RETIREMENT RESOURCES, SELF-COMPASSION AND RETIREMENT ANXIETY IN PRE-RETIREMENT INDIVIDUALS

Abstract

The present study was conducted to examine the relationship between retirement resources, self-compassion, and retirement anxiety in individuals approaching retirement. The main aims of the study were to determine the relationship between retirement resources and retirement anxiety; to examine the association of self-compassion with retirement anxiety; and to assess the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between retirement resources and retirement anxiety. The sample comprised 170 government employees in the pre-retirement phase aged between 55 and 59 years (M = 57.19, SD = 1.44), recruited using purposive sampling. The instruments used were the Sociodemographic Questionnaire, the Retirement Resources Inventory (Leung & Earl, 2012), the Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form (Neff, 2003), and the Nigerian Pre-retirement Anxiety Scale (Ugwu et al., 2019). The findings revealed significant negative relationships between retirement resources, self-compassion, and retirement anxiety. Among the subscales of retirement anxiety, physical, social, and cognitive resources were found to significantly reduce anxiety related to financial preparedness, social obligation, and social alienation. Subcomponents of self-compassion such as self-kindness, mindfulness, and common humanity were also found to be negatively associated with retirement anxiety, while over-identification and isolation were positively associated. Hierarchical regression indicated that both retirement resources and self-compassion significantly predicted levels of retirement anxiety. Furthermore, mediation analysis confirmed that self-compassion partially mediated the relationship between retirement resources and retirement anxiety. These results were interpreted in the context of existing literature, the Resource-Based Dynamic Model of Retirement Adjustment, and the cultural context of Pakistan.