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Change in self-reported health with retirement
International Journal of Aging & Human Development
|January 1, 1982
Summary
Retirement does not appear to harm health. A study found that retirees experienced no greater decline in self-reported health compared to those who continued working, challenging common beliefs about retirement
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Sociology of Aging
Background:
- The widespread belief that retirement negatively impacts health persists despite conflicting evidence.
- Understanding the health consequences of retirement is crucial for public health policy and individual well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between retirement and changes in self-reported health.
- To compare health trajectories of retirees versus continued workers.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 112 men who retired between 1975 and 1978.
- Comparison of within-individual health changes in retirees versus 386 age-matched continuing workers.
- Analysis of self-reported health status at baseline and follow-up.
Main Results:
- Retirees did not exhibit a greater incidence of age-adjusted health decline compared to continuing workers.
- Only 2% of retirees reported a negative impact of retirement on their health.
- No significant difference in health decline was observed between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- Retirement-related declines in self-perceived health are infrequent.
- The study challenges the notion that retirement inherently leads to poorer health outcomes.
- Findings suggest that retirement is not a primary cause of health deterioration for most individuals.
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