Mapping the minds of retirement planners: a cross-cultural perspective

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mapping the minds of retirement planners: a cross-cultural perspective

AU - Hershey, D.

AU - Henkens, C.J.I.M.

AU - van Dalen, H.P.

N1 - Reporting year: 2007

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - This study explored the psychological mechanisms that underlie the retirement planning and saving tendencies of Dutch and American workers. Participants were 988 Dutch and 429 Americans, 25 to 64 years of age. Analyses were designed to (a) examine the extent to which structural variables were related to planning tendencies and (b) develop culture-specific path analysis models to identify the mechanisms that underlie perceived financial preparedness for retirement. Findings revealed striking differences across countries not only among structural variables predictive of key psychological and retirement planning constructs, but also in the robustness of the path models. These findings suggest policy analysts should take into account both individual and cultural differences in the psychological predispositions of workers when considering pension reforms that stress individual responsibility for planning and saving. Keywords: retirement; financial planning; psychology; saving; cross-cultural

AB - This study explored the psychological mechanisms that underlie the retirement planning and saving tendencies of Dutch and American workers. Participants were 988 Dutch and 429 Americans, 25 to 64 years of age. Analyses were designed to (a) examine the extent to which structural variables were related to planning tendencies and (b) develop culture-specific path analysis models to identify the mechanisms that underlie perceived financial preparedness for retirement. Findings revealed striking differences across countries not only among structural variables predictive of key psychological and retirement planning constructs, but also in the robustness of the path models. These findings suggest policy analysts should take into account both individual and cultural differences in the psychological predispositions of workers when considering pension reforms that stress individual responsibility for planning and saving. Keywords: retirement; financial planning; psychology; saving; cross-cultural

U2 - 10.1177/0022022107300280

DO - 10.1177/0022022107300280

M3 - Article

SN - 1552-5422

VL - 38

SP - 361

EP - 382

JO - Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology

JF - Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology

IS - 3

ER -