Gerotranscendence and motivation for work past retirement age : a cross-sectional study

Bratun, Urša (author), Gerdina, Otto (author), Asaba, Eric (author)

Usually, work beyond retirement is seen as part of the active and healthy aging paradigm. However, during the work-to-retirement transition, some people can experience activity and value re-prioritization, which might align more closely with the theory of gerotranscendence. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to explore the concept of gerotranscendence in a group of retirement-aged workers (n = 219) and determine the relationship between gerotranscendence and motivation for work beyond retirement. To collect data, the Slovenian version of a 4-point Gerotranscendence Scale with 10 items (GTS-10) was used for the first time. Principal component analysis of the GTS-10 suggested that the internal structure of the Slovenian version of the GTS-10 corresponded to the original scale. Gerotranscendence was predicted by the presence of meaningful activities in a person’s life (β = 0.184, p = .006) and uninterrupted pattern of life (β = 0.343, p < .001). The workers’ motivation for prolonged work activity was influenced by a sense of autonomy and mastery engagement in work provided (β = 0.214, p = .008) as well as by Cosmic transcendence (β = 0.192, p = .005). Workers’ social relations were characterized by enjoying being with others and meeting new people, which is contrary to the theory of gerotranscendence. The study suggests that gerotranscendence can be relevant in understanding workers’ motivation for prolonged work activity. However, there might be nuances of the concept specific to the studied population and cultural context.

• Language: English
• Keywords: gerotranscendence, older adults, past retirement age, motivation for work
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: ZF - Faculty of Health Sciences; FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: Str. 1071–1088
• Numbering: Vol. 50, no. 11
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-164280
• UDC: 331.101.32
• ISSN on article: 1521-0472
• DOI: 10.1080/03601277.2024.2372915
• COBISS.SI-ID: 200372227
• Publication date in RUL: 18.10.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Educational gerontology (Online)
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 1521-0472
• COBISS.SI-ID: 521094681

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: gerotranscendenca, starejši odrasli, upokojitev, motivacija za delo