This study investigated factors related to retirement satisfaction in a midwestern rural population. Four major sets of variables were investigated: personal background factors; socialization for retirement; reasons for retirement; and social integration. Interviews were conducted with 252 men and 199 women who are participating in a larger 5-year epidemiological study in two rural counties in Iowa. Retirement satisfaction was assessed by the Retirement Descriptive Index (Smith et al., 1969) and the Life Satisfaction Index-Z (Wood, Wylie, & Sheafor, 1969). Multiple regression showed that personal background factors, including health and financial status, accounted for a large proportion of the variance in retirement satisfaction for both sexes. Social integration accounted for a smaller, but significant, proportion of the variance for both sexes. Confidant relationships were the most important social factor in retirement satisfaction for males, whereas increase in voluntary association participation was the most important social factor for females. (Author)