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Historical and Cross-Country Differences in Life Satisfaction Across Retirement in Germany and Switzerland From 2000 to 2019

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  • Georg Henning
  • Isabel Baumann
  • Oliver Huxhold

Abstract

ObjectivesRecent trends, such as changes in pension systems or cohort differences in individual resources, have altered the face of retirement transitions. Little is known about how these trends have affected older people’s life satisfaction around retirement age in the past decades. In this study, we investigated how levels and changes in life satisfaction before and after retirement changed over historical time in Germany and Switzerland.MethodsWe used longitudinal data from the German Socioeconomic Panel Study and the Swiss Household Panel (SHP) from 2000 to 2019. Level, preretirement change, and short- and long-term change in life satisfaction (0–10) after retirement were predicted by year of retirement (2001–2019) in a multigroup piecewise growth curve model.ResultsWe found improvements in levels of life satisfaction and preretirement changes in life satisfaction with historical time in both countries. Furthermore, we found that unlike in Switzerland, short-time changes in life satisfaction across retirement improved over historical time in Germany.DiscussionOur findings imply that life satisfaction trajectories around retirement age have improved over the last 20 years. These findings may be explained by general improvements in the health and psychosocial functioning of older people. More research is needed to show for whom these improvements are stronger or weaker and if they will be maintained in a changing retirement landscape.

Suggested Citation

  • Georg Henning & Isabel Baumann & Oliver Huxhold, 2023. "Historical and Cross-Country Differences in Life Satisfaction Across Retirement in Germany and Switzerland From 2000 to 2019," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 78(8), pages 1365-1374.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:78:y:2023:i:8:p:1365-1374.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbad066
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Martin Wetzel & Oliver Huxhold & Clemens Tesch-Römer, 2016. "Transition into Retirement Affects Life Satisfaction: Short- and Long-Term Development Depends on Last Labor Market Status and Education," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 125(3), pages 991-1009, February.
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