WORK OCCUPATION AND LEISURE PATTERNS OF SELF-SUPPORTING WOMEN IN PRE- AND POST-RETIREMENT

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Abstract
The purpose of this longitudinal study is to explore the impact of work occupation upon leisure patterns of self-supporting women in a Canadian city before and after retirement. The major hypothesis is that the impact of work occupation on leisure for this population is one of spillover both objectively and subjectively and that the influence of the job carries over, although with lessening force, into retirement. Continuity and role theories form the basis of the study. A statistically significant relationship between size of role set, autonomy and physical mobility in the work setting, and diversity and quality of leisure showed up in both phases of the study. Nevertheless, the overall impact of work structure upon leisure structure appears to be small. In the domain of meaning, work occupation and leisure are more closely linked. The association between self concept in work and in leisure, noted before retirement, carries over, and the extent of commitment to work occupation influences leisure patterns in both stages. The effect of work satisfaction on leisure was found to be minimal. However, overall work satisfaction was linked with the entertainment function of leisure in pre-retirement while, alter retirement, work satisfaction is positively associated with both the relaxation and entertainment functions. A number of retirement variables probe into the transition from work occupation to leisure in retirement. In discussing the findings, further research and social policy are brought out.