SOCIAL SUPPORT, LOCUS OF CONTROL AND GENDER AS DETERMINANTS OF RETIREMENT SATISFACTION AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL RETIRED TEACHERS IN OYO TOWN, NIGERIA

Abstract

Retirement satisfaction is a critical aspect of well-being in later life, particularly for professionals such as teachers who have dedicated their careers to public service. This study examined the influence of social support, locus of control, and gender on retirement satisfaction among secondary school retired teachers in Oyo Town, Nigeria. Despite the growing body of research on retirement experiences globally, there is limited understanding of these factors in the Nigerian context, especially among educators. To address this gap, a cross-sectional, correlational research design was employed, with participants selected through a multistage sampling procedure from two Local Government Areas. Data was collected from 200 retired teachers (mean age = 65.3 years, SD = 7.2; 55% female) using validated instruments: the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Rotter's Locus of Control Scale, and the Retirement Satisfaction Inventory (RSI). Multiple regression analysis revealed that gender was the strongest predictor of retirement satisfaction (? = -.975, p < .001), followed by social support (? = .114, p < .001), while locus of control did not significantly contribute to the model (? = .034, p = .147). Collectively, these variables accounted for 90.1% of the variance in retirement satisfaction. The findings underscore the complex interplay of personal and social factors in shaping retirement experiences and highlight the need for gender-sensitive approaches in retirement planning and support for Nigerian educators. This study contributes to the growing literature on retirement satisfaction in diverse cultural contexts and provides valuable insights for policymakers and educational institutions in developing targeted interventions to enhance the quality of life for retired teachers.   Keywords: Retirement satisfaction, locus of control, social support, retired teachers, gender