Origins and Mechanisms of Social Influences in Couples: The Case of Retirement Decisions

Abstract

The interdependence between partners raises considerable interest in the sociology of life course, work, and families. Partner influences play a particularly important role in the work domain, because each partner’s work decisions have profound effects on the couple as a whole. In contrast to previous research, this article pays detailed attention to the role a partner plays in workers’ labour market decisions by analysing the case of early retirement decisions. We hypothesized that partners’ preferences for older workers’ retirement originate from altruism and self-interest. Moreover, we expected that partners influence older workers’ early retirement behaviour via persuasion and pressure. To adequately estimate partners’ and workers’ preferences for the worker’s retirement, we used an instrumental variable approach. This was possible because we collected multi-actor longitudinal data from a large representative sample of older workers and their partners in the Netherlands. The results support that spousal preferences originate in altruism and self-interest and that partners influence workers through persuasion and pressure. Gender differences in origins and mechanisms of partner influence are also discussed.

The changing world of work and retirement

“…The results showed that workers were significantly more likely to intend to retire early when their spouse preferred the worker's early retirement. Eismann, Henkens, and Kalmijn (2019) are among the first to investigate the origins of spousal influences. She and her colleagues show that spouses are more likely to support early retirement for workers in stressful jobs and when they are concerned about the other's health.…”

Older workers’ plans for activities in retirement: The role of opportunities, spousal support, and time perception.

“…All of these have been shown to facilitate social influence (Cialdini & Trost, 1998). With regard to retirement, spousal support has been shown to affect when older workers prefer to and actually do retire (Eismann, Henkens, & Kalmijn, in press; Henkens, 1999; Szinovacz & DeViney, 2000). Among dual-earner couples, spouses influence each other’s preferences for joint retirement (Eismann, Henkens, & Kalmijn, 2017) and one partner’s propensity to plan for retirement has been shown to affect the other partner’s propensity to plan (Moen et al, 2006).…”

(Re)production of Inequalities in Retirement Practices and Meanings Assigned to the Term ‘Retiree’ in the Post-Communist Context

“…Narratives gathered in this study testify that it is necessary to place the understanding of retirement practices in the wider context of previous life experiences ( Elder, 1995 ) and existing networks ( Elder, 2003 ). Following the idea of “linked lives” ( Settersten, 2015 ) research, evidence shows that retirement decisions are not made in a vacuum but are influenced by the social context and significant others ( Grenier, 2012 ; Eismann et al, 2019 ). Researchers highlight that especially the family context in which labor-market decisions are made is important for unpacking our understanding of the retirement transition ( Denaeghel et al, 2011 ).…”