Goal Continuity as a Mediator of Early Retirement Adjustment: Testing a Multidimensional Model

From a self-psychology perspective adaptation to changes in life depends on the ability to maintain stable and meaningful life goals and purpose, or goal continuity. Goal continuity was hypothesized to be a mediator of early retirement adjustment, being a variable between personal and social resources and life adjustment. A multidimensional model of retirement adjustment was tested with self-report and interviewer indexes from a sample of 157 voluntary early retirees. Structural relations modeling indicated that social support did not directly influence adjustment but was associated with increases in goal continuity, which was linked to increases in leisure quality and life satisfaction. Implications for further research and for the role of personality in mediating midlife and early retirement adjustment are discussed.