Anticipatory Socialization toward Occupational Retirement

The willingness of older workers to participate in a retirement planning program served as an indicator of their anticipatory socialization toward retirement. Six independent variables were introduced in order to examine their effect on the workers\u27 attitude toward pre-retirement counseling (dependent variable). A path analysis revealed that intention to continue working after retirement had a significant negative effect on the dependent variable. The most significant positive effect was that of Educational Level. In the discussion of the findings it is shown that the desire of pre-retirees to continue working is interpreted as un-realistic anticipatory socialization, indicating their reluctance to assume alternative social roles. It is suggested that flexible retirement policies, workshops, educational programs and attractive leisure activities are necessary to meet the needs of older workers