The lived experience of well-being in retirement: A phenomenological study

• Published in: International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 33110 - 11
• Main Authors: Bauger, Lars, Bongaardt, Rob
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01-01-2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Co-Action Publishing; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Age; Aged; agency; Aging; Aging - psychology; Attitude; Empirical Study; Female; Generativity; Gratitude; Happiness; Health; Health care; Health promotion; Helping Behavior; Humans; Life Change Events; Male; Meaning; Mental health; Middle Aged; perception of time; Perceptions; phenomenology; Pleasure; Psychotherapy; qualitative methods; Qualitative Research; Researchers; Retirees; Retirement; Retirement - psychology; Social psychology; Time; Well being; phenomenology; well-being; agency; generativity; qualitative methods; aging; perception of time; Retirement
• ISSN: 1748-2631; 1748-2623; 1748-2631
• DOI: 10.3402/qhw.v11.33110

This phenomenological study aimed to identify and describe the general meaning structure of the experience of well-being after retirement. We interviewed nine retirees about their lived experiences with well-being and analysed the data with Giorgi's descriptive phenomenological method. The general meaning structure described well-being in retirement as a phenomenon that interweaves four constituents: (1) an awareness of and gratitude for a healthy and functioning body, (2) a new experience of time presenting possibilities for action, (3) a heightened sense of agency, and (4) being-in-place in relationships. We discuss these findings in relation to relevant literature of successful aging, the perception of time, eudaimonic and hedonic well-being and generativity. Our findings contribute to the field by comprehensibly describing the phenomenon of well-being as it is experienced by retirees, which we conclude to be a valuable contribution for initiatives promoting well-being in retirement.