Maintaining work-related personal ties following retirement

This study examines the consequences of retirement for the continuation of work-related personal ties. The hypothesis is that their inclusion in personal networks after retirement has become more likely because these relationships have become less role based in today's social-cultural context. Data are from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. Members of two cohorts born during the periods 1928-1937 (N = 109) and 1938-1947 (N = 131) were interviewed in 1992 and 2002, respectively, with a follow-up 3 years later. Among retirees, the likelihood of having work-related relationships in their personal network after retirement increased by 19% in 10 years. This suggests that retirement has become less disruptive. Retirees seem more inclined to form intrinsically rewarding work-related relationships that continue to be important following retirement.