Goal-Pursuit Tendencies and Retirement Planning: A Time-Lagged and Multi-Dimensional Investigation

Abstract

Existing studies regarding retirement planning have suggested that demographic variables, retirement-related characteristics, and work-related factors are closely associated with retirement planning. However, the importance of individual goal-pursuit tendencies within a multi-dimensional framework of retirement planning has been overlooked. As retirement planning is conceptualized as a multi-faceted and goal-directed behavior, the absence of these concepts within the literature presents an important theoretical and empirical gap. Drawing upon the dual-process model of coping, the current study examined the incremental effects of tenacious goal pursuit (TGP) and flexible goal adjustment (FGA) on four dimensions of retirement planning (i.e., financial planning, health planning, interpersonal/leisure planning, and work planning). Data from 377 Chinese older workers at two time points showed that FGA rather than TGP was positively associated with financial, health, and interpersonal/leisure planning. Further, FGA demonstrated incremental predictive validity over TGP. This study contributes to the retirement planning literature by investigating how older adults’ goal-related dispositions may impact their retirement planning in different arenas. Practical implications of our findings, limitations, and future research directions are also discussed.