Previous work and meaning in life post-retirement: a reminiscence perspective

To understand how different reminiscence functions and previously meaningful work predicted meaning in life in retired adults.

We surveyed 240 retired adults recruited from ResearchMatch and had them complete questionnaires assessing their reminiscence functions, their meaning in life, and whether they perceived their previous work as meaningful. We tested a structural model that positioned meaningful work as a mediator of the relation between reminiscence functions and meaning in life and an alternative model that positioned reminiscence functions as mediators of the relation between meaningful work and meaning in life.

After comparing fit, we retained the structural model. Findings indicated that participants who reminisced for the sake of consolidating their identities (identity) reported their previous work as more meaningful, but those that reminisced for the sake of maintaining negative emotions (bitterness revival) reported their previous work as less meaningful. In turn, participants who perceived their previous work as more meaningful reported greater meaning in life. Identity and bitterness revival reminiscence also related to meaning in life via meaningful work.

Results suggest that retired adults' reminiscence functions and their perceptions of their previous employment are important to understanding retired adults' ongoing construction of meaning in their lives.