Resolution of Conjugal Role Adjustment after Retirement

Conjugal units characterized by males past the age of 65 were examined in an attempt to describe differences in (1) the distribution of household tasks and (2) the attitude of the wife toward the husband's behavior. By dividing the units into those with a retired husband and those which contained a working husband, it was found that retired husbands are unlikely to engage in joint work activities more extensively than working husbands. It appeared that retired husbands assumed full responsibility for tasks which working husbands avoided. The absence of a significant difference in negative sentiments by the wives in the two subgroups indicated that the kind of tasks assumed and the lack of joint participation may be forms of role adjustment in retirement.