EXPLORING ADJUSTMENT TO RETIREMENT: LEISURE IN THE LIVES OF FIRST-GENERATION KOREAN IMMIGRANT MEN

Abstract

Abstract Baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, comprise a significant portion of the United States’ older adult population. Retirement is also a hallmark of their current life stage. While a body of literature points to the benefits of leisure activities in later life, the roles and relevance of leisure during the retirement transition among first-generation immigrant baby boomers are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to explore leisure throughout the lifespan among first-generation Korean immigrant men (N = 19) and how their cultural values and leisure involvement played out during the retirement transition. Guided by continuity theory of normal aging (Atchley, 1989) and leisure innovation theory (Nimrod, 2008), findings from interview data through interpretive phenomenological analysis (Smith et al., 1995) indicated that (1) perceptions and definition of leisure is shaped by their cultural backgrounds; (2) leisure in the working years mostly involved family leisure activities with an emphasis on providing their children with educational values; (3) leisure activities such as golf and fishing were a particular interest for this demographic, but meanings changed over time; (3) leisure provided continuity during the retirement; and (4) retirement was viewed as an opportunity for new leisure activities, but limited availability of sport and recreation programs was perceived as a barrier. These findings yield meaningful implications in that (a) leisure engagement can provide continuity in maintaining their social roles over the lifespan; and (b) more community-based sport and recreation programs targeting older adults would help them successfully transition to retirement.