Psychological preparedness and retirement anxiety among oil company workers in rivers state: A review

Retirement is a key transition occurrence with multiple consequences psychologically, socially, and emotionally. Although financial readiness received greater attention in policy making and scholarship in Nigeria, recent evidence suggests that psychological preparedness is vital too in reducing retirement anxiety and enhancing adjustment after work. This paper using a narrative review approach considers the association between psychological preparedness and retirement anxiety among oil company workers in Rivers State, an occupational set notably characterized by high income, early retirement, and uncertainty caused by fluctuating fortunes in the petroleum sector. This paper highlights how pre-retirement anxiety levels are significantly influenced by various psychological aspects including self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, goal clarity, future time perspective, acceptance of aging, and autonomy. The review revealed that workers with more robust psychological resources are open to smoother adjustment and better post-retirement quality of life. On the other hand, inadequate preparation is linked to fear, loss of identity, diminished social belonging, and emotional turmoil. It was however concluded that psychological preparedness is an underemphasized but critical dimension of retirement planning in Nigeria and recommended that structured pre-retirement education, counseling interventions, skills acquisition, and policy reforms are needed to promote well-being after exit from active service.