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Working for only financial reasons attenuates the health effects of working beyond retirement age: A 2‐year longitudinal study
Author(s) -
Nemoto Yuta,
Takahashi Tomoya,
aka Kumiko,
Hasebe Masami,
Koike Takashi,
Minami Ushio,
Murayama Hiroshi,
Matsunaga Hiroko,
Kobayashi Erika,
Fujiwara Yoshinori
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/ggi.13941
Subject(s) - socioeconomic status , medicine , logistic regression , health and retirement study , mental health , longitudinal study , finance , gerontology , baseline (sea) , demography , environmental health , psychiatry , population , oceanography , geology , pathology , sociology , economics
Aim The health benefits of paid employment in late life are understood, but they might vary according to work motives. We examined the health effects of employment among older adults, focusing on motivation. Methods We carried out a 2‐year longitudinal survey from 2013 (baseline) to 2015 (follow up). Among 7608 older adults, the analysis included 1069 who completed both surveys and were employed at baseline. Work motives were assessed using a questionnaire. Participants were assigned to groups based on their responses: (i) financial reasons; (ii) motivation other than financial reasons; and (iii) both financial and non‐financial reasons. Self‐rated health, mental health and higher‐level functional capacity were evaluated as health outcomes. Results There were group differences in baseline demographic variables and health status; those with financial reasons had lower socioeconomic status and worse mental health. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that compared with older workers with non‐financial reasons, those with financial reasons were more likely to decline in self‐rated health (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.00–2.03) and higher‐level functional capacity (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.16–2.07), which was independent of potential covariates, including socioeconomic status. However, no differences were evident between those with only non‐financial reasons and those having both financial and non‐financial reasons. Conclusions We found that the participants who worked only for financial rewards had reduced health benefits through working in old age. A prolonged working life among older workers can contribute to maintaining health and can be enhanced by non‐financial reasons, such as finding meaning in life and social contact. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 745–751 .