The findings, which were produced by Ipsos Mori on behalf of the government, indicate that less than half of those questioned reported they would choose the word "happy" to describe how they felt after leaving their jobs.
Commenting on the figures, pensions minister Mike O’Brien said: "The idea that one day you work and the next you stop can be a shock to the system.
"These findings challenge the traditional ‘one size fits all’ approach to retirement."
He went on to suggest that many workers are turning away from the "cliff edge" between work and retirement and are opting to undergo a gradual step down.
According to Mr O’Brien, employers should assist workers who wish to leave their jobs in a staggered fashion.
Figures released recently by Lifelong Learning UK suggested that older workers in the UK are becoming increasingly competent with new technology and are embracing new working methods, with more than half of such people stating they love new technology and are confident in their skills.
