Retirement and morbidity: a three-year longitudinal study of a French managerial population

A longitudinal study was carried out on a randomized sample of Parisian male managers in order to assess the relationship between morbidity and retirement. In 1976 (wave 1), 180 subjects participated in the study. In 1979 (wave 2), 156 subjects were re-examined. Among those returning, 105 were retired and 51 were still working full time. To evaluate this relationship the two groups were compared with regard to changes in prevalence of principal diseases between the two waves, incidence in the interim and changes in a morbidity index. Popular belief, according to which retirement may cause an increase in morbidity, is not supported by the findings of this study. Furthermore, at wave 2, the prevalence rate of heart and artery disease was found to be significantly greater in the non-retirees than in the retirees, while these rates were similar at wave 1.