Factors that influence retirement self-actualisation

Abstract

This article reports on an investigation of factors that influence self-actualisation during retirement. The aim of the research was to make recommendations on how to enhance the self-actualisation of retiredpeople. The research explored the retirement experiences of a purposefully selectedgroup of white retirees living in the George area in South Africa. Focus groups were conducted with 12 males and 12 females. Four groups were formed according to whether retirees were married or widowed and lived in retirement villages or independently Findings indicate that retirement is a life stage full of challenges and that adjustment to these is a pre-requisite for self-actualisation. Adjustment and self-actualisation are enhanced by certain types of behaviour, as well as personal and social resources. Programmes can be designed to support retirees. The programme content should include the retirement phenomenon, key life areas in retirement, personal resources, adjustment-oriented responses to retirement, circumstantial factors which facilitate adjustment, self-actualising modes of behaviour and ways of overcomingproblems.