Retirement, identity and well-being: realignment of role relationships.

Gerontological research has struggled with the meanings of adjustment and the implications of retirement. Data from a national survey are used to investigate the impact of background variables and the retirement of men on their community activities, visiting friends, identity, and well-being. Findings include that: (1) retirement is not directly associated with visiting friends, identity, or well-being; (2) but does indirectly encourage an older identity and discourage well-being through its effect on community activities; (3) lack of community activities is the strongest predictor of an older identity for both working men and retired men; and (4) community activities has the strongest effect on the well-being of both.