Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Experiences and motives of retirement-aged workers during the first wave of COVID-19 in Slovenia : “This was the first time in 40 years that I really saw spring”

Bratun, Urša and Asaba, Eric LU (2021) In Journal of Aging Studies 58.
Abstract

Choosing to continue working after retirement eligibility can attract both negative and positive sentiments from the general public. Studies examining the motivations of older workers have so far been conducted in times of relative social and economic stability. However, little is known about what it means for older workers to work during a lockdown or pandemic situation. The present longitudinal study aimed to explore experiences of retirement-aged workers in Slovenia in relation to their motives for prolonged work activity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, using the theory of gerotranscendence as a theoretical framework. Nine workers were interviewed before and after the start of the pandemic. The qualitative analysis was based on 18... (More)

Choosing to continue working after retirement eligibility can attract both negative and positive sentiments from the general public. Studies examining the motivations of older workers have so far been conducted in times of relative social and economic stability. However, little is known about what it means for older workers to work during a lockdown or pandemic situation. The present longitudinal study aimed to explore experiences of retirement-aged workers in Slovenia in relation to their motives for prolonged work activity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, using the theory of gerotranscendence as a theoretical framework. Nine workers were interviewed before and after the start of the pandemic. The qualitative analysis was based on 18 interviews and observations, juxtaposing two analytical methods in order to illustrate common themes across the data as well as tensions in specific situations within a narrative context. Four main themes are presented: Unchanged plans, Motive developments, Psychological preparation for retirement and Views of society. In addition, a narrative analysis is presented with a focus on self-transcending elements in some of the participants' narratives. The findings suggest that during a pandemic, older workers' individual experiences might be constructed more positively compared to other groups, especially if they develop agentic identity and pursue meaningful activities. We discuss an innovative approach to gerotranscendence, complementing this theory with concepts from occupational science to develop a clearer distinction from the now dated disengagement theory and examine the life trajectories of older workers in novel situations such as a pandemic.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Active aging, Coronavirus, Gerotranscendence, Meaningful activity, Prolonged work activity, Qualitative study
in
Journal of Aging Studies
volume
58
article number
100954
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:34425986
  • scopus:85111284153
ISSN
0890-4065
DOI
10.1016/j.jaging.2021.100954
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
41084ca8-6b62-4b26-886a-8ab92bb025ec
date added to LUP
2021-08-26 14:27:29
date last changed
2025-01-26 14:20:18
@article{41084ca8-6b62-4b26-886a-8ab92bb025ec,
  abstract     = {{<p>Choosing to continue working after retirement eligibility can attract both negative and positive sentiments from the general public. Studies examining the motivations of older workers have so far been conducted in times of relative social and economic stability. However, little is known about what it means for older workers to work during a lockdown or pandemic situation. The present longitudinal study aimed to explore experiences of retirement-aged workers in Slovenia in relation to their motives for prolonged work activity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, using the theory of gerotranscendence as a theoretical framework. Nine workers were interviewed before and after the start of the pandemic. The qualitative analysis was based on 18 interviews and observations, juxtaposing two analytical methods in order to illustrate common themes across the data as well as tensions in specific situations within a narrative context. Four main themes are presented: Unchanged plans, Motive developments, Psychological preparation for retirement and Views of society. In addition, a narrative analysis is presented with a focus on self-transcending elements in some of the participants' narratives. The findings suggest that during a pandemic, older workers' individual experiences might be constructed more positively compared to other groups, especially if they develop agentic identity and pursue meaningful activities. We discuss an innovative approach to gerotranscendence, complementing this theory with concepts from occupational science to develop a clearer distinction from the now dated disengagement theory and examine the life trajectories of older workers in novel situations such as a pandemic.</p>}},
  author       = {{Bratun, Urša and Asaba, Eric}},
  issn         = {{0890-4065}},
  keywords     = {{Active aging; Coronavirus; Gerotranscendence; Meaningful activity; Prolonged work activity; Qualitative study}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Aging Studies}},
  title        = {{Experiences and motives of retirement-aged workers during the first wave of COVID-19 in Slovenia : “This was the first time in 40 years that I really saw spring”}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2021.100954}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jaging.2021.100954}},
  volume       = {{58}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}