (77%) say they are as romantic as before retirement, although 12% say retirement has made them more romantic and 8% say they are less romantic. More than half (59%) say they argue about as much as before retirement and for 30% they actually argue less. Six percent say they argue more now than before retirement.
In terms of decreasing activities, sex seems to take the biggest hit. Among respondents in our survey, 22% report having sex less often now that they’re retired. There is a gender difference, however. Men are significantly more likely than women to say that they are having less sex after retirement (25% vs. 19%)
Compared to before retirement, 21% think about divorce as often as before, 23% think about it less often and only 2% think about it more than they did before retirement. Half (53%) said they have never thought about divorce.
Retirement and Lifestyle Habits
Though twenty-nine percent of those surveyed said they are more worried about money now that they are retired, forty-seven percent of respondents said they travel more often now that they are retired and 41% said they go on the Internet more often since retirement. Eating out (40%), hobbies (38%), exercising (37%) and volunteering (33%) are all activities that a substantial number of retirees say they are doing more often now that they are retired. Forty-three percent of people also said retirement has allowed them to spend more time with their family.
Retirement Loves Company
One third of retired respondents said they encouraged their spouse to retire after they did (and were persistent in their prodding).
• 49% said they strongly encouraged their spouse to retire while 42% said they mildly encouraged it.
• By gender, men are more likely than women to say they encouraged their spouse to retire along with them (39% vs. 21%).
Respondents in relationships where both spouses are retired report spending more time together, are happier, and are less stressed than couples where only one person is retired. Indeed, irritation and tension between spouses are more likely to be a problem for those who are working and have a retired spouse than for those who are retired and have a working spouse.
• Retirees are more likely to say they are happier now than when they were working than those who are still working and only have a retired spouse.
o In households where both spouses are retired, younger retirees are happier now than when they were working (84% for 55-64) compared to older retirees (76% for 65-75).
Retiree’s Remorse?
When asked if they wish they would have worked longer, individuals with a working spouse reported greater regret than those whose spouse was also retired. This lends further support to the idea that having a partner to spend time with makes the retirement transition easier. The reasons given for wishing they had worked longer include lack of money, liking the job/enjoyed working, having retired for medical reasons, and feeling bored or frustrated.
• Women (in a relationship where both are retired) are more likely to agree that they wish they had stayed working longer than men are (24% vs. 18%).
• Retirement length matters: those who have been retired for less than five years are less likely to wish they had worked longer (23%) that those who have been retired for 5 years or longer (34%).
Retirement and Housework
Those who are retired are a lot more likely to agree that they do more of the housework and chores now than they did before retirement. Among those who are working but have a retired spouse, only half say that their spouse has taken on a lot more of the housework now that they are retired.
• There is a very striking gender difference in regards to housework. Although, 80% of men who are retired said they agree that they have increased their share of the housework and chores now that they are retired, only 47% of working women agree that “being retired, my spouse does more of the housework and chores.”
Retirement and Volunteering/Hobbies
Starting new activities in retirement (or at least thinking about starting them) has important consequences to overall retirement satisfaction.
• Among retirees, 56% have started doing new activities since retirement, 22% are planning to start, and 20% haven’t even thought about it.
• Among working respondents who have a retired spouse, 54% said their spouse has started engaging in new activities, 22% said they’re planning on it, and 20% haven’t even begun thinking about it.
Additional information on can be found in the January/February 2009 issue of AARP The Magazine, in homes now, and online at www.aarp.org.
AARP The Magazine’s Retired Spouses Survey was conducted by Opinion Research Corp using CARAVAN, which is their weekly national telephone survey of U.S. households. The total sample consisted of 1,064 adults who are 55 to 75 years of age, married or living as married and are retired themselves or their spouse is retired. The survey was conducted from November 1-26, 2007.
About AARP The Magazine
With more than 34 million readers nationwide, AARP The Magazine (www.aarpmagazine.org) is the world's largest circulation magazine and the definitive lifestyle publication for Americans 50+. Reaching over 24 million households, AARP The Magazine delivers comprehensive content through in-depth celebrity interviews, health and fitness features, consumer interest information and tips, book and movie reviews and financial guidance. Published bimonthly in print and continually online, AARP The Magazine was founded in 1958 and is the flagship title of AARP Publications.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 34 million readers; AARP Bulletin and AARP Bulletin Today, the go-to daily news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our Web site, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
