Late Career Work Disengagement and Thriving at Work as Predictors of Pre-Retirement Anxiety among Nigerian Nurses

Abstract

This study examined late career work disengagement and thriving at work as predictors of pre-retirement anxiety among Nigerian nurses. A total of 278 nurses (61 men and 217 women) from five (5) hospitals in the Southeast of Nigeria participated in the study. Their age range was between 50-60 years, with average age of 55 years (SD = 8.64). Three instruments were used for data collection, namely; Pre-retirement Anxiety Scale, Thriving at Work Scale and Work Disengagement Scale. Hierarchical multiple regressions were used in the statistical analysis. Two hypotheses were postulated. Results of the analyses showed that late career work disengagement was not a predictor of pre-retirement anxiety. Thriving at work negatively predicted pre-retirement anxiety, showing that increase in thriving at work was associated with lower pre-retirement anxiety. This showed that the more Nigerian nurses thrive at work the lesser the likelihood that they would feel anxious prior to retirement. Organizational practices, programs and policies aimed at facilitating thriving at work, late career work disengagement and flourishing in pre-retirement should be implemented in the healthcare sector.