Changes in Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Time Across Retirement Transition as a Predictor of...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Retirement transition impacts physical activity (PA) and self-rated health (SRH).
• The interrelationship between PA changes and SRH during retirement is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in total PA, moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), and sedentary time across retirement.
• To assess these PA changes as predictors of SRH.

Main Methods:

• Harmonized data from Swedish and Finnish retirement studies (N=245).
• Three waves of data (1 pre- and 2 post-retirement) collected over ~12 months.
• Accelerometer-measured PA (waves 1-2) and questionnaire-based SRH (waves 1-3).

Main Results:

• Total PA decreased by 11 min/day between pre- and post-retirement (wave 1-2).
• Moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) remained stable.
• A cross-sectional association was found between higher MVPA and better SRH before retirement.
• No significant longitudinal associations were observed between PA changes and subsequent SRH.

Conclusions:

• A pre-retirement association exists between MVPA and better SRH.
• Changes in physical activity during retirement transition did not predict changes in SRH.