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Effects of retirement and health among men and women in the health and retirement study

Fondow, Meghan D.M.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1180107602

Abstract Details

2007, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Psychology.
The myth of retirement and health states that health declines following retirement. Previous studies examining the veracity of this myth offer contradictory findings and varied methodologies. Several studies have found support for the myth, but others have found that health may actually improve in retirement. Also, it has been suggested that retirement may affect health of men and women in different ways. The purpose of the current study was to clarify and extend previous findings regarding the relationship between retirement and health among men and women using data from the Health and Retirement Study. The study was conducted in two phases. For the first phase, cross-sectional data were analyzed with working and retired participants matched on age, sex, race, and education. In the second phase, a longitudinal matched sample was utilized that included working participants, half of whom had retired by four year follow up. Sex, marital status, and income were examined as potential moderators. Results indicated that retired participants in both samples reported more functional health impairment and more symptoms of depression. However, the effect appeared to be evident primarily among people who had been forced to retire. There was no difference between voluntary retirees and working participants on functional health impairment, and voluntary retirees actually reported fewer symptoms of depression than working participants. Overall, this study provides support for the myth of retirement and health, but only among people forced to retire.
Charles Emery (Advisor)
Psychology, Clinical
Health; aging; functional health; symptoms of depression; retirement

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Fondow, M. D.M. (2007). Effects of retirement and health among men and women in the health and retirement study [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1180107602

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Fondow, Meghan. Effects of retirement and health among men and women in the health and retirement study. 2007. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1180107602.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Fondow, Meghan. "Effects of retirement and health among men and women in the health and retirement study." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1180107602

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1180107602
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© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.