Aaron Crowe
RedwoodAge.com

If you want to maintain a happy marriage, you may want to put off retirement until your spouse retires, too.

Relationships where both spouses are retired were happier and less-stressed, with couples spending more time together than in cases where only one person is retired, according to an AARP study.

In relationships where only one spouse has retired, tension is more likely to be a problem for those who are working than for those who are retired.

However, relationships were stronger for many in retirement. For 38 percent of the respondents, retirement has made their relationship stronger, while only 2 percent said retirement has made the relationship weaker.

Boomers have reported some marital problems before related to aging, such as hearing loss leading to frustration and impatience. Marriage and schooling also have been shown to affect retirement savings. For example, married couples have been more willing to invest in equities which, until recently, has meant bigger nest eggs for retirement.

"For many couples, retirement can trigger a significant impact on the dynamics of their relationship, said Nancy Graham, vice president and editor of AARP The Magazine. "Some may experience a period of adjustment to the increase in time spent together. Others might find a time of soul searching as they consider what to do with the rest of their lives."

Changes Ahead
The study did have some interesting findings among the more than 1,000 people age 55-75 who were polled:

Increased tension: Although 74 percent are happier, 21 percent say there's more tension at home.

Less sex: 22 percent report having sex less often. Men were more likely than women to say that they are having less sex after retirement, 25 percent to 19 percent.

More housework: 71 percent of those retired but still have a working spouse said their housework increased. Retired men in the survey think they have taken on more of the housework since they retired, but working women with a retired spouse tend to disagree.