As interest in post-retirement health grows, a study examining the impact of re-employment on health after retirement is grabbing attention.
Researchers from Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Public Health have suggested that whether or not someone returns to work could be a crucial factor in maintaining health, based on a survey of middle-aged and older adults.
The study found that those who fully retire and do not return to work after retirement are likelier to have poorer health. However, it was determined that reemployment benefits financial stability and mental and physical well-being.
Participants in this study were retirees between the ages of 50 and 60. The researchers separated the reemployed individuals into a “partially retired” group and the non-reemployed individuals into a “completely retired” group and compared the two groups. According to the analysis results based on data from 203,768 people, those who were reemployed were at higher risk of developing depression. This suggests that social isolation and role loss can have a more detrimental effect.
Additionally, the incidence of stroke was generally lower among those who were partially retired. This is in line with earlier research showing that the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease is elevated by either voluntary retirement or involuntary unemployment.
Specifically, it was discovered that those in the higher income bracket had an even lower chance of being hospitalized for a stroke. The research team interpreted this as the fact that people in the high-income bracket tend to actively maintain their health because they are highly aware of health management and frequently continue to participate in social activities like volunteering or talent donation even after retirement.
According to the research team, this study may prove the link between economic activity and health maintenance between middle-aged and older adults. They added that more research and policy support are required to sustain health after retirement.
