Delayed retirement and low self-worth among older adults: evidence from CLASS

Against the background of population aging and ongoing debate over retirement-age reform in China, this study examines whether delayed-retirement behaviour is associated with low self-worth among older adults. Using panel data from the 2018 and 2020 waves of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), the paper investigates the association between delayed retirement and low self-worth among older adults and explores the mechanisms underlying this relationship. The empirical results show that delayed retirement is associated with a lower likelihood of low self-worth among older adults. This finding remains robust across a series of alternative specifications and supplementary robustness checks. Heterogeneity analysis further indicates that the association is more pronounced among older women and older adults engaged in informal employment. Mechanism analysis suggests that delayed retirement may be linked to a lower likelihood of low self-worth through stronger social interactions, greater economic participation, and enhanced intergenerational economic support.These findings enrich the literature on the subjective welfare consequences of delayed retirement and may inform policy discussions on later-life work and ageing in China.