BACKGROUND: Adjusting work life and encouraging older employees to continue at work has become a common challenge as the workforce ages. Gender differences in retirement decisions have largely been overlooked in previous studies, despite the fact that retirement as a life course event and the experience of retirement can be gender dependent. AIMS: To explore which personal and work-related psychological factors predict early retirement intentions among older women and men and to investigate the stability of these predictors through use of longitudinal data. METHODS: This research is based on an 11-year follow-up study of ageing Finnish municipal employees. Data on 1101 employees' early retirement intentions were analysed with binary logistic regression analysis in separate longitudinal and cross-sectional models. RESULTS: Gender differences in early retirement intentions were detected both at baseline and at follow-up. Negative perceptions about work and low work and general life satisfaction were associated with early retirement intentions among women. For men, good self-rated work ability and perceived good health were negatively associated with early retirement intentions. In addition, negative perceptions about work predicted early retirement intentions among men. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse work- or health-related factors detected in middle age predicted subsequent early retirement intentions.
BACKGROUND: Adjusting work life and encouraging older employees to continue at work has become a common challenge as the workforce ages. Gender differences in retirement decisions have largely been overlooked in previous studies, despite the fact that retirement as a life course event and the experience of retirement can be gender dependent. AIMS: To explore which personal and work-related psychological factors predict early retirement intentions among older women and men and to investigate the stability of these predictors through use of longitudinal data. METHODS: This research is based on an 11-year follow-up study of ageing Finnish municipal employees. Data on 1101 employees' early retirement intentions were analysed with binary logistic regression analysis in separate longitudinal and cross-sectional models. RESULTS: Gender differences in early retirement intentions were detected both at baseline and at follow-up. Negative perceptions about work and low work and general life satisfaction were associated with early retirement intentions among women. For men, good self-rated work ability and perceived good health were negatively associated with early retirement intentions. In addition, negative perceptions about work predicted early retirement intentions among men. CONCLUSIONS: Adverse work- or health-related factors detected in middle age predicted subsequent early retirement intentions.
Authors: Karen M Oude Hengel; Birgitte M Blatter; Goedele A Geuskens; Lando L J Koppes; Paulien M Bongers Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2011-11-23 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Wendy Koolhaas; Jac J L van der Klink; Johanna P M Vervoort; Michiel R de Boer; Sandra Brouwer; Johan W Groothoff Journal: J Occup Rehabil Date: 2013-06
Authors: Jorien E Strijk; Karin I Proper; Allard J van der Beek; Willem van Mechelen Journal: J Epidemiol Community Health Date: 2012-01-20 Impact factor: 3.710