RETIREMENT, WORK AND HEALTH OUTCOMES IN OLDER AGE - Session 3225 (Symposium)

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by dawugda

This symposium addresses how retirement and work transitions affect health, mental well-being, cognitive functioning, and economic activity in older age. Drawing on ELSA and SHARE data, it examines pathways to retirement, the roles of disability and mental distress in economic inactivity, and how working conditions shape employment after disability onset. Evidence links full retirement with declines in cognitive and mental health, while semi-retirement—especially with job change—may reduce harms. Additional findings highlight rising post-pandemic UK inactivity and retirement-related cardiovascular risk.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Symposium Overview

Research Questions and Data Sources

Expected/Reported Findings

Implications for Policy and Health Risks

FAQs

Which datasets are used to study retirement, work, and health outcomes in older age?

The symposium draws on data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).

How do different retirement pathways relate to cognitive and mental health?

Findings suggest full retirement is often associated with declines in cognitive and mental health, while semi-retirement, particularly with a job change, may mitigate some negative effects.

What factors contribute to economic inactivity among older adults?

The symposium emphasizes the importance of ill health—especially disability and mental distress—in driving economic inactivity, while noting that the full picture remains unclear.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by dawugda