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. 2016 Nov 3:11:33110.
doi: 10.3402/qhw.v11.33110. eCollection 2016.

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

Lars Bauger  1 , Rob Bongaardt  2
Affiliations

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

Lars Bauger et al. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. .

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Retirement; agency; aging; generativity; perception of time; phenomenology; qualitative methods; well-being.

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Conflict of interest statement

and funding The authors have not received any funding or benefits from industry or elsewhere to conduct this study.

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