Experiences of occupational balance following retirement: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

• Published in: JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL SCIENCE
• Main Authors: Sabri, Mohamad Qayum Mohamad; Thurasamy, Ramayah; Daud, Ahmad Zamir Che
• Format: Article; Early Access
• Language: English
• Published: TAYLOR & FRANCIS AUSTRALIA 2024
• Subjects: Social Sciences - Other Topics
• Online Access: https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001195292300001

Achieving occupational balance is crucial for promoting retirees' health and well-being, but little is known about how retirees in Malaysia experience occupational balance after retirement. This study explored the experiences of occupational balance among 12 retirees in Malaysia, aged 60 years and above, using interpretative phenomenological analysis of online one-to-one in-depth interviews. The essence of occupational balance experiences was described in four superordinate themes: satisfaction through occupation, occupational proportion, achieving occupational balance, and challenges towards occupational balance. Retirees reported experiencing occupational balance through engaging in satisfying occupations and balancing the proportions of their occupations. To achieve occupational balance, they desired to socialise with friends and family members and remained active, but faced challenges related to health, finances, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of the current study have implications for retirees, their families, and policymakers seeking to promote successful ageing and quality of life. By focusing on Malaysian retirees, the study contributes to the understanding of occupational balance in a non-Western context, thereby enriching the cultural diversity of research within occupational science. However, it also highlights the need for future occupational science research on how occupational satisfaction, proportions, participation, health status, financial status, and COVID-19 impact occupational balance in the retiree population. Atteindre un equilibre occupationnel est crucial pour promouvoir la sante et le bien-etre des personnes retraitees, mais il existe peu de connaissances sur la facon dont ces personnes font l'experience de l'equilibre occupationnel apres la retraite en Malaisie. Cette etude a explore les experiences d'equilibre occupationnel de 12 personnes retraitees en Malaisie, agees de 60 ans et plus, en utilisant l'analyse phenomenologique interpretative d'entretiens individuels en ligne. L'essence des experiences d'equilibre occupationnel a ete decrite a travers quatre themes principaux : la satisfaction dans l'occupation, la quantite d'occupations, la realisation de l'equilibre occupationnel et les defis a relever pour atteindre l'equilibre occupationnel. Les personnes ont declare avoir fait l'experience de l'equilibre occupationnel a travers l'engagement dans des occupations satisfaisantes et en equilibrant la quantite d'occupations. Pour parvenir a un equilibre occupationnel, elles souhaitent entretenir des relations sociales avec leurs ami center dot es et les membres de leur famille et rester actives, mais elles sont confrontees a des defis lies a la sante, aux finances et a la pandemie de COVID-19. Les resultats de la presente etude ont des implications pour les personnes retraitees, leurs familles et les decideurs politiques qui cherchent a promouvoir un vieillissement reussi et une bonne qualite de vie. En se concentrant sur les personnes retraitees malaisiennes, l'etude contribue a la comprehension de l'equilibre occupationnel dans un contexte non occidental, enrichissant ainsi la diversite culturelle de la recherche en science de l'occupation. Cependant, la presente etude souligne egalement la necessite de mener de futures recherches en science de l'occupation sur la maniere dont la satisfaction dans les occupations, la quantite d'occupations, la participation, l'etat de sante, la situation financiere et le COVID-19 influencent l'equilibre occupationnel au sein de la population retraitee.