SELECTED PSYCHOSOCIAL EFFECT AND COPING MECHANISMS OF RETIREMENT AMONG RETIREE TEACHERS IN MERU COUNTY, KENYA.

Abstract

Retirement poses psychological problem for many retirees. There is an increase in the number of retired teachers in Meru County in Kenya because majority of the pioneer teachers in Meru County have begun retiring since independence. It was necessary to establish coping mechanisms employed to help retirees cope with psychosocial effect of retirement because this has not been clearly established in the existing studies. The purpose of this study was to establish the psychosocial effect of retirement and coping mechanisms among retiree teachers in Meru County of Kenya. The researcher established the relationship between depression and retirement, self-esteem and retirement, interpersonal relationship and retirement among retiree teachers in Meru County. Coping mechanisms of retirement among retiree teachers in Meru County, Kenya was determined. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. The study sampled 318 respondents from a population of 1800 comprising of 600 retirees, 600 spouses of retirees and 600 close relatives of the retiree teachers. A sample of 318 respondents, comprising of 106 retiree teachers, 106 spouses and 106 close relatives who were 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’s close relatives to get in-depth information. To determine reliability of the instrument a pilot study was carried out in the neighbouring Tharaka-Nithi County which comprised of 32 respondents. This was done so as to establish if there were flaws, limitations or weaknesses in the instruments. This enabled the researcher to make necessary adjustments to the instrument prior to the main study. Reliability of the instruments was tested using split-half method. The questionnaires of the retiree teachers in the pilot study gave a reliability coefficient of 0.750 while the questionnaires of retirees teachers in the main study had a reliability coefficient of 0.769. Retiree teachers spouses’ questionnaires gave reliability coefficient of 0.800 in the pilot study while in the main study the questionnaires for retiree teachers spouses had a reliability coefficient of 0.812. Interview schedules for retiree teachers close relatives had a reliability coefficient of 0.801 in the pilot study while in the main study they gave a reliability coefficient of 0.834. Therefore, the instruments were accepted as being reliable. The researcher gave the instruments to the supervisors to give their opinions and judgments so as to ensure validity. Quantitative data was analyzed with the help of SPSS version 23.R statistical software was used to generate K10 scores and inferential statistics. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Interpersonal Assessment tool were used. SPSS version 23 was useful in generation of descriptive statistics; frequencies, percentages, standard deviation and mean. Inferential statistics used was wilcoxon signed rank test. Data was presented in cross tabulations, graphs and charts. Qualitative data collected was analyzed by classifying the responses into meaningful categories thematically. The findings of this study revealed that there was significant relationship between depression and retirement, self-esteem and retirement and between interpersonal relationship and retirement. Retirees use religion, counselling, engagement in economic activities, engagement in support groups and volunteering as coping mechanisms to adjust to retirement. The study will benefit teachers, retiree teachers, families of retirees, psychologists and community counsellors in assisting retiree teachers cope with retirement. Human Resource Managers and Teachers Service Commission are also likely to benefit from the findings of this study as they may appreciate the value of retirement counseling in providing solutions to the challenges retiree teachers might be facing in retirement. The findings of this study are also likely to open gaps for further research in psychosocial effect and coping mechanisms of retirement among retiree teachers.