Development and Validity Evidence of the Retirement Decision Inventory (RDI) in Brazil and Portugal

Abstract Retirement decision-making is a complex process influenced by cognitive, social, and emotional factors. Although retirement decision-making has been widely examined, there is a lack of specific instruments designed to assess older workers’ intentions. This study aimed to construct and validate the Retirement Decision Inventory (RDI), designed to assess four dimensions: early retirement, full retirement, bridge employment (transitional work post-retirement), and late retirement. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on a Brazilian sample ( n = 764) reduced an initial 20-item pool to 13 items. A subsequent confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on an independent Portuguese sample ( n = 607) confirmed the four-factor structure, showing acceptable fit (e.g., CFI = .969, RMSEA = .097). Internal consistency was satisfactory (α ranging from .76 to .87). Multigroup CFA supported the configural and metric equivalence of the model across cultures. Mean comparison analyses revealed cross-cultural differences: Portuguese participants reported stronger tendencies toward full retirement, whereas Brazilian participants showed greater inclination toward continued labor market participation. The RDI is a reliable and structurally valid instrument with satisfactory psychometric properties for cross-cultural assessment of retirement intentions. It offers a valuable tool for retirement planning initiatives and can inform organizational and public policies aimed at promoting active aging and retaining older workers.