%0 Journal Article %J Journal of Family and Economic Issues %D 2014 %T Older Adults Receipt of Financial Help: Does Personality Matter? %A Gillen, Martie %A Hyungsoo Kim %K Health Conditions and Status %K Net Worth and Assets %X This study examined the role of personality traits in the receipt of financial help at older ages using the 2006 and 2008 waves of Health and Retirement Study data. An investigation of (1) how the five domains of personality traits (openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism) are associated with the receipt of financial help among older adults and (2) the relationship between personality traits and the source of financial help received was examined. Three sets of probit analyses were conducted. The results indicated that personality can predict financial help and the source of financial help. Specifically, older adults who exhibited relatively higher levels of neuroticism and agreeableness were more likely to receive financial help, whereas those who exhibited relatively higher levels of conscientiousness were less likely to receive financial help regardless of the source. Furthermore, older adults who had relatively higher levels of neuroticism were more likely to help themselves with individual sources such as credit cards whereas agreeable older adults were more likely to receive financial help from family members. These findings have implications for financial counseling, planning and education professionals, public assistance program directors, and policy makers. Understanding the effect of personality on financial decision-making can help with financial planning throughout life and inform outreach efforts for those in need of financial help. %B Journal of Family and Economic Issues %I 35 %V 35 %P 178-189 %G eng %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10834-013-9365-0 %N 2 %4 Personality traits/Financial help/financial counseling/Big five %$ 999999 %R 10.1007/s10834-013-9365-0 %0 Thesis %D 2010 %T Women's alternative retirement transition options: Social Security retirement benefits and employment status %A Gillen, Martie %K Adult children %K Employment and Labor Force %K Healthcare %K Net Worth and Assets %K Public Policy %K Retirement Planning and Satisfaction %K Social Security %K Women and Minorities %X The purpose of this dissertation is to examine two common measures of retirement status: (1) receipt of Social Security retirement benefits and (2) employment status. A three manuscript format was used to report the effects of human capital characteristics (education, marital status, and health status), types of income sources (pension income, IRA/annuity income, investment asset income, and other income), and age on women's timing of Social Security retirement benefit receipt and employment status. Four waves of Health and Retirement Study (FIRS) data (2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006) were used in the analyses. Manuscript 1 used longitudinal data to investigate alternative retirement options based on timing of Social Security benefit receipt and employment status. A majority of women chose early receipt of benefits compared to normal or delayed receipt. A greater percentage of women who did not receive Social Security benefits were employed compared to those who received benefits. Among women employed full-time; a large percentage did not receive Social Security benefits while a large percentage of women employed part-time received benefits. Manuscript 2 used cross-sectional data to focus on timing of receipt of Social Security retirement benefits. Less than excellent health and receiving pension income increased the likelihood of early receipt. Not being married and receiving income from earnings and unspecified income sources reduced the likelihood of early receipt. Manuscript 3 used cross-sectional data to estimate the likelihood of being employed. Having more years of education and being divorced/separated increased the likelihood; while poor/fair health, older age, receipt of Social Security benefits, and pension income reduced the likelihood of being employed. Additionally, manuscript 3 estimated the likelihood of full and part-time employment for women receiving Social Security benefits. Overall, this dissertation updates current knowledge regarding the complex options of timing of receipt of Social Security retirement benefits and employment options. %I University of Kentucky %C United States -- Kentucky %V Ph.D. %P 174 %G eng %U http://proquest.umi.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/pqdweb?did=2575907951&Fmt=7&clientId=17822&RQT=309&VName=PQD %9 3492801 %4 Human Capital %$ 62862 %! Women's alternative retirement transition options: Social Security retirement benefits and employment status %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Applied Gerontology %D 2009 %T Older Women and Poverty Transition: Consequences of Income Source Changes From Widowhood %A Gillen, Martie %A Hyungsoo Kim %K Income %K Net Worth and Assets %X Older single women are disproportionately vulnerable to poverty. Using data from the 2002 and 2004 waves of the Health and Retirement Study of 5,799 women age 65 or older, this study investigated the effect of change in income sources by recent spousal loss on poverty transition. The focus is on (a) the effect of widowhood on income source change and (b) how such change affects poverty transition of recently widowed older women. Findings indicate that widowhood greatly decreases income from every source. Specifically, a 10 increase in social security benefits decreased the probability of poverty transition for recently widowed older women by 67.2 . These findings call for reconsidering social security survivor benefit rules and women's education with regard to financial security in retirement. %B Journal of Applied Gerontology %I 28 %V 28 %P 320-341 %G eng %N 3 %L newpubs20090908_GillenKim.pdf %4 Widowhood/Poverty/income %$ 20430 %R https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464808326953