Physical and mental health changes in retirement age.

Effects of retirement on health were studied in a prospective follow-up study (TURVA project). The subjects were examined when they were 62 and 66 years old. At the beginning of the study more than half of the subjects were still working and the rest of them pensioned. Retirement had no clear effect on the subjects' physical health. Mental health of the subjects who retired at age of old-age retirement became better than that of the subjects who retired before the study. Diminished work stress may explain positive changes in mental health during retirement process.