A growing body of research indicates that leaving the workforce,
whether one is retiring, going on disability, or simply cannot find work, has
serious detrimental effects on mental and physical health. Leaving the workforce changes one's physical
environment as well as one's mental and physical activity patterns and
researchers point out that these changes profoundly change individual's health
behaviors, social interactions, psychosocial stresses.
Retirement is often perceived as a golden
opportunity to focus on healthy behaviors.
However, retirement, marked by reduced social interaction, less physical
movement, and a loss of sense of purpose, actually increases the risk of health
problems. For example, a study published in 2008 by the National Bureau of Economic Research found retirement increased difficulties with mobility and daily
activities 16%. A recent report published
by the Institute of Economic Affairs in London concluded retirement , raises the risk of developing clinical depression by about 40%,
increases the risk of developing at least
one diagnosed physical condition by approximately 60%, and raises the risk of needing medication for a
physical condition by 58%.
Involuntary unemployment
appears to be especially bad for health in the US where unemployed workers
often lose health insurance. It is
estimated that in the United States, each percentage rise in unemployment leads
to 6,000 deaths. A
review of more than 300 studies on mental health and unemployment found that
unemployment was markedly linked to declines in mental health. For instance, men who had lost jobs within
the last four years were three times more likely than stably employed men to
have recently abused alcohol. Likewise, women who had a stint of unemployment
were three times more likely than other women to have suffered extended periods
of depression. According to a study out
of Columbia University, long-term unemployment can reduce life expectancy by an average
of 1 ½ years. Parent’s unemployment even appears to have
lasting effects on the success of their children. A 2008 report based on a study that followed
the earnings of 39,000 Canadian fathers and sons over 30 years beginning in the
late 1970's found that when the sons of men who lost their jobs joined the
workforce, they earned 9% less than the sons of otherwise comparable workers.
There is evidence that being out of the workforce is particularly
damaging to heart and cardiovascular health.
A number of studies have found that
persons in retirement or on disability decrease their amount of walking and
other physical activity when they leave the workforce. A recent study at the Harvard School
of Public Health looked at rates of heart attack and stroke among men and women
in the ongoing U.S. Health and Retirement Study. Among 5,422
individuals in the study, those who had retired were 40% more likely to have
had a heart attack or stroke than those who were still working. The increase
was most pronounced during the first year after retirement with mortality rates
of the newly retired 50% greater.
What to do: While the common perception is that if we
could only quit our stressful jobs and focus on our health we would be better
off, in fact, work is beneficial to health.
So, keep working as long as you can.
If you do leave the workforce, actively engage in behaviors that protect
your health. Foster a new social networks,
pursue activities that keep you physically active and bring you joy, and
continue to challenge your mind with structured and unstructured learning.
Adapted
from articles available at:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/260622.php
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-retirement-good-for-health-or-bad-for-it-201212105625
http://consumer.healthday.com/encyclopedia/article.asp?AID=646671
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/28/the-enduring-consequences-of
unemployment/?_r=0
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/04/02/456809/long-term-unemployment-decreases-life-expectancy/
Sources:
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. Current
Depression Among Adults --- United States, 2006 and 2008. Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report. October 1, 2010 / 59(38);1229-1235
Paul K,
Moser K. Unemployment impairs mental health: Meta-analyses. Journal of Vocational Behavior. Volume
74, Issue 3 June 2009
Jin RL.
The impact of unemployment on health: a review of the evidence. Can Med Assoc
J. 1995 Sept 1; 153(5)529-539.
Warr,
PB. Work, Unemployment and Mental Health.
New York, Oxford University Press. 1987.
Warr,
PB. Self-esteem and unemployment among young workers. Le Travail Human. 1983,
46,355-366.
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