How does personality contribute to retirement savings?

TitleHow does personality contribute to retirement savings?
Publication TypeThesis
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsChan, W
AdvisorChrist, SLMroczek
Degree3668774
Number of Pages189
Date Published2014
UniversityPurdue University
CityWest Lafayette, IN
Thesis TypePh.D.
Accession Number1645735812
KeywordsAdult children, Health Conditions and Status, Methodology, Pensions, Public Policy, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction
Abstract

The aim of this dissertation was to explore how personality factors explain retirement savings over time. Past studies did not systematically examine individual characteristics on financial preparation for retirement or did not adopt a monetary outcome to exemplify retirement investments. Thus, this dissertation modeled two outcomes for retirement savings, i.e., Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) ownership and IRA balances. Guided by the Investor Behavior Model and the Behavioral Economics Perspective, conscientiousness and personal mastery were hypothesized to bolster IRA investments, while agreeableness and perceived constraints were hypothesized to undermine IRA investments. Multilevel model techniques were applied to depict the trajectory of IRA investments with longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS 2006, 2008, 2010). Findings were partly consistent with hypotheses. The Individual Sample ( N = 4,117) documented that higher levels of conscientiousness and personal mastery predicted greater odds of IRA ownership. Perceived constraints were associated with lower odds of IRA ownership, while agreeableness was linked to lower IRA balances. Saving horizons and financial controls were found to partially mediate the relationship between personality factors and IRA investments. Based on the findings from the Individual Sample, a Spousal Sample ( N = 4,257) was developed to examine whether perceived spousal relationship qualities accounted for IRA investments above and beyond personality factors. In addition, perceived spousal relationship qualities were explored to mitigate or accentuate the effects of personality factors. Relationship strain was found to undermine IRA ownership while spousal support was associated with higher IRA balances. Interaction effects of spousal relationships were detected only for exploratory personality traits (i.e., openness and extraversion) for IRA ownership. Overall, findings provided empirical support for theoretical perspectives that include personality factors as impacting retirement preparations. Likewise, personality factors demonstrated differential effects on IRA outcomes. With regard to practical implications, this dissertation provides educators and policymakers with insights to improve the existing financial education and social welfare systems.

Notes

Copyright - Copyright ProQuest, UMI Dissertations Publishing 2014 Last updated - 2015-01-17 First page - n/a

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Endnote Keywords

public Policy

Endnote ID

999999

Short TitleHow does personality contribute to retirement savings?
Citation Key6248