An Examination of Associated Factors of Emotional Health Problems among Retirees in Kogi State, Nigeria

Emotional health problems are common among retirees, but frequently remain undetected and untreated. It occurs in retirement as a result of challenge experienced by retirees, complex interaction of social, psychological and biological factors. The aim of this study is to investigate the associated factors of emotional health problems (depression, anxiety, and stress) among retirees in Kogi State, Nigeria. The study utilized correlational survey research design. The population for the study comprised 9,950 retirees in Kogi State, Nigeria. The retirees aged 60 and above were selected using multi-stage sampling procedure to give a total sample size of 1,250 respondents. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) was adapted and used to determine associated factors of depression, anxiety, and stress. Bivariate analyses were performed using frequencies, percentages, point-biserial correlation, Cramer’s V coefficient and multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between the factors and each of the emotional health problem statuses assessed. The result showed that there were weak positive relationship between depression and age of retirees (rpb= .09, p= .001), anxiety (rpb= .10, p=.001), stress (rpb= .14, p=.001), there were also weak positive relationship between depression and associated factor of income level of retirees and depression (V= .06, p= .050), anxiety (V= .10, p=.001), stress (V= .04, p=.127). Furthermore, there were significant relationships between depression and retirees’ demographic factors of gender (P= .000) and age (P=.004) and educational level (p = .000) with 5% of the variation experiences of depression among retirees, Anxiety and retirees’ demographic factors of gender (p=.001) and age (p=.001), level of education (p=.000), place of residence (p=.02) and income level (p=.02)with 7% experiences of anxiety among retirees and stress and retirees’ demographic factors of gender (p=.000), age (p=.000), place of residence (p=.221), and educational level (p=.001) with 6% experiences of stress found among retirees. The study recommended that Kogi State government should establish guidance clinics in all ministries and local government area and pension commissions in the states. This will create opportunities for counselors to provide psychological education to all retiree clients with problems of adjustment. Government should also establish and build a retirement home for the elderly retirees, as well run a social welfare schemes for retirees like we find in developed countries. This will ensure freedom and comfort for smooth transition from the world of work to the world of retirement.