Sex, Physical, and Financial Wellbeing as Predictors of Mental Health among Retirees in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study examined the extent to which sex, physical well-being, and financial well-being predict the mental well-being of retirees in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Seven objectives, seven research questions, and seven null hypotheses guided the study. An ex-post facto survey design was adopted. The population comprised 28,898 state government retirees in Akwa Ibom State as of April 2025. A sample size of 709 retirees was selected using a multistage sampling procedure involving both random and purposive techniques. Data were collected using a researcher-developed instrument titled “Personal-Social Variables and Retirees’ Mental Wellbeing Questionnaire” (PSVRMWQ). The instrument was validated by three experts and yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.90 using Cronbach’s Alpha. Data were analyzed using simple linear regression, and the null hypotheses were tested at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that sex does not significantly influence the mental well-being of retirees. However, physical well-being and financial well-being were found to significantly predict retirees’ mental well-being. The study recommends, among other measures, that counsellors should design and implement purpose-enhancement and mental health workshops for both pre-retirees and retirees to improve overall well-being.