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

Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being

Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University College of Southeast Norway, Porsgrunn, Norway.

Published: April 2017

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.

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5097159PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v11.33110DOI Listing

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