Health conditions and perceived quality of life in retirement

This study investigated the effects of specific health conditions on perceived quality of life in retirement as measured by dimensions of retirement satisfaction. Respondents were 252 men and 199 women who participated in the retirement substudy of an ongoing epidemiological investigation of people age 65 and over in two rural Iowa counties. Retirement satisfaction was measured by the Retirement Descriptive Index, which assesses satisfaction with activities and work, finances, health, and people. Pulmonary disease was a predictor of dissatisfaction with health for both sexes. Pulmonary disease and heart attack were the strongest predictors of dissatisfaction with health for men, followed closely by stroke. Arthritis was the strongest predictor of dissatisfaction with health for women. Implications for social work practice are discussed.