Depression and Adjustment to Retirement Among Retiree Teachers in Meru County, Kenya

Abstract

Retirement is gradually becoming a topic of research in contemporary society. This is because it is one of the challenges associated with aging. Growing old is not easy and involves life changes which demand multiple adjustments requiring stamina, ability and flexibility. Studies have concluded that retirement leads to depression and it was therefore important to establish the between depression and adjustment to retirement. This study established a significant relationship between depression and adjustment to retirement among retiree teachers in Meru County. The target population of study was 1800 respondents comprising retiree teachers, spouses of retirees teachers and close relatives of the retiree teachers. A sample of 318 respondents was selected to participate in the study. Data was collected from retiree teachers and their spouses through questionnaires. Interview schedules were used to collect data from retiree teacher close relative. Quantitative data was analyzed with the help of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23. Descriptive statistics included frequencies, percentages, standard deviation and mean. Inferential statistics used was Wilcoxon signed rank test. Qualitative data collected was analyzed by classifying the responses into meaningful categories thematically. The findings of this study revealed that there is a significant relationship depression and adjustment to retirement. The study recommends that government of Kenya to organize pre-retirement and post-retirement counseling to help teachers to handle challenges that lead to depression in retirement.

DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-16-02

Publication date:August 31st 2020