Abstract
The transition from an active working life to retirement is especially important when it comes to retired teachers—that is, Filipino teachers—because education plays a deeply embedded role in the sociocultural structure of the Philippines. Previous studies showed that personality traits and life satisfaction play a crucial role in retirement adjustment. This predictive-correlational research investigated the relationship between personality traits and retirement adjustment and the mediating role of life satisfaction among 396 purposively sampled retired Filipino teachers residing in Metro Manila, Philippines. Standardized instruments were employed to measure the variables, such as the Big Five Inventory-2 Short Form (BFI-2-S), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), and the Retirement Adjustment Scale (RAS). Results revealed that the respondents have high levels of extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness to experience but have moderate levels of neuroticism. Retired Filipino teachers have moderate levels of life satisfaction and retirement adjustment. Tests of correlation showed a positive relationship between retirement adjustment and extraversion (r = .118, p = .019), conscientiousness (r = .129, p = .010), agreeableness (r = .112, p = .025), and openness to experience (r = .101, p = .046). The relationship between personality traits and retirement adjustment is not mediated by life satisfaction; rather, personality traits are proven to be a significant mediator between life satisfaction and retirement adjustment. Therefore, retirement support services including individualized plans tailored to each person's needs and preferences should be designed with retirees' unique personality profiles and life satisfaction levels.
