Contextual analysis of retirement anxiety among Koreans: benefits of retirement coaching

Abstract

The present qualitative study applied a paradigm model from evidence theory to validate the impact of retirement coaching (RC). The Korean concept of retirement, its underlying notions, and the social context were examined by analyzing the results of RC provided by financial planners to customers who completed the retirement coaching education (RCE) program. Using the grounded theory paradigm, we analyzed the concepts and experiences of retirement recorded in the coaching report, and derived solutions for Korean adults experiencing retirement anxiety. Data analysis was performed using 158 RC reports submitted by 48 financial planners who had participated in the RCE program from July to September 2015. The study showed that 'anxiety' was a central phenomenon in retirement, experienced by most Korean adults. The causality for this could be linked back to a pessimistic attitude toward retirement, including the obligation and burden of child support. The contextual conditions were the negative perceptions of the available economic prospects and uncertainty around retirement goals, with economic and psychological obstacles acting as intervening conditions. Acknowledging the need for retirement planning helped improve the execution plan. RC enabled acceptance of the reality, promoted psychological stability, and served as reinforcement for the execution of retirement planning. This study showed that RC was effective in helping people worried about their post-retirement life recognize the need for retirement planning and work toward applying it to their lives, strengthening their resolve to achieve goals positively.