When choice in retirement decisions is missing: Qualitative and quantitative findings of impact on well-being

Objectives: To explore the importance of choice in retirement decisions for subsequent well-being. Methods: A sequential 'mixed methods' strategy using qualitative (focus groups) and quantitative (prospective panel survey) methods was adopted. Eleven focus groups were conducted and transcripts were analysed for themes. The panel study (n = 601) comprised mature-age employees who retired or were made redundant in 1998-1999 and were followed up for three years post-retirement. Results: The findings of the qualitative and quantitative studies were congruent. The qualitative study identified a sense of choice as central to understanding how people adjust to the retirement transition, and the quantitative study confirmed that choice was a strong, consistent predictor of several health and well-being outcomes and identified predictors of having a sense of choice in retirement. Conclusion: Enabling retirees to retain a sense of choice and control is very important to well-being immediately after retirement and up to three years later.