The effect of retirement on health behaviors

Gorry, Devon; Slavov, Sita Nataraj

doi:10.1002/hec.4723

Health Economics

2023

DOI: 10.1002/hec.4723

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The effect of retirement on health behaviors

Devon Gorry

Sita Nataraj Slavov

Abstract: This paper analyzes the effect of retirement on health behaviors using three nationally representative U.S. datasets. Findings show a decrease in drinking at the intensive margin, particularly for males. Individuals change their composition of exercise behaviors upon retirement, with varying effects of retirement depending on exercise intensity and gender. Dining patterns also change, with changes in eating out among men and more time spent on food preparation. Finally, although retirement increases time spent… Show more

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2024

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Cited by 2 publications

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The effect of retirement on physical and mental health in China: a nonparametric fuzzy regression discontinuity study

Wang,

Liu,

Zhou

et al. 2024

BMC Public Health

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Background With the rapid aging of the domestic population, China has a strong incentive to increase the statutory retirement age. How retirement affects the health of the elderly is crucial to this policymaking. The health consequences of retirement have been debated greatly. This study aims to investigate the effects of retirement on physical and mental health among Chinese elderly people. Methods The data we use in this study comes from four waves (2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018) of the Harmonized China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (Harmonized CHARLS), a prospective cohort. We use the nonparametric fuzzy regression discontinuity design to estimate the effects of retirement on physical and mental health. We test the robustness of our results with respect to different bandwidths, kernel functions, and polynomial orders. We also explore the heterogeneity across gender and education. Results Results show that retirement has an insignificant effect on a series of physical and mental health outcomes, with and without adjusting several sociodemographic variables. Heterogeneity exists regarding gender and education. Although stratified analyses indicate that the transition from working to retirement leaves minimal effects on males and females, the effects go in the opposite direction. This finding holds for low-educated and high-educated groups for health outcomes including depression and cognitive function. Most of the results are stable with respect to different bandwidths, kernel functions, and polynomial orders. Conclusions Our results suggest that it is possible to delay the statutory retirement age in China as retirement has insignificant effects on physical and mental health. However, further research is needed to assess the long-term effect of retirement on health.

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The effect of retirement on physical and mental health in China: a nonparametric fuzzy regression discontinuity study

Wang,

Liu,

Zhou

et al. 2024

BMC Public Health

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Leisure sedentary time and elevated blood pressure: evidence from the statutory retirement policy

Li,

Zeng

2024

Front. Public Health

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ObjectivesThe relationship between sedentary behaviors and elevated blood pressure remains inconclusive, and the socioeconomic mechanisms underlying the linkage are rarely discussed. Since retirement is often associated with behavioral changes that impact health, this study aims to provide evidence on changes in leisure sedentary time after the statutory retirement age on elevated blood pressure, along with the socioeconomic mechanisms.MethodsWe utilized data from five waves (2004–2015) of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), focusing on males aged 55–65 employed in the formal sector. Leisure sedentary time, the independent variable, was measured based on self-reported data, while diastolic (DBP) and systolic (SBP) blood pressure were the dependent variables. Using statutory retirement policy as an exogenous variation, we employed a continuous difference-in-differences (DID) framework and a propensity score matching difference-in-differences (PSM-DID) approach to examine the relationship between changes in leisure sedentary time after the statutory retirement age and elevated blood pressure. The analysis was conducted using ordinary least squares (OLS). To address potential endogeneity, we applied the instrumental variable (IV) method via two-stage least squares (2SLS).ResultsOur findings indicate an increase in diastolic blood pressure after statutory retirement, attributed to increased leisure sedentary time. However, there was no significant increase in systolic blood pressure. Moreover, physical activity did not appear to offset this rise in blood pressure, while higher educational attainment and having family members employed in the medical field helped mitigate its negative effects.ConclusionThis study highlights the potential adverse impact of increased leisure sedentary time on diastolic blood pressure among middle-aged men in the formal sector, while also exploring the socioeconomic factors that may alleviate these effects. These results provide a foundation for public health initiatives aimed at addressing the rising prevalence of sedentary behavior and its association with blood pressure issues.

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The effect of retirement on health behaviors

Cited by 2 publications

References 43 publications

The effect of retirement on physical and mental health in China: a nonparametric fuzzy regression discontinuity study

The effect of retirement on physical and mental health in China: a nonparametric fuzzy regression discontinuity study

Leisure sedentary time and elevated blood pressure: evidence from the statutory retirement policy

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