When it comes to retirement, men are from fishing, while women are from — stress?
That pretty much sums up one aspect of findings in the study "Men, Women & Retirement" from MassMutual Retirement Services, which found that although women suffer more stress and negative emotions during retirement than men do, they also seize the day to experience more positive experiences than men do.
When it comes to stress in retirement, 20 percent of women said they were stressed, while just 15 percent of men did. They were also more likely to report negative emotions. The story is similar preretirement, when 49 percent of women say they're at least moderately stressed — compared with just 38 percent of men.
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Of course, the study also found that women suffer more from stress both before and after retirement than men. They also plumb the depths of frustration, sadness, nervousness and loneliness.
But that doesn't mean girls don't wanna have fun — they're more likely to report positive retirement experiences, too, like the opportunity to spend more time with their friends and family; the chance to try new things; and reinventing themselves.
Men are also more likely to say that they're "extremely" or "quite a bit" relaxed in retirement, compared with women — 70 percent to 65 percent — although close to three quarters of both sexes report being happy.
Interestingly, the study found no correlation between emotional well-being and the retirement assets respondents had.
However, those with a defined contribution plan were, unsurprisingly, happier (74 percent compared with 68 percent) or more relaxed (70 percent compared with 61 percent) than those who did not have a plan.
Women also have higher expectations of retirement than men do — except when it comes to money.
Before they retire, 91 percent of women anticipate that they will be enjoying themselves and having more free time, compared with men (88 percent and 85 percent, respectively), but only 60 percent believe they'll feel financially secure and 15 percent expect to feel anxious about their financial security.
Sixty-five percent of men, on the other hand, believe they'll feel secure while just 12 percent anticipate financial anxiety.
When it comes to reality, 81 percent of women report that they're enjoying themselves, compared with 83 percent of men; 76 percent of women say they have more free time, while 84 percent of men do; and 65 percent of women say they feel financially secure, while 14 percent feel anxious about their finances.
Sixty-eight percent of men feel financially secure, while just 11 percent are financially anxious.
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