The Paradox of Early Retirement: Idealized Liberation or Real Constraint? An Analysis within the Dialectic of Agency and Structure

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the fundamental paradox of early retirement—namely, the tension between the idealized image of “liberation” and the objective reality of “constraint”—and to explain the pattern governing its contradictory consequences from the perspective of the dialectical interaction between agency and structure. The present research is descriptive–analytical in nature and was conducted using a qualitative systematic review with an integrative–interpretive approach. Following a systematic search of domestic and international databases and the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 47 relevant studies were selected. The textual data were analyzed using thematic analysis informed by grounded theory, within the conceptual framework of the agency–structure dialectic. The findings indicated that the consequences of early retirement at the individual, family, organizational, and supra-organizational (macro) levels are inherently paradoxical in nature. The thematic analysis led to the identification of a conditional interactional pattern as the dominant model. According to this model, the ultimate outcome is neither intrinsic to individual decision-making nor solely the result of structural determinism; rather, it is produced through the dynamic interaction of the two and is context-dependent. Specifically, “pull-based” agency (voluntary and informed choice) yields positive outcomes (such as increased life satisfaction and better health) only within the context of enabling structures (e.g., adequate benefits and strong support networks). In contrast, “push-based” agency—agency exercised under constraining structures (such as inadequate benefits and discrimination)—systematically results in negative outcomes (including financial poverty, depression, and social isolation). Moreover, the findings emphasized a pattern of inequality reproduction at the macro level and highlighted the mediating role of the “identity redefinition” process in individual adjustment. This study demonstrates that the duality of the early retirement experience is rooted in the complex interaction between individuals and their surrounding structural contexts. Accordingly, the design of intelligent policies requires a dual-pronged approach: on the one hand, empowering individual agency through comprehensive preparatory programs, and on the other hand, reforming constraining macro-level structures through the establishment of sustainable pension systems, anti-discrimination laws, and flexible opportunities for social participation. Neglecting either level will perpetuate cycles of inequality and inefficiency.