The Abang Theory of Nursing Retirement

The ABANG Theory of Nursing Retirement presents a unified, cyclical model explaining how retired nurses achieve holistic well-being and fulfillment during the transition from professional service. The framework consists of five core, interconnected constructs: Adaptation, Balance, Advocacy, Nurturing, and Growth.
Adaptation is the foundational process, involving adjustment to profound shifts in identity, routine, and lifestyle, which is crucial for restoring equilibrium. Successful adaptation leads directly to Balance—a holistic state of equilibrium across physical, emotional, and social domains. Achieving balance provides the stability and capacity necessary to engage in Advocacy, extending the nurse’s ethical caregiving role into community service and mentorship.
Advocacy, in turn, facilitates Nurturing behaviors, which capture the deep-seated caring instinct directed toward self and others, reinforcing meaning and relational purpose. Consistent nurturing leads to Growth, the ultimate outcome characterized by continuous self-improvement, fulfillment, and resilience.
An essential element is the cyclical feedback mechanism, where Growth reinforces the capacity for future Adaptation, sustaining a continuous life cycle of positive transformation. The ABANG framework is empirically tested using mixed-method research, with findings confirming strong positive correlations among the constructs, validating its clarity, accuracy, and practical applicability for retirement planning and psychosocial interventions.

Adaptation, Balance, Advocacy

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