Introduction:

Retirement is a transitional event, experienced by middle-aged individuals, and its consequences can interfere with their health status. Changing family structures are also changing patterns and experiences related to retirement. When both members of the couple are going through this transition, it may also be necessary to redefine the relationship as identities, patterns, roles, and expectations change.

Objective:

To analyze the relationship between the experience of adaptation to retirement and the Marital Enrichment and Development, Communication and Happiness of Portuguese recent retirees.

Methods:

A descriptive and quantitative study was carried out with occasionally selected middle-aged couples in family health units. Upon informed consent, the Enrichment and Marital Development, Communication and Happiness Inventory (ENRICH) was applied, and data were analyzed using IBM® SPSS27. All ethical and formal procedures were followed.

Results:

The 32 couples who responded to the questionnaire and Inventory had a mean age of 61.31 (SD=5.08) years. The sample presented values of enrichment, marital development, communication and happiness within median parameters, and the conjugality was positively influenced by the retirement variable.

Conclusion:

Newly retired people place enormous importance on family, particularly their spouse. When spouses affect the other member of the couple's decision making, they influence their satisfaction with their new status. There is a need to promote family health in a systemic way at this stage of the life cycle.

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