The Importance of Social Groups for Retirement Adjustment: Evidence, Application, and Policy Implications of the Social Identity Model of Identity Change

Abstract

Previous work in the social identity tradition suggests that adjustment to significant life changes, both positive (e.g., becoming a new parent) and negative (e.g., experiencing a stroke), can be supported by access to social group networks. This is the basis for the social identity model of identity change (SIMIC), which argues that, in the context of life transitions, well-being and adjustment are enhanced to the extent that people are able to maintain preexisting social group memberships that are important to them or else acquire new ones. Building on empirical work that has examined these issues in the context of a variety of life transitions, we outline the relevance of SIMIC for one particular life transition: retiring from work. We identify four key lessons that speak to the importance of managing social group resources effectively during the transition to retirement from the workforce. These suggest that adjustment to retirement is enhanced to the extent that retirees: (1) can access multiple important group memberships and the psychological resources they provide, (2) maintain positive and valued existing groups, and (3) develop meaningful new groups, (4) providing they are compatible with one another. This theory and empirical evidence is used to introduce a new social intervention, Groups 4 Health, that translates SIMIC's lessons into practice. This program aims to guide people through the process of developing and embedding their social group ties in ways that protect their health and well-being in periods of significant life change of the form experienced by many people as they transition into retirement.