GROUPS 4 RETIREMENT: A new intervention that supports well-being in the lead-up to retirement by targeting social identity management

Successful retirement adjustment requires careful planning in the lead up to this important life transition. While financial planning is routinely prioritized, evidence suggests that the social changes in retirement can be just as challenging to manage — if not more. GROUPS 4 RETIREMENT (G4R) is a new online intervention that addresses this gap by targeting the identity changes that people typically experience in retirement. This paper reports findings from two studies evaluating the acceptability and efficacy of this intervention. Study 1 (N = 89) used a pre-post design to assess G4R and found that the intervention was positively evaluated by users and led to significant increases in their sense of thriving, perceived control, life satisfaction, anticipated retirement satisfaction, and planning intentions. Study 2 (N = 98) tested the intervention using an experimental design in which participants were randomly assigned to either G4R or a financial planning control condition. Results showed that G4R was as effective as financial planning in improving most outcomes and showed a clear advantage in increasing anticipated retirement satisfaction and intentions to engage in social and activities planning. Together, these studies provide initial evidence of the value of engaging in social identity-focused social planning to support well-being and preparedness in the lead up to retirement.