POST-RETIREMENT LEISURE ACTIVITIES : GENDER AND CLASS DIFFERENTIATION

Abstract

Retirement as a phenomenon has received some attention in the growing field of social gerontology. The social implications of retirement ae quite important, and therefore, cannot be overlooked. Studies on retirement have focused on the impact of retirement on retirees in terms of life satisfaction, and often on the life satisfaction of male retirees. Consequently, this study was concerned with examining the relationship between leisure participation and life satisfaction, of both male and female retirees, and between social classes. There are altogether nine major hypotheses. The variables in this study include gender, age, health, education, post-retirement income, post-retirement occupation, retirement attitude, leisure attitude, leisure participation, and life satisfaction. This study was conducted on a purposive sample. The research design used was that of the personal interview with a structured questionnaire. Of the nine hypotheses, only two were supported, and another two, partially supported. The hypotheses on education, leisure attitude and gender were supported, while those on pre-retirement occupational status and age were partially supported. Gender differences in leisure participation and life satisfaction are found be negligible. The last chapter of this study gives a summary of the findings, and highlight the limitations of this study, as well as suggesting some courses for follow up action to this study.