Associative image of “life in retirement” as an element of social conceptualization of the pension period by russians in working age

Abstract

The associative field of the stimulus “life in retirement” was obtained by the method of free associations during sociological study conducted in April – June 2023 by employees of the Department of Sociology of Yaroslavl State University named after. P. G. Demidov. This sociological study, titled “Labor, financial, health-saving strategies of representatives of different age groups in the context of reforming the pension system in Russia”, N = 652 people, deals with the residents of the Yaroslavl region in the working age. The semantic focus here is an analysis of the associative image of “life in retirement” as an aspect of the social conceptualization of personal future. The identified associative dominants are correlated with the principles of active longevity, a shared attitude towards preparing for retirement, and are considered in the context of such factors as gender, age, level of material well-being, and reference models of aging. The associative image of “life in retirement” is characterized by meaningful and emotional-evaluative ambivalence. Significant positions in the core of the associative field are occupied by associates, connected with personal existential values: “calmness”, “rest”, “time for yourself”; there is a significant proportion of mentions of “traditional” associates of life in retirement: “grandchildren”, “dacha”, “illness”, “aging”, “useful hobby”. It is noted that the perception of the prospects for life in retirement as favorable or unfavorable is determined primarily by individual resources, including material capabilities, age, and personal attitudes. A conclusion is made about the insignificant, fragmentary correspondence of the associative way of life in retirement with the postulates of the active longevity concept; the most obvious contrast is reluctance to continue working upon reaching the retirement age.