Citation
(2013), "Retirement has a detrimental impact on mental and physical health, a new study has found", Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Vol. 14 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAOA.55914caa.003
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Retirement has a detrimental impact on mental and physical health, a new study has found
Article Type: News and events From: Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Volume 14, Issue 3.
The study, published by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) found that retirement results in a "drastic decline in health" in the medium and long term. The study suggests people should work for longer for health as well as economic reasons. The study, which was published in conjunction with the Age Endeavour Fellowship, compared retired people with those who had continued working past retirement age, and took into account possible confounding factors.
Philip Booth, programme director at the IEA, said the government should go further to deregulate labour markets and allow people to work for longer. "Working longer will not only be an economic necessity, it also helps people live healthier lives", he said.
Edward Datnow, chairman of the Age Endeavour Fellowship: "There should be no 'normal' retirement age in future [...] More employers need to consider how they will capitalise on Britain's untapped grey potential and those seeking to retire should think very hard about whether it is their best option".
Retirement is found to increase the chances of suffering from clinical depression by 40 per cent, while you are 60 per cent more likely to suffer from a physical condition. The effect is the same for men and women, while the chances of becoming ill appear to increase with the length of time spent in retirement.