Reconceptualizing Retirement for Black Americans

This research examined causal patterns among factors related to the subjective retirement of older Black persons. The data are from the National Survey of Black Americans, the first probability sample of the adult Black population. Analysis of Covariance Structures (LISREL) suggested a process in which self-defined retirement is discouraged by perceptions of a discontinuous work life, and economic and psychological need for the disabled worker role. AN important question in retirement research addressed inL this study is: Why does a large group of older Black persons, despite nonworking status, not report themselves as retired? The failure to meet this operational definition of retirement causes the group to be screened out of major retirement research. Causal patterns among factors that explain the subjective retirement of older Black Americans are identified in this study. Knowledge of such relationships will benefit both retirement research and policy in behalf of a rapidly growing group of the older Black nonworking poor.