To stay or to go? Postretirement housing choices of single Baby Boomer women

• Published in: Journal of women & aging Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 417 - 427
• Main Authors: Kopanidis, Foula Z., Robinson, Linda J., Reid, Mike
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 01-01-2017; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Aged; Baby Boomers; Choice Behavior; Consumption; Female; Financial services; Housing; Housing for the Elderly; Humans; intentions; Middle Aged; Population Growth; Residential preferences; Retirement; Retirement - economics; Retirement - psychology; Retirement planning; Single Person - psychology; Single persons; Single women; Social policy; Socioeconomic Factors; Theory of planned behavior; Typology; Women's Health; theory of planned behavior; intentions; retirement; Baby Boomers; housing
• ISSN: 0895-2841; 1540-7322
• DOI: 10.1080/08952841.2016.1213109

Single women of the Baby Boomer generation are often financially disadvantaged in the retirement planning process due to their lower accumulated savings compared to male retirees. This disadvantage impacts significant consumption decisions such as postretirement housing choices. This study uses the theory of planned behavior to examine how certainty in intentions influences preparing and planning for postretirement housing. A typology of single Baby Boomer women is developed based on their financial, demographic, and psychological circumstances. Each segment likely requires different informational strategies and financial services to foster proactive planning for retirement. Significant implications exist for social policy and the financial services sector.