| Publication |
| Author(s) | Bell, B.D. |
| Title | Cognitive Dissonance and the Life Satisfaction of Older Adults. |
| Source | Journal of Gerontology, 1974, Vol. 29, 564 - 571 |
| Investigation |
| Public | Males, shortly before and after retirement, USA 1973-74 |
| Last assesment | 1974 |
| | T1: spring 1973 prior to retirement, T2: spring 1974 after retirement |
| Survey name | Not available |
| Sample | Non-probability purposive-quota sample |
| | Respondents near retirement age were selected from lists supplied by 1) local labour organizations, 2) area churches, 3) local office of aging, 4) an elderly transportation service, 5) the Social Security administration, 6, a recreational agency for older persons, 7) interested individuals |
| Respondents N = | 114 |
| Non Response | 21% |
| | 15 not retired at T2, 6 moved, 10 drop-out |
| Assesment | Interview: face-to-face |
| General remarks | Same study also reported in Bell, B.D. 'Role set orientations and life satisfaction: a new look at an old theory', in Gubrium J.F. (ed) 'Time, roles and self in old age, Human Sciences press 1976, New York, pp. 148-164. In that report, change in life satisfaction is measured in a different way, not using T1-T2 difference in satisfaction with one way of life today, but using the diffeerence between T2 satisfaction and T2 recall of pree-retirement satisfaction |
| Happiness measure(s) used |
| Author's label | Subject Code
Finding | Subject description |
| Disconfirmation of retirement expectations in community area | L07ac01 | Actual realization of lifegoals |
| Disconfirmation of retirement expectations in community area | R14aa01a | Earlier attitudes to retirement, also classified as above ↑ |
| Disconfirmation of retirement expectations in community area | T01af01 | Fit between actual and desired time-use, also classified as above ↑ |
| Disconfirmation of retirement expectations in family area | L07ac01 | Actual realization of lifegoals |
| Disconfirmation of retirement expectations in family area | R14ag | Attitudes to retirement, also classified as above ↑ |
| Disconfirmation of retirement expectations in family area | T01af01 | Fit between actual and desired time-use, also classified as above ↑ |
| Disconfirmation of retirement expectations: associations | L07ac01 | Actual realization of lifegoals |
| Disconfirmation of retirement expectations: associations | R14aa01a | Earlier attitudes to retirement, also classified as above ↑ |
| Disconfirmation of retirement expectations: associations | T01af01 | Fit between actual and desired time-use, also classified as above ↑ |
| No concern about health | H14af02 | Denial of illness |
| Perceived usefulness | M05ab01 | Perceived usefullness of one's life |