Title: Self-Compassion Intervention and Life Satisfaction among Potential Retirees in Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Adesoye Sunday Idowu and David Akinlolu Adeyemo
Volume: 9
Issue: 5
Pages: 225-230
Publication Date: 2025/05/28
Abstract:
This study examined the effects of a self-compassion intervention on life satisfaction among potential retirees in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, with the consideration of retirement self-efficacy as moderator. Guided by disengagement theory, the research employed a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. A total of 45 participants nearing retirement were purposively selected and randomly assigned to treatment and control conditions. The self-compassion intervention was implemented across eight sessions, and validated instruments were used to assess retirement self-efficacy and life satisfaction. Data were analysed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Findings revealed a significant main effect of self-compassion intervention on life satisfaction (F(2,48) = 5.763, p = .006, ?² = .490), indicating that individuals exposed to self-compassion training reported significantly higher levels of life satisfaction compared to their counterparts. Conversely, retirement self-efficacy did not yield a significant main effect on life satisfaction (F(1,48) = 0.260, p = .612), nor was there a significant interaction between self-compassion and retirement self-efficacy (F(2,48) = 0.073, p = .930). These results suggest that self-compassion is a critical factor in enhancing psychological wellbeing during retirement transition, independent of self-efficacy beliefs. The study concludes that self-compassion serves as a vital emotional resource in preparing individuals for retirement, enhancing their psychological adjustment and life satisfaction. It recommends that self-compassion interventions be integrated into pre-retirement counselling programmes to strengthen emotional resilience. Limitations include the relatively small sample size and the study's confinement to a single urban location. Future studies are encouraged to explore the longitudinal effects of such interventions across broader and more diverse retirement populations. This research adds to the evidence base highlighting self-compassion as a potent tool for fostering wellbeing in later life.