WORK, NON-WORK AND RETIREMENT: A STUDY WITH PROFESSORS
transition work-retirement; significance in work; life spheres; teaching work ; method triangulation.
The activity system model is situated in a dialectical model of plural and conflicting socialization, throughout life, with an active subject in the construction of his life and transformation of his environment. It relies on a systemic approach. This study investigates the dynamics of the activity system (professional, familiar, personal and social domain) triggered by the work-retirement transition in professors of a public university who chose to extend their working life. It is qualitative, longitudinal research. A methodological data triangulation device was used: The Activity System Inventory (ASI), self-observation of daily activities and semi-structured interviews. Fourteen teachers participated, and they were selected through a sample of typical cases. It was identified that the teaching activity system is multicenter, with projects under development and/or in perspective in all life domains, and the relations between them are more defined in terms of aid than of an impediment nature. In this life model, the most important aspirations are in the family sphere, for which immediate support is given. These are projects in this sphere: preserving a good environment, having more family time, managing finances, helping dependents and taking care of the household. The personal/social sphere is most valued hierarchically with health care projects, interacting with friends and travelling more often. The professional sphere is the most active in the operation of the activity system, with projects to continue working, to be recognized for their professional career and not to be consumed by work. The meaning of work in its relations with other spheres of life was analyzed. It was found that, for these professors, to continue to work contributes more to the achievement of family and personal/social projects than to stop working. The workload is required to be reduced, but not to the point of retirement.