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Happiness and Retirement Readiness among Pre-Retiring Employees: a Cross-Sectional Study

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Abstract

This study is a report examining the relationship between perceptions of happiness and retirement readiness among pre-retiring employees in the Philippines. This study utilized a descriptive, cross sectional approach. Eighty (n = 80) pre-retiring employees participated in the study or 73% response rate. Two self-report questionnaires were used to collect the data and were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean scores for the Happiness Measure and Retirement Readiness Scale were 7.23 and 48.93 respectively. Happiness in their financial situation (β = .888, p = 0.008), employees gender [(being female) β = 1.992, p = 0.041], marital status [(being married) β = 5.869, p = 0.011)], and education [master degree, (β = 4.841, p = 0.027) and doctorate degree (β = 3.248, p = 0.044)] strongly predicted retirement readiness. Pre-retiring Filipino employees perceived moderate to high levels of happiness and were moderately prepared for retirement. As happiness in their financial situation predicts retirement readiness, financial literacy and holistic planning is essential to prepare employees for the retirement transition.

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Funding

This study was funded by the Visayas State University Research Grant [grant number: ISR.CON-28].

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Correspondence to Janet Alexis A. De los Santos.

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The researchers ensured that the rights of the respondents are protected. An informed consent was obtained before the actual conduct of interview. They were individually invited to participate and was also informed of the purpose of the study. For consenting respondents, their signatures were affixed in the informed consent form.

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De los Santos, J.A.A., Labrague, L.J. & Milla, N.E. Happiness and Retirement Readiness among Pre-Retiring Employees: a Cross-Sectional Study. Ageing Int 45, 85–98 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-019-09351-z

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