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Stay Healthy in Retirement With Work
Fewer diseases for retirees if they take up
part-time jobs or self-employment
By Bill Hendrick
WebMD Health News
People who continue to work after retirement have
fewer diseases and fewer functional limitations than
people who quit completely, a study shows.
The
study shows that "bridge employment" -- which
researchers define as a part-time job or
self-employment -- is in general good for health
after official retirement.
The
study is published in the October issue of the
Journal of Occupational Health Psychology.
The
researchers found that people who find
post-retirement work that is related to their
previous jobs report better mental health than those
who just call it quits and retire. But the study
also shows that retirees with financial problems are
more likely to work in a different field after
official retirement.
Yujie Zhan, PhD, of the University of Maryland, and
colleagues analyzed data from the national Health
and Retirement Study, which is sponsored by the
National Institute on Aging. They used data from
12,189 participants between 51 and 61 at the start
of the study. The participants were interviewed
every two years starting in 1992 about health,
finances, employment history, work, or retirement
life.
The
researchers took into account physical and mental
health before retirement as well as age, sex,
education level, and total financial wealth.
The
analysis shows that retirees who kept working in a
bridge job suffered fewer major diseases and fewer
functional limitations than those who stopped
working. Mental health improvements, though, were
only found among people who worked in jobs related
to their previous career.
"Rather than wanting to work in a different field,
they may have to work," says one of the researchers,
Mo Yang, PhD, also of the University of Maryland, a
news release. "In such situations, it's difficult
for retirees to enjoy the benefits that come with
bridge employment."
The
researchers say choosing a suitable type of bridge
employment will help retirees transition better --
and in better physical and mental health -- into
full retirement.
Employers that are concerned about a labor shortage
due to the retirement of millions of baby boomers
might consider employment options available for
their retirees, the researchers suggest.
The
study concludes that bridge employment may help
protect retirees from major diseases and daily
functional decline. The researchers say this may be
due to increased physical and mental activity
related to working.
On
the flip side, "full retirement might lead to
significantly less social contact and fewer daily
activities for many retirees," the researchers
write. "In turn, they may be less able to resist the
major diseases and the decline in daily functions
accompanied with aging."
©
WebMD. All rights reserved.
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"full retirement might lead to
significantly less social contact and fewer
daily activities for many retirees" |
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