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This study investigated factors related to retirement satisfaction in rural husbands and wives from the perspective of the activity theory of aging. Three major sets of variables were investigated: personal background variables, social network interaction, and conjugal role organization. We interviewed 149 married couples who participated in the retirement substudy of an eight-year epidemiological investigation in two rural counties in Iowa. Multiple-regression analysis revealed that the number of leisure activities spouses shared was a positive predictor of satisfaction during retirement for both husbands and wives, which supports an extension of the activity theory of aging to satisfaction in retired couples. Social network interaction with friends was a positive predictor of satisfaction in retirement for husbands only. providing differential support by gender for the activity theory of aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on a study which investigated alternative means of satisfaction and strain, in 80 wife caregivers of frail elderly veterans. During the next two decades, older veterans will present a large and growing proportion of all males aged 65 and older. Two out of three of all males aged 65 and older will be eligible for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical care by the year 2000. Wives caring for chronically ill or disabled husbands are at particular risk for physical, emotional, and financial strain. Caregiving wives live in the same household as the care receiver, tend to be older and in poorer health than their non-caregiving counterparts, and generally do not have a child living at home to help. The purpose of the present study was to investigate factors related to satisfaction and strain in wife caregivers of frail elderly veterans. No previous research has investigated correlates of both satisfaction and strain among wives caring for frail elderly veterans in the same study. By examining satisfaction and strain, the present study was able to assess positive as well as negative out-comes of the caregiving experience.

The article studies kinship relations in retired rural men and women in Iowa. Kinship relations are also likely to vary by gender. Many nonrural and rural studies have documented the centrality of "kinkeeping" or maintenance of kin networks in the lives of females over the life cycle. The purposes of this study are threefold, to compare quantity and quality of intergenerational and sibling relationships in retired rural men and women, to examine personal back-ground factors associated with quantity and quality of kinship relations in those retired men and women, and to provide information on kinship relations during retirement for practitioners who work with rural families. It is hoped that the study will provide useful information on the extent of integration of retired rural elderly into kinship networks, on gender differences in kinship relations during retirement, and on the effects of health and other personal factors on kinship relations. Such information can be used by family practitioners who design extension and other community programs, who counsel rural retirees and their families, and who develop mass media programs on family and retirement. The findings of this study have a number of implications for practitioners who work with rural families such as extension workers, counselors, clergymen, and family life educators, as well as for program development in rural areas.

This study investigated conjugal role organization in retired rural couples. Three major aspects of the conjugal relationship were examined: division of household tasks, decision-making patterns, and leisure activities shared by the couple. Interviews were conducted with 149 couples who participated in the retirement substudy of an 8-year epidemiological investigation of two rural counties in Iowa. Results showed that rural couples: (a) exhibited a traditional, gender-differentiated division of household tasks, but that household role segregation decreased significantly after retirement; (b) made a majority of decisions jointly during retirement, with joint decision making increasing significantly after retirement; (c) participated in a large number of joint leisure activities during retirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated (1) reactions of rural housewives to their husbands' retirement and (2) factors associated with satisfaction of rural wives during the retirement years. Interviews were conducted with 95 Midwestern housewives whose husbands had been retired for 6 months to 10 years. Positive and negative aspects of retirement and a range of variables associated with life satisfaction and with four specific domains of satisfaction were investigated. The most striking finding was the highly consistent relationship between joint decision-making by husband and wife and satisfaction of the wife in retirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the reactions of housewives to the early years of their husbands' retirement. Interviews were conducted with 36 housewives whose husbands had recently retired from a number of occupations at a Midwestern university. Positive and negative aspects of retirement and a range of variables associated with life satisfaction and with three specific domains of satisfaction were investigated. All respondents reported positive aspects of their husbands' retirement, but a large majority also reported negative aspects. The most consistent correlate of satisfaction of wife was participation of husband in household tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]