Retirement Adjustment Framework: Understanding the Interplay Between Individual and Contextual Factors

There is a growing need to support the health and well-being of retired adults. Some evidence suggests that retirement transition can provide an opportunity for public health initiatives (Heaven et al., 2016). However, to increase the effectiveness of the potential interventions, more holistic models that acknowledge the complexity of the retirement process are needed. The aim of the present study was to gain an in-depth understanding of retirement adjustment and to explore the key components of successful retirement adaptation by examining the lived experiences of retired adults. A qualitative research design was used and included four focus groups ( n = 18) and individual interviews ( n = 10) conducted with participants, aged 58 to 82 years, retired for various durations from manual- and non-manual occupations. The data were subjected to thematic analysis. A new retirement adjustment (R-Adj) framework that incorporates multiple layers of contributors to retirement experiences was suggested. The three core components of R-Adj were identity rebuilding, social interaction, and independence, all of which anchor on activity engagement. The identified elements of R-Adj remained relevant for positive retirement experiences at different stages. However, the retirement transition might be the optimal time for interventions because it is when the most noticeable changes in social circles, identity, lifestyles, and the most prominent call for independence occur. It is proposed that the R-Adj components should be considered when designing public health initiatives for the retired population.