%0 Journal Article %J Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning %D Forthcoming %T The Association Between Retiree Migration and Retirement Satisfaction %A Pearson, Blain M. %A Charlene M. Kalenkoski %K Migration %K Retirement %K retirement satisfaction %X The purpose of this study is to examine migration during retirement and its association with retirement satisfaction. Utilizing longitudinal data collected from the Health and Retirement Study, this study estimates a fixed effects logit model to examine how changing U.S. Census divisions during retirement is related to retirement satisfaction. The findings suggest that a change in residential location during retirement is associated with an increase in retirement satisfaction. In planning for retirement, individuals should examine what will provide them with the highest level of satisfaction during their retirement and whether their current location can facilitate an enjoyable retirement. Financial planners and counselors should also consider, as a part of their systemic retirement planning process, increasing the attention that is given to the residential location in which their clients will reside during retirement. %B Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning %G eng %R 10.1891/JFCP-20-00064 %0 Journal Article %J Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health %D Forthcoming %T Effect of retirement on self-rated oral health and dental services use: longitudinal fixed-effects instrumental variable study in 31 countries. %A Baumeister, Sebastian-Edgar %A Wesselmann, Hanna %A Nascimento, Gustavo G %A Listl, Stefan %K dental services %K health systems %K Oral Health %K Retirement %X

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effect of retirement on self-rated oral health and dental services use.

METHODS: Covering 31 countries, we used harmonized panel data from the English Longitudinal Study on Aging (ELSA), Health and Retirement Study (HRS), and the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Data comprised 485 085 observations from 112 240 individuals aged ≥50 years. Official and early retirement ages were leveraged as instruments in a fixed-effects instrumental variable approach.

RESULTS: We found that retirement exhibited a negative effect on self-rated oral health (β = -0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.44- -0.30) and a positive effect on the propensity to seek dental care (β = 0.56; 95% CI 0.53-0.60). Male retirees showed a stronger decrease in self-rated oral health and increase in dental services use than female retirees. Participants who previously worked in a physically demanding job showed a stronger effect on self-rated oral health. Conversely, participants without a physically demanding job in the past exhibited a stronger retirement effect on dental service use. Compared with other health system clusters, retirement effects on dental services use were stronger in three health system clusters: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Sweden; Israel; and the United States.

CONCLUSIONS: Using a quasi-experimental design, we found that transition to retirement lowers self-rated oral health and increases the use of dental services. Retirement effects appeared heterogeneous across sexes, type of previous labor, and health systems.

%B Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health %G eng %R 10.5271/sjweh.4134 %0 Journal Article %J Social Science Research %D Forthcoming %T Intergenerational support and retirement timing among older men and women by race/ethnicity %A Adriana M. Reyes %K Family %K intergenerational support %K life course %K Race/ethnicity %K Retirement %X Retirement timing is associated with health and economic outcomes for older adults. However, it is unclear how the pressures of supporting older parents and young adult children are associated with retirement. This study uses a life course perspective to consider how the linked lives of working older adults and their support of adult children and parents are associated with retirement. Cox proportional hazard models are estimated using the Health and Retirement Study (1992–2014) to assess the relationship between intergenerational support exchanges and retirement timing by gender and race/ethnicity. Providing most types of intergenerational support and especially providing time support are associated with an increased risk of retirement. Unlike all other respondents, Hispanic women providing intergenerational time support have similar retirement risks as those not providing any intergenerational support. These differing patterns by race/ethnicity suggest that earlier life course trajectories may shape older adults’ ability to respond to family needs. %B Social Science Research %G eng %R https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2022.102783 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Pension Economics and Finance %D Forthcoming %T Introduction to special issue on institutional influences on retirement, health and well-being %A Knapp, David %A Lee, Jinkook %K health %K Retirement %K Social Security %K Well Being %X Countries make differing policy choices. They can serve as a scientific laboratory for drawing lessons on the policy paths to follow or to avoid and the consequences of those institutional choices on individuals at older ages. In this special issue we bring together six articles that evaluate the influence of institutions on retirement decisions, health and well-being of older adults using common data that have emerged with the international network of health and retirement studies to study key life outcomes such as health, work, and lifecycle transitions at older ages. %B Journal of Pension Economics and Finance %G eng %R 10.1017/S1474747221000408 %0 Journal Article %J Financial Planning Research Journal %D Forthcoming %T Retirees, Financial Planning Horizon, and Retirement Satisfaction %A Pearson, Blain M. %A Lacombe, Donald %K Financial planning %K Retirement %K retirement satisfaction %X This study examines the association between retiree financial planning horizon and retirement satisfaction using longitudinal data collected from the Health and Retirement Study. The results indicate that retirees with longterm financial planning horizons, compared to retirees with short-term financial planning horizons, are more likely to be very satisfied with their retirement. The findings and ensuing discussion highlight the need for long-term financial planning during retirement and the need for financial planners to regularly engage in financial planning throughout their clients’ retirement. %B Financial Planning Research Journal %G eng %U https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363486850_Retirees_Financial_Planning_Horizon_and_Retirement_Satisfaction %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Cancer Survivorship %D Forthcoming %T Retirement behavior of cancer survivors: role of health insurance. %A Bradley, Cathy J %A Owsley, Kelsey M %K Cancer %K Health Insurance %K Labor Supply %K Retirement %X

PURPOSE: Workers who rely on employment for health insurance may be unable to reduce work during and following treatment for a serious health condition, potentially harming their health in retirement. In this study, we examine the influence of retiree and employment-contingent insurance on the retirement and health of workers diagnosed with cancer.

METHODS: This longitudinal cohort study used 2000-2018 Health and Retirement Study data to examine changes in employment, weekly hours worked, and health status measures following a cancer diagnosis. We selected respondents who reported a new cancer diagnosis (n = 354) and a matched, non-cancer sample (n = 1770), restricting both samples to those employed and younger than age 63.

RESULTS: Following a cancer diagnosis, women with retiree health insurance were 18.6 percentage points less likely to work (95% CI: - 36.3 to - 1.0; p < 0.05) relative to women with employer health insurance, but no retiree insurance. Employed women with cancer but without employment-contingent health insurance increased weekly hours worked by 34% relative to similar non-cancer controls. Men and women with a cancer diagnosis and without employment-contingent health or retiree insurance were also less likely to work (p < 0.05). Among those who stopped working, respondents with cancer and employment-contingent health insurance reported better health status than respondents without employment-contingent health insurance.

CONCLUSIONS: Cancer survivors with employer and retiree health insurance leave the workforce earlier and report better health status when they stop working than those without equivalent insurance.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Policies to support health insurance outside of employment may allow cancer survivors to retire earlier and may have positive health benefits.

%B Journal of Cancer Survivorship %8 2022 Sep 05 %G eng %R 10.1007/s11764-022-01248-2 %0 Web Page %D 2024 %T The annuity puzzle is especially puzzling for older retirees %A Blanchett, David %K Annuity %K Retirement %I Insurance Newsnet %G eng %U https://insurancenewsnet.com/innarticle/the-annuity-puzzle-is-especially-puzzling-for-older-retirees %0 Journal Article %J Neurology %D 2024 %T Associations of Everyday and Lifetime Experiences of Discrimination With Willingness to Undergo Alzheimer Disease Predictive Testing. %A Hill-Jarrett, Tanisha G %A Choi, Minhyuk %A Buto, Peter T %A Miramontes, Silvia %A Thomas, Marilyn D %A Yang, Yulin %A Kim, Min Hee %A Sims, Kendra D %A Glymour, M Maria %K Alzheimer disease %K Logistic Models %K Odds Ratio %K Propensity Score %K Retirement %X

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Rapid developments in Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarker research suggest that predictive testing may become widely available. To ensure equal access to AD predictive testing, it is important to understand factors that affect testing interest. Discrimination may influence attitudes toward AD testing, particularly among racially and ethnically minoritized populations, because of structural racism in health care systems. This study examined whether everyday or lifetime discrimination experiences shape interest in AD predictive testing.

METHODS: In the 2010 and 2012 biennial Health and Retirement Study waves, respondents were randomly selected to complete questions on interest in receiving free testing that could determine whether they would develop AD in the future. The exposures were everyday discrimination (6 items) and lifetime discrimination (7 items); both were transformed into a binary variable. Logistic regression models predicting interest in AD testing were controlled for deciles of propensity scores for each discrimination measure. Odds ratios were re-expressed as risk differences (RDs).

RESULTS: Our analytic sample included 1,499 respondents. The mean age was 67 (SD = 10.2) years, 57.4% were women, 65.7% were White, and 80% endorsed interest in AD predictive testing. Most of the participants (54.7%) experienced everyday discrimination in at least one domain; 24.1% experienced major lifetime discrimination in at least one domain. Those interested in predictive testing were younger (66 vs 70 years) and more likely to be Black (20% vs 15%) or Latinx (14% vs 8%) than participants uninterested in testing. The probability of wanting an AD test was not associated with discrimination for Black (RD everyday discrimination = -0.026; 95% CI [-0.081 to 0.029]; RD lifetime discrimination = -0.012; 95% CI [-0.085 to 0.063]) or Latinx (RD everyday discrimination = -0.023, 95% CI [-0.082 to 0.039]; RD lifetime discrimination = -0.011; 95% CI [-0.087 to 0.064]) participants.

DISCUSSION: Despite historical and contemporary experiences of discrimination, Black and Latinx individuals express interest in AD testing. However, Black and Latinx individuals remain underrepresented in AD research, including research on AD testing. Interest in personalized information about dementia risk may be a pathway to enhance their inclusion in research and clinical trials.

%B Neurology %V 102 %P e208005 %G eng %N 4 %R 10.1212/WNL.0000000000208005 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Medicine, Surgery, and Public Health %D 2024 %T Diminished returns of educational attainment on life satisfaction among Black and Latino older adults transitioning into retirement %A Shervin Assari %K Education %K Elderly %K Life Satisfaction %K middle-aged %K Retirement %K Wellbeing %X Background This paper investigates the intricate relationship between race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and life satisfaction among middle-aged and older adults in the United States. Guided by the theory of Minorities' Diminished Returns (MDRs), positing that returns on educational attainment are attenuated for minoritized populations, this study aims to explore racial/ethnic disparities in the impact of educational attainment on the life satisfaction of middle-aged and older adults. Methods This was a secondary analysis of existing data. Utilizing data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we employed a longitudinal design with a nationally representative sample of middle-aged and older adults in the United States. Key variables of interest included educational attainment, race/ethnicity, and average life satisfaction from wave 9–15 (20–30 years later). Statistical analysis included regression models to assess the associations between educational attainment and life satisfaction overall and by race and ethnicity. Results Overall, 5274 participants entered our analysis and were followed for up to 30 years. Our initial findings revealed a positive association between educational attainment and life satisfaction. Subsequently, we identified significant interactions between race/ethnicity and educational attainment, indicating notable racial and ethnic differences in the impact of educational attainment on life satisfaction. The effects of baseline on future educational attainment and life satisfaction were weaker for Black and Latino than non-Latino White counterparts. Conclusions In accordance with the Minorities' Diminished Returns theory, Black and Latino middle-aged and older adults experience a less pronounced positive impact of educational attainment on life satisfaction compared to their Non-Latino and White counterparts. There are non-additive complex interplay between educational attainment and race and ethnicity on subjective well-being of middle-aged and older adults. The identified disparities in the returns of educational attainment underscore the critical need to recognize and address structural barriers that contribute to the diminished returns of educational attainment for Black and Latino populations. %B Journal of Medicine, Surgery, and Public Health %V 2 %P 100091 %G eng %R https://doi.org/10.1016/j.glmedi.2024.100091 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Applied Gerontology, Series B, Psychological Sciences and social sciences %D 2024 %T Does the Impact of Episodic Memory Declines on Future Changes in Perceived Control Vary Based on Individuals' Experience With Cognitively Demanding Jobs? %A Oi, Katsuya %K Aging %K Humans %K Memory, Episodic %K Occupational Stress %K Retirement %K Surveys and Questionnaires %X

OBJECTIVES: This study proposes and evaluates a scenario wherein cognitive demands experienced at work can amplify the positive cross-lagged association of a shift in control beliefs following changes in episodic memory.

METHODS: From the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2018) for 9,998 participants aged 50 or above, we used repeated observations of memory and control beliefs, assessed with the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified (TICS-m) and self-mastery and perceived constraints questionnaires. A dual-Latent Change Score Model estimated the cross-lagged effects between memory and control beliefs, separately for individuals with prior high cognitive job demands and those without.

RESULTS: A decline in memory led to decreased control beliefs in terms of perceived constraints, only among those with experiences in cognitively demanding jobs.

DISCUSSION: High cognitive job demands may lead to a more cognitively oriented awareness of aging, thus amplifying the impact of memory decline on control constraints.

%B Journal of Applied Gerontology, Series B, Psychological Sciences and social sciences %V 79 %G eng %N 4 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbae007 %0 Journal Article %J American Journal of Human Biology %D 2024 %T Dried blood spot based biomarkers in the Health and Retirement Study: 2006 to 2016. %A Jung K Kim %A Faul, Jessica %A Weir, David R %A Crimmins, Eileen M %K Biomarkers %K C-reactive protein %K Cystatin C %K Dried Blood Spot Testing %K Retirement %X

INTRODUCTION: The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) has collected biomarker data over multiple waves. Such data can help improve our understanding of health changes in individuals and the causal pathways related to health. There are, however, technical challenges to using the HRS dried blood spots (DBS) biomarker data due to changes over time in assay protocols, platforms, and laboratories. We provide technical and summary information on biological indicators collected as part of the HRS from 2006 to 2016 that should be helpful to users of the data.

METHODS: We describe the opportunities and challenges provided by the HRS DBS data as well as insights provided by the data. The HRS collected DBS from its nationally representative sample of respondents 51 years of age or older from 2006 to 2016. DBS-based biomarkers were collected from half the sample in 2006, 2010, and 2014, and from the other half of the sample in 2008, 2012, and 2016. These DBS specimens were used to assay total and HDL cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, and cystatin C from 2006 to 2016, and Interleukin 6 was added in 2014/2016. Samples included approximately 6000 individuals at each wave, and completion rates ranged from 81% to 90%. HRS transformed DBS values into venous blood equivalents to make them more comparable to those of the whole blood-based assays collected in most other studies and to facilitate longitudinal analysis.

RESULTS: Distribution of changes over time by age shows that total cholesterol levels decreased for each age, while HbA1c levels increased. Cystatin C shows a clear age gradient, but a number of other markers do not. Non-Hispanic Black persons and Hispanic respondents have a higher incidence of risk levels of each biomarker except for CRP among non-Hispanic Black older persons.

CONCLUSION: These public-use DBS data provide analysis opportunities that can be used to improve our understanding of health change with age in both populations and among individuals.

%B American Journal of Human Biology %V 36 %P e23997 %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1002/ajhb.23997 %0 Journal Article %J Psychology and Aging %D 2024 %T Dyadic profiles of couples' self-perceptions of aging: Implications for mental health. %A Huo, Meng %A Kim, Kyungmin %K Aged %K Aging %K Humans %K Mental Health %K Resilience, Psychological %K Retirement %K Self Concept %X

The way older adults perceive their own aging processes influences their mental health, but we know little about how this occurs in a dyadic context, where spouses' perceptions and health are often intertwined. The present study sought to identify dyadic profiles of self-perceptions of aging (SPAs) in couples and examine how certain profiles are associated with each partner's mental health over time. A pooled sample of 3,850 heterosexual couples aged 50+ in the Health and Retirement Study (2012/2014) rated positive and negative SPAs and provided data on demographic characteristics, couple relationships, and health. We tracked these couples' depressive symptoms over 2 years (2014/2016). Latent profile analysis revealed five profiles of couples' SPAs: similarly positive (20%), similarly negative (6%), similarly average (38%), husband negative (20%), and wife negative (17%). Physical health and marital quality consistently differentiated couples in profile membership. Couples with similarly positive and similarly average SPAs reported the smallest increases in depressive symptoms over time, and couples with similarly negative SPAs fared worst in mental health. We observed interesting gender differences across profiles; husbands in the husband negative profile reported significantly greater increases in depressive symptoms than those in the wife negative profile. Yet, wives in these two profiles did not differ in their depressive symptoms over time, and they reported worse mental health than wives in the similarly positive and similarly average profiles. This study adds to the emerging literature that advocates for an interpersonal approach to SPAs and reveals risk and resilience in couples as they age together. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

%B Psychology and Aging %V 39 %P 153-165 %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1037/pag0000801 %0 Journal Article %J Nutrients %D 2024 %T Food Security and Health Outcomes following Gray Divorce. %A Zhao, Hang %A Andreyeva, Tatiana %A Sun, Xiaohan %K Adult %K Aged %K Divorce %K Female %K Food security %K Food Supply %K Humans %K Marriage %K Outcome Assessment, Health Care %K Retirement %K United States %X

The study evaluates the immediate and long-term consequences of gray divorce (i.e., marital dissolution after age 50) for the food security, depression, and disability of older Americans. Staggered Difference-in-Difference models were fitted to a nationally representative longitudinal sample of adults aged ≥ 50 years from the Health and Retirement Study, 1998-2018. Food insecurity and disability increase in the year of gray divorce and remain significantly elevated for up to six years or more following the event, consistent with the chronic strain model of gray divorce. Gray divorce has particularly adverse consequences for the food security of older women, while no gender differences were observed for disability. Increasing trends in gray divorce have important negative implications for food security and health of older Americans, particularly women, who appear to be less prepared to financially withstand a marital collapse in older age. Targeted policies to provide nutrition assistance and support in reemployment might be necessary to reduce the burden of food insecurity in the wake of gray divorce among women.

%B Nutrients %V 16 %G eng %N 5 %R 10.3390/nu16050633 %0 Web Page %D 2024 %T The Income Gap Jeopardizing Retirement for Millions %A Paula Span %K income gap %K lower middle class %K Retirement %I The New York Times %G eng %U https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/06/health/retirement-income-middle-class.html %0 Web Page %D 2024 %T Meet the 'forgotten middle' of Americans over 75 facing a rocky retirement %A Kaplan, Juliana %K Retirement %I Business Insider %G eng %U https://www.businessinsider.com/retirement-savings-investment-crisis-middle-class-americans-racial-inequality-2024-2 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Applied Gerontology, Series B, Psychological Sciences and social sciences %D 2024 %T The Potential of Informal Care for Self-Perceptions of Aging Among Older Community-Dwelling Adults: Longitudinal Findings From the Health and Retirement Study. %A Zwar, Larissa %A König, Hans-Helmut %A Hajek, André %K Activities of Daily Living %K Aged %K Humans %K Independent Living %K Longitudinal Studies %K Patient Care %K Retirement %K Self Concept %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: This is the first study to analyze, whether receipt of (informal) care with (instrumental) activities of daily living (IADL/ADL) is associated with (positive and negative) self-perceptions of aging among community-dwelling older adults; and whether chronological age moderates these associations, using a longitudinal design.

METHODS: Longitudinal data of the Health and Retirement Study in the United States was used. The sample was composed of up to 9,198 observations of community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years pooled over 6 waves (2008-2018). Receiving care at all and the amount of care received with (I)ADL were analyzed in association with positive and negative attitudes towards own aging (ATOA; 8-item modified Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale, positive and negative subscore). Adjusted fixed effects regression analyses with robust standard errors were calculated.

RESULTS: Transitioning into receipt of care with any (I)ADL was associated with lower positive ATOA but not with any change in negative ATOA. Chronological age moderated the association between receipt of informal care, primarily with IADL, and negative ATOA. More negative ATOA was found among care recipients between 50 and 64 years but less among care recipients aged ≥80 years.

DISCUSSION: Receiving any form of informal care was associated with an increase in internalized ageism, in particular among adults aged 50 to 64 years, but a decrease among those aged ≥80 years. Psycho-educative measures are recommended for adults with care needs to prevent a loss of positive self-perceptions of aging, and reduce the danger to their healthy aging, with the receipt of care.

%B Journal of Applied Gerontology, Series B, Psychological Sciences and social sciences %V 79 %G eng %N 3 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbad189 %0 Journal Article %J Developmental Psychology %D 2024 %T Purposeful and purposeless aging: Structural issues for sense of purpose and their implications for predicting life outcomes. %A Pfund, Gabrielle N %A Olaru, Gabriel %A Allemand, Mathias %A Hill, Patrick L %K Aged %K Aging %K Humans %K Longevity %K Retirement %K United States %X

Despite the value of sense of purpose during older adulthood, this construct often declines with age. With some older adults reconsidering the relevance of purpose later in life, the measurement of purpose may suffer from variance issues with age. The current study investigated whether sense of purpose functions similarly across ages and evaluated if the predictive power of purpose on mental, physical, cognitive, and financial outcomes changes when accounting for a less age-affected measurement structure. Utilizing data from two nationwide panel studies (Health and Retirement Study: = 14,481; Midlife in the United States: = 4,030), the current study conducted local structural equation modeling and found two factors for the positively and negatively valenced purpose items in the Purpose in Life subscale (Ryff, 1989), deemed the purposeful and purposeless factor. These factors become less associated with each other at higher ages. When reproducing past findings with this two-factor structure, the current study found that the purposeful and purposeless factors predicted these outcomes in the same direction as would be suggested by past research, but the magnitude of these effects differed for some outcomes. The discussion focuses on the implications of what this means for our understanding of sense of purpose across the lifespan. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

%B Developmental Psychology %V 60 %P 75-93 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1037/dev0001633 %0 Web Page %D 2024 %T The retirement system is broken, Teresa Ghilarducci says. Here's the solution she supports. %A Francia, Caryl Anne %K Retirement %I Pensions & Investments %G eng %U https://www.pionline.com/retirement-plans/retirement-system-broken-teresa-ghilarducci-says-heres-solution-she-supports %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T Addressing the Nation's Retirement Crisis: The 80% %A National Council on Aging %K Retirement %K Social Security Benefits %I National Council on Aging %G eng %U https://ncoa.org/article/addressing-the-nations-retirement-crisis-the-80-percent-financially-struggling %0 Journal Article %J Demography %D 2023 %T Age and Cohort Trends in Formal Volunteering and Informal Helping in Later Life: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study. %A Han, Sae Hwang %A Shih, Yao-Chi %A Burr, Jeffrey A %A Peng, Changmin %K Bayes Theorem %K Retirement %K Volunteers %X

Formal volunteering holds great importance for the recipients of volunteer services, individuals who volunteer, and the wider society. However, how much recent birth cohorts volunteer in middle and late adulthood compared with earlier birth cohorts is not well understood. Even less well-known are the age and cohort trends in informal helping provided to friends and neighbors in later adulthood. Using longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study, we estimated age and cohort trends in formal volunteering and informal helping from 1998 to 2018 for a wide range of birth cohorts born between 1909 and 1958. We used multivariate, multilevel models based on Bayesian generalized modeling methods to estimate the probabilities of volunteering and informal helping simultaneously in a single model. Despite having advantages in human and health capital, recent birth cohorts showed volunteering levels in late adulthood that are similar to those of their predecessors. Moreover, more recent birth cohorts were consistently less engaged in informal helping than earlier birth cohorts throughout the observation period. More research is needed to illuminate the sociocultural drivers of changes in helping behaviors and overall prosocial and civic engagement.

%B Demography %V 60 %P 99-122 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1215/00703370-10395916 %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T Americans Underestimate Social Security Income by $1,900: Study %A Manganaro, John %K Expectations %K Retirement %K Social Security claiming %I ThinkAdvisor %G eng %U https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2023/03/13/americans-underestimate-social-security-income-by-1900-study/ %0 Journal Article %J J Am Heart Assoc %D 2023 %T Association of Joint Genetic and Social Environmental Risks With Incident Myocardial Infarction: Results From the Health and Retirement Study. %A Tang, Junhan %A Sheng, Chen %A Wu, Yan Yan %A Yan, Lijing L %A Wu, Chenkai %K Adult %K Genetic Predisposition to Disease %K Humans %K Myocardial Infarction %K Proportional Hazards Models %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %X

Background Myocardial infarction (MI) is a significant clinical and public health problem worldwide. However, little research has assessed the interplay between genetic susceptibility and social environment in the development of MI. Methods and Results Data were from the HRS (Health and Retirement Study). The polygenic risk score and polysocial score for MI were classified as low, intermediate, and high. Using Cox regression models, we assessed the race-specific association of polygenic score and polysocial score with MI and examined the association between polysocial score and MI in each polygenic risk score category. We also examined the joint effect of genetic (low, intermediate, and high) and social environmental risks (low/intermediate, high) on MI. A total of 612 Black and 4795 White adults aged ≥65 years initially free of MI were included. We found a risk gradient of MI across the polygenic risk score and polysocial score among White participants; no significant risk gradient across the polygenic risk score was found among Black participants. A disadvantaged social environment was associated with a higher risk of incident MI among older White adults with intermediate and high genetic risk but not those with low genetic risk. We revealed the joint effect of genetics and social environment in the development of MI among White participants. Conclusions Living in a favorable social environment is particularly important for people with intermediate and high genetic risk for MI. It is critical to developing tailored interventions to improve social environment for disease prevention, especially among adults with a relatively high genetic risk.

%B J Am Heart Assoc %V 12 %P e028200 %G eng %N 6 %R 10.1161/JAHA.122.028200 %0 Journal Article %J JAMA Netw Open %D 2023 %T Associations of Food Insecurity and Memory Function Among Middle to Older-Aged Adults in the Health and Retirement Study. %A Lu, Peiyi %A Kezios, Katrina %A Jawadekar, Neal %A Swift, Samuel %A Vable, Anusha %A Zeki Al Hazzouri, Adina %K Adult %K Aged %K Cohort Studies %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Female %K Food insecurity %K Food Supply %K Humans %K Male %K Memory Disorders %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %X

IMPORTANCE: Food insecurity is a leading public health issue in the US. Research on food insecurity and cognitive aging is scarce, and is mostly cross-sectional. Food insecurity status and cognition both can change over the life course, but their longitudinal relationship remains unexplored.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the longitudinal association between food insecurity and changes in memory function during a period of 18 years among middle to older-aged adults in the US.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The Health and Retirement Study is an ongoing population-based cohort study of individuals aged 50 years or older. Participants with nonmissing information on their food insecurity in 1998 who contributed information on memory function at least once over the study period (1998-2016) were included. To account for time-varying confounding and censoring, marginal structural models were created, using inverse probability weighting. Data analyses were conducted between May 9 and November 30, 2022.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: In each biennial interview, food insecurity status (yes/no) was assessed by asking respondents whether they had enough money to buy food or ate less than they felt they should. Memory function was a composite score based on self-completed immediate and delayed word recall task of a 10-word list and proxy-assessed validated instruments.

RESULTS: The analytic sample included 12 609 respondents (mean [SD] age, 67.7 [11.0] years, 8146 [64.60%] women, 10 277 [81.51%] non-Hispanic White), including 11 951 food-secure and 658 food-insecure individuals in 1998. Over time, the memory function of the food-secure respondents decreased by 0.045 SD units annually (β for time, -0.045; 95% CI, -0.046 to -0.045 SD units). The memory decline rate was faster among food-insecure respondents than food-secure respondents, although the magnitude of the coefficient was small (β for food insecurity × time, -0.0030; 95% CI, -0.0062 to -0.00018 SD units), which translates to an estimated 0.67 additional (ie, excess) years of memory aging over a 10-year period for food-insecure respondents compared with food-secure respondents.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cohort study of middle to older-aged individuals, food insecurity was associated with slightly faster memory decline, suggesting possible long-term negative cognitive function outcomes associated with exposure to food insecurity in older age.

%B JAMA Netw Open %V 6 %P e2321474 %G eng %N 7 %R 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.21474 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health %D 2023 %T Associations of local area level new deal employment in childhood with late life cognition: evidence from the census-linked health and retirement study. %A Lee, Mark %A Harrati, Amal %A Rehkopf, David H %A Modrek, Sepideh %K Adolescent %K Censuses %K Child %K Cognition %K Employment %K Infant %K Newborn %K Preschool %K Prospective Studies %K Retirement %X

BACKGROUND: Emergency employment programmes during the 1930s and 1940s invested income, infrastructure and social services into communities affected by the Great Depression. We estimate the long-term associations of growing up in an area exposed to New Deal emergency employment in 1940 with cognitive functioning in later life.

METHODS: Members of the Health and Retirement Study cohort (N=5095; mean age 66.3 at baseline) who were age 0-17 in 1940 were linked to their census record from that year, providing prospective information about childhood contextual and family circumstances. We estimated the association between subcounty-level emergency employment participation in 1940 and baseline cognition and rate of cognitive decline between 1998 and 2016.

RESULTS: Compared with those living in the lowest emergency employment quintile in 1940, those who were exposed to moderate levels of emergency employment (third quintile) had better cognitive functioning in 1998 (b=0.092 SD, 95% CI 0.011 to 0.173), conditional on sociodemographic factors. This effect was modestly attenuated after adjusting for respondents' adult education, finances and health factors. There were no significant effects of area-level emergency employment on rate of cognitive decline.

CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to New Deal employment policies during childhood is associated with long-term cognitive health benefits. This is partially explained by increases in educational attainment among those with greater levels of emergency employment activity in the place where they were raised. Future research should investigate which types of New Deal investments may most be related to long-term cognitive health, or if the associations we observe are due to co-occurring programmes.

%B Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health %V 77 %P 81-88 %8 2023 Fe %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1136/jech-2022-219259 %0 Journal Article %J JAMA Netw Open %D 2023 %T Associations of Social, Cultural, and Community Engagement With Health Care Utilization in the US Health and Retirement Study. %A Gao, Qian %A Bone, Jessica K %A Bu, Feifei %A Paul, Elise %A Sonke, Jill K %A Fancourt, Daisy %K Aged %K Cohort Studies %K Delivery of Health Care %K Female %K Hospitalization %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Patient Acceptance of Health Care %K Retirement %X

IMPORTANCE: There is growing evidence for the health benefits associated with social, cultural, and community engagement (SCCE), including for supporting healthy behaviors. However, health care utilization is an important health behavior that has not been investigated in association with SCCE.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between SCCE and health care utilization.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This population-based cohort study used data from the 2008 to 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a longitudinal panel study using a nationally representative sample of the US population aged 50 years and older. Participants were eligible if they reported SCCE and health care utilization in the relevant HRS waves. Data were analyzed from July to September 2022.

EXPOSURES: SCCE was measured with a 15-item Social Engagement scale (including community, cognitive, creative, or physical activities) at baseline (frequency) and longitudinally over 4 years (no, consistent, increased, or decreased engagement).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Health care utilization was assessed in association with SCCE within 4 overarching categories: inpatient care (ie, hospital stays, hospital readmissions, length of hospital stays), outpatient care (ie, outpatient surgery, physician visits, number of physician visits), dental care (including dentures), and community health care (ie, home health care, nursing home stays, nights in a nursing home).

RESULTS: A total of 12 412 older adults (mean [SE] age, 65.0 [0.1] years; 6740 [54.3%] women) were included in short-term analyses with 2 years of follow-up. Independent of confounders, more SCCE was associated with shorter hospital stays (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.75; 95% CI, 0.58-0.98), greater odds of outpatient surgery (odds ratio [OR], 1.34; 95% CI, 1.12-1.60) and dental care (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.46-2.05), and lower odds of home health care (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.57-0.99) and nursing home stays (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.29-0.71). Longitudinal analysis included 8635 older adults (mean [SE] age, 63.7 [0.1] years; 4784 [55.4%] women) with data on health care utilization 6 years after baseline. Compared with consistent SCCE, reduced SCCE or consistent nonparticipation in SCCE was associated with more inpatient care utilization, such as hospital stays (decreased SCCE: IRR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.00-1.67; consistent nonparticipation: IRR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.04-1.68) but lower levels of subsequent outpatient care, such as physician visits (decreased SCCE: OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.50-0.93; consistent nonparticipation: OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.46-0.82) and dental care utilization (decreased SCCE: OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.57-0.81; consistent nonparticipation: OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.44-0.60).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: These findings suggest that more SCCE was associated with more dental and outpatient care utilization and reduced inpatient and community health care utilization. SCCE might be associated with shaping beneficial early and preventive health-seeking behaviors, facilitating health care decentralization and alleviating financial burden by optimizing health care utilization.

%B JAMA Netw Open %V 6 %P e236636 %G eng %N 4 %R 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.6636 %0 Journal Article %J Social Science and Medicine %D 2023 %T Attribution for everyday discrimination typologies and mortality risk among older black adults: Evidence from the health and retirement study? %A Cobb, Ryon J %A Rodriguez, Violeta J %A Brown, Tyson H %A Louie, Patricia %A Farmer, Heather R %A Sheehan, Connor M %A Mouzon, Dawne M %A Thorpe, Roland J %K Black People %K Disabled Persons %K Minority health %K Perceived Discrimination %K Psychosocial factors %K Public Health %K Retirement %K Social Perception %X

BACKGROUND: The present study assessed how attributions of everyday discrimination typologies relate to all-cause mortality risk among older Black adults.

METHODS: This study utilized data from a subsample of older Black adults from the 2006/2008 Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Attributions for everyday discrimination (i.e., ancestry, age, gender, race, physical appearance, physical disability, sexual orientation, weight, and other factors) were based on self-reports, while their vital statuses were obtained from the National Death Index and reports from key informants (spanning 2006-2019). We applied latent class analysis (LCA) to identify subgroups of older Black adults based on their attributions to everyday discrimination. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze time to death as a function of LCA group membership and other covariates.

RESULTS: Based on fit statistics, we selected a four-class model that places respondents into one of the following classes: Class One (7%) attributed everyday discrimination to age, race, and physical disability; Class Two (72%) attributed everyday discrimination to few/no sources, Class Three (19%) attributed everyday discrimination to race and national origin; and Class Four (2%) attributed everyday discrimination to almost every reason. After adjusting for sociodemographic, behavioral, multisystem physiological dysregulation, and socioeconomic characteristics, we found that the relative risk of death remained higher for the respondents in Class One (Hazard Ratio [H.R.]: 1.80, 95% Confidence Interval [C.I.]: (1.09-2.98) and Class Four (H.R.: 3.92, 95% C.I.: 1.62-9.49) compared to respondents in Class Two.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings illustrate the utility of using attribution for everyday discrimination typologies in research on the psychosocial dimensions of mortality risk among older Black adults. Future research should assess the mechanisms that undergird the link between everyday discrimination classes and all-cause mortality risk among older Black adults.

%B Social Science and Medicine %V 316 %P 115166 %G eng %R 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115166 %0 Report %D 2023 %T Boomerang Children and Parental Retirement Outcomes %A Seiter, Grant M. %A Lopez, Mary J %A Sita Nataraj Slavov %K Adult children %K labor market expectations %K Retirement %X As the share of U.S. adult children living with their parents increases, it is important to understand how children who “boomerang” back home impact their parents in their pre-retirement and post-retirement years. We use data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine the effects of boomerang children on their parents’ labor market expectations and choices, as well as on their wealth, health, and life satisfaction. Event study analysis suggests that boomerang children return home due to short-term instabilities, such as negative shocks to marriage, income, and employment. We find that boomerang children are associated with a small increase in their parents’ subjective probability of working after age 65. However, there is no clear statistically significant evidence that they impact parents’ current or future labor market choices; nor is there any evidence that they affect parents’ wealth, health, or life satisfaction. %B Working Paper %I NBER %G eng %R 10.3386/w30863 %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T ‘Boomerang’ Children Don’t Derail Parents’ Retirement: New Study %A Manganaro, John %K Adult children %K Retirement %I ThinkAdvisor %G eng %U https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2023/01/24/boomerang-children-dont-derail-parents-retirement-new-study/ %0 Journal Article %J JAMA Network Open %D 2023 %T Change in Purpose in Life Before and After Onset of Cognitive Impairment. %A Sutin, Angelina R %A Luchetti, Martina %A Stephan, Yannick %A Terracciano, Antonio %K Aged %K Aging %K Awareness %K Cognitive Dysfunction %K Cohort Studies %K Female %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %X

IMPORTANCE: Purpose in life is a critical aspect of psychological well-being that is associated with better cognitive outcomes across the continuum of dementia. To our knowledge, the natural history of purpose with onset of cognitive impairment has yet to be evaluated.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in purpose in life prior to and after onset of cognitive impairment.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort study used assessments of purpose in life and cognitive status from March 2006 to May 2021 in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and from May 2011 to November 2021 in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS).

EXPOSURE: Cognitive impairment at each wave based on established thresholds in HRS and NHATS.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The main outcome was purpose in life, measured with the Ryff Measures of Psychological Well-Being in HRS and a validated item in NHATS.

RESULTS: In HRS, 22 668 participants provided 50 985 assessments of purpose across all waves. In NHATS, 10 786 participants provided 53 880 assessments of purpose across all waves. In HRS, 58.3% of participants were female, with mean (SD) age of 64.76 (10.41) years at baseline; in NHATS, 57.4% were female, with mean (SD) age of 76.82 (7.71) years at baseline. Across waves, 6794 HRS participants (30%) and 4446 NHATS participants (41.2%) were in the cognitive impairment range. Accounting for demographic covariates and normative change in purpose, multilevel modeling indicated that standardized purpose in life declined significantly prior to onset of cognitive impairment (estimate for 10 years) in both HRS (b = -0.12; 95% CI, -0.17 to -0.07; P < .001) and NHATS (b = -0.10; 95% CI, -0.20 to -0.01; P = .03). Purpose declined significantly more rapidly following onset of cognitive impairment, with a standardized decline nearly 3 times larger compared with prior to impairment in HRS (b = -0.35; 95% CI, -0.41 to -0.29; P < .001) and 4 times larger in NHATS (b = -0.44; 95% CI, -0.53 to -0.34; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this cohort study, purpose in life declined with emergence of cognitive impairment. The decline before onset was too small to be useful to detect impending impairment in clinical settings. The steeper decline following impairment suggests that individuals are aware that their purpose is declining. Purpose may be an intervention target following cognitive impairment to maintain well-being and to reduce or slow emergence of behavioral symptoms associated with low purpose.

%B JAMA Network Open %V 6 %P e2333489 %8 2023 Sep 05 %G eng %N 9 %R 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.33489 %0 Journal Article %J Health Econ %D 2023 %T Cognitive activity at work and the risk of dementia. %A Martin-Bassols, Nicolau %A de New, Sonja C %A Johnston, David W %A Shields, Michael A %K Cognition %K Dementia %K Humans %K Occupations %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %X

Dementia prevalence is projected to rise steeply in coming decades, producing tremendous burdens on families, and health and social services. Motivated by the need for further robust evidence on modifiable risk factors, we investigate the relationship between cognitive activity at work and later-life dementia. Using data from the US Health and Retirement Study matched to the O*NET occupational database, we find that a one standard deviation increase in the cognitive activity associated with one's longest held occupation is associated with a 0.9 percentage point reduction in (predicted) dementia, or a 24% reduction relative to the mean. This relationship is consistently found across model specifications and robustness tests. When controlling for individual fixed-effects we find that the association between dementia and work cognitive activity increases with age. Overall, our results provide some evidence in support of the inclusion of cognitive activity at work as a recognized modifiable risk factor for dementia.

%B Health Econ %V 32 %P 1561-1580 %G eng %N 7 %R 10.1002/hec.4679 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontology %D 2023 %T Cognitive Aging in Same- and Different-Sex Relationships: Comparing Age of Diagnosis and Rate of Cognitive Decline in the Health and Retirement Study. %A Hanes, Douglas William %A Clouston, Sean A P %K Alzheimer disease %K bisexual %K Cognition %K cognitive aging %K Cognitive Dysfunction %K Gay %K Lesbian %K Retirement %K same-sex relationship %K sexual orientation %X

INTRODUCTION: The ongoing marginalization of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people has been hypothesized to produce poorer late-in-life cognitive outcomes, according to mechanisms posited by minority stress and allostatic load theories. Yet the existence of those outcomes remains understudied, and results of existing studies have been contradictory. Using a population-based longitudinal aging study, this paper will compare age at diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) or a related dementia and rates of cognitive decline between participants in same-sex relationships (SSRs) and different-sex relationships (DSRs).

METHODS: The study used longitudinal cognitive-health data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; 1998-2018; N = 26,344) to analyze the onset of cognitive impairment and AD/dementia and the rates of cognitive change between participants in SSRs and those in DSRs. We hypothesized that SSR participants would have worse overall cognitive functioning in old age and would experience earlier onset of cognitive impairment. Using multiple regression, we compared the ages at which participants in SSRs and DSRs first reported AD or dementia diagnoses and the ages at which they first scored below cutoffs for cognitive impairment, not dementia (CIND) and possible dementia as determined using the cognitive assessment. The study then compared rates of cognitive decline over time across the SSR and DSR groups, including stratified analyses by education, race/ethnicity, wealth, and sex/gender.

RESULTS: Participants in SSRs reported dementia diagnoses (β = -12.346; p = 0.001), crossed the threshold into CIND (β = -8.815; p < 0.001) and possible dementia (β = -13.388; p < 0.001) at a younger age than participants in DSRs. When adjusted for covariates, participants in SSRs also had lower cognition at baseline (β = 0.745; p = 0.003), though having slower rates of cognitive decline when SSR was interacted with time (β = 0.066; p = 0.003). In separate analyses, cognitive differences for SSR participants were only found in participants without undergraduate degrees, with below-median household incomes, and women.

CONCLUSION: Our findings support theories suggesting that marginalization and stigma cause premature cognitive impairment. Findings also suggest that higher education might mitigate the adverse effects of sexuality-minority status on cognitive aging. Results do not support these theories' claims of more rapid cognitive decline; the lower slopes of cognitive decline with time are compatible with the possibility of slower rates of decline for aging individuals in SSRs.

%B Gerontology %V 69 %P 356-369 %G eng %N 3 %R 10.1159/000526922 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Applied Gerontology %D 2023 %T Comparison of Cognitive and Physical Decline as Predictors of Depression Among Older Adults. %A Scher, Clara %A Nepomnyaschy, Lenna %A Amano, Takashi %K Activities of Daily Living %K Cognitive Dysfunction %K depression %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %X

Activities of daily living (ADL) limitations and cognitive impairment have been identified as key risk factors for depression among older adults. However, little has been done to compare the strength of these relationships. The current study describes the prevalence and compares the independent and joint associations of ADL and cognitive limitations with depression among older adults in the US. Analyses are based on a sample of 30,923 observations on 13,545 unique respondents from three waves (2012, 2014, and 2016) of the Health and Retirement Study. Linear and logistic multivariate regression models with random and individual fixed effects were estimated. Findings indicate that both cognitive and ADL limitations are associated with depression; however, across all models, ADL limitations have a much stronger association. Further, in our most rigorous models, having both limitations is not significantly different from having just ADL, and not cognitive, limitations.

%B Journal of Applied Gerontology %V 42 %P 387-398 %G eng %N 3 %R 10.1177/07334648221139255 %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T Customized Benefits, Financial Literacy Are Key to Closing the Racial Retirement Savings Gap %A Samuels, Remy %K Racial Disparities %K Retirement %K wealth disparities %I PlanSponser %G eng %U https://www.plansponsor.com/customized-benefits-financial-literacy-are-key-to-closing-the-racial-retirement-savings-gap/ %0 Journal Article %J J Health Econ %D 2023 %T The effect of housing wealth on older adults' health care utilization: Evidence from fluctuations in the U.S. housing market. %A Tran, My %A Gannon, Brenda %A Rose, Christiern %K Aged %K Housing %K Humans %K Patient Acceptance of Health Care %K prescription drugs %K Retirement %X

Do wealthier individuals use more health care services than those less affluent? Our paper addresses this question by examining the relationship between housing wealth and health care utilization. Exploiting fluctuations in the U.S. housing market, we estimate the effect of unanticipated wealth shocks on older adults' health care utilization, using county-year variation in house prices to construct an instrumental variable. Using data from the 1996-2016 Health and Retirement Study, we find that an increase in wealth significantly increases numbers of doctor visits, prescription drugs, outpatient surgery, and dental services. Notably, an economic downturn like that in the Great Recession, when housing wealth declined by 16 percent on average, could reduce the utilization of prescription drugs by 0.4 percent, outpatient services by 0.5 percent, dental care by 0.6 percent, and numbers of doctor visits by 0.5 visits annually.

%B J Health Econ %V 88 %P 102737 %8 2023 Mar %G eng %R 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2023.102737 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2023 %T Everyday Discrimination, Neighborhood Perceptions, and Incidence of Activity Limitations Among Middle-Aged and Older African Americans. %A Qin, Weidi %A Nguyen, Ann W %A Wang, Yi %A Hamler, Tyrone C %A Wang, Fei %K Activities of Daily Living %K Aged %K Black or African American %K Humans %K Incidence %K Middle Aged %K Residence Characteristics %K Retirement %X

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to examine the relationship between everyday discrimination, neighborhood perceptions, and the incidence of daily activity limitations (i.e., activities of daily living [ADL] and instrumental activities of daily living [IADL]) among middle-aged and older African Americans. This study also examines whether neighborhood perceptions moderate the association between discrimination and the incidence of daily activity limitations.

METHODS: Data were from the 2006 to 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. African Americans aged 50 or older free of ADL limitations (N = 1,934) and IADL limitations (N = 2,007) at baseline were selected. Cox proportional hazards regression models were performed to test the study aims. Multiple imputations were applied to handle missing data.

RESULTS: One-unit increase in everyday discrimination was associated with a 25% (p < .05) higher risk of ADL limitation onset. Perceived neighborhood social cohesion and physical disadvantage moderated the association between discrimination and IADL limitation onset.

DISCUSSION: Everyday discrimination represents a significant stressor that negatively affects older African Americans' performance of daily activities. Community-level efforts that improve neighborhood perceptions are needed to alleviate the negative effects of discrimination on the incidence of activity limitations.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %V 78 %P 866-879 %G eng %N 5 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36661210?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1093/geronb/gbad001 %0 Journal Article %J Health Affairs %D 2023 %T The Forgotten Middle: Worsening Health And Economic Trends Extend To Americans With Modest Resources Nearing Retirement. %A Chapel, Jack M %A Tysinger, Bryan %A Goldman, Dana P %A Rowe, John W %K Future Elderly Model %K health %K middle class %K Retirement %X

In an aging US society, anticipating the challenges that future seniors will face is essential. This study analyzed the health and economic well-being of five cohorts of Americans in their mid-fifties between 1994 and 2018 using the Future Elderly Model, a dynamic microsimulation based on the Health and Retirement Study. We projected mortality, quality-adjusted life years, health expenditures, and income and benefits. We classified individuals by economic status and focused on the lower middle and upper middle of the economic distribution. Outcome disparities between people in these two groups widened substantially between the 1994 and 2018 cohorts. Quality-adjusted life expectancy increased (5 percent) for the upper-middle economic status group but stagnated for their lower-middle peers. We found that the combined value of the current stock (financial and housing wealth) and the present value of the expected flow of resources (income, health expenditures, and quality-adjusted life-years) after age sixty grew 13 percent for the upper-middle group between cohorts, whereas people in the lower-middle group in 2018 were left scarcely better off (3 percent growth) than their peers two decades earlier. The relatively neglected "forgotten middle" group of near-retirees in the lower-middle group may require stronger supports than are currently available to them.

%B Health Affairs %V 42 %P 1230-1240 %G eng %N 9 %R 10.1377/hlthaff.2023.00134 %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T From Breadwinner to Retiree: How to Manage the Transition %A Wood, Erin %K Retirement %I Kiplinger Personal Finance %G eng %U https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/new-retiree-how-to-manage-the-transition-from-breadwinner %0 Journal Article %J Health Econ %D 2023 %T From financial wealth shocks to ill-health: Allostatic load and overload. %A French, Declan %K Allostasis %K Cholesterol %K Humans %K Retirement %K Stress, Psychological %K United States %X

A number of studies have associated financial wealth changes with health-related outcomes arguing that the effect is due to psychological distress and is immediate. In this paper, I examine this relationship for cumulative shocks to the financial wealth of American retirees using the allostatic load model of pathways from stress to poor health. Wealth shocks are identified from Health and Retirement Study reports of stock ownership along with significant negative discontinuities in high-frequency S&P500 index data. I find that a one standard deviation increase in cumulative shocks over two years increases the probability of elevated blood pressure by 9.5%, increases waist circumference by 1.2% and the cholesterol ratio by 6.1% for those whose wealth is all in shares. My findings suggest that the combined effect of random shocks to financial wealth over time is salient for health outcomes. This is consistent with the allostatic load model in which repeated activation of stress responses leads to cumulative wear and tear on the body.

%B Health Econ %V 32 %P 939-952 %G eng %N 4 %R 10.1002/hec.4648 %0 Journal Article %J American Economic Journal: Economic Policy %D 2023 %T Housing in Medicaid: Should It Really Change? %A Achou, Bertrand %K homestead exemption %K lower-income %K Medicaid %K Retirement %X Housing is mostly exempted from Medicaid and Supplemental Social Insurance means tests. Reforms of this special treatment have been debated, but little is known about its costs, benefits, and redistributive implications. I estimate a life cycle model of single retirees accounting for this exemption. It shows that the homestead exemption explains important patterns of Medicaid recipiency and that it is highly valued. It also shows that estate recovery could cover most of its costs with possibly limited negative welfare consequences. Finally, the model predicts that removing the homestead exemption or enforcing estate recovery programs would reduce redistribution toward lower-income retirees. %B American Economic Journal: Economic Policy %V 15 %P 1-36 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1257/pol.20200178 %0 Journal Article %J Frontiers in immunology %D 2023 %T Immune cells are associated with mortality: the Health and Retirement Study. %A Seshadri, Gokul %A Vivek, Sithara %A Prizment, Anna %A Crimmins, Eileen M %A Klopack, Eric T %A Jessica Faul %A Guan, Weihua %A Meier, Helen C S %A Bharat Thyagarajan %K Aging %K Humans %K Immunosenescence %K Inflammation %K Retirement %K T-Lymphocyte Subsets %X

INTRODUCTION: Age-related immunosenescence is characterized by changes in immune cell subsets and is associated with mortality. However, since immunosenescence is associated with other concurrent age-related changes such as inflammation and multi-organ dysfunction, it is unclear whether the association between age-related immunosenescence and mortality is independent of other concurrent age-related changes. To address these limitations, we evaluated the independent association between immune cell subsets and mortality after adjustment for age-related inflammation and biologic age.

METHODS: Data for this study was obtained from the 2016 interview of the Health and Retirement Study (N=6802). Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association between 25 immune cell subsets (11 T-cell subsets, 4 B-cell subsets, 3 monocyte subsets, 3 natural killer cell subsets, 3 dendritic cell subsets, and neutrophils) and 4-year mortality adjusting for covariates such as the Klemera-Doubal algorithm biological age, chronological age, gender, race/ethnicity, BMI, smoking status, comorbidity index, CMV seropositivity, and inflammatory latent variable comprising C-reactive protein, and 4 cytokines (interleukin-10, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, interleukin-6, and soluble tumor necrosis factor).

RESULTS: Four hundred and seventy-six participants died during the study period with an overall median follow up time of 2.5 years. After controlling for covariates and adjustment for sample-weights, total T cells [HR: 0.86, p=0.004], NK CD56LO cells [HR: 0.88, p=0.005], and neutrophils [HR: 1.22, p=0.004] were significantly associated with mortality.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the idea that an aging immune system is associated with short-term mortality independent of age-related inflammation or other age-related measures of physiological dysfunction. If replicated in other external cohorts, these findings could identify novel targets for both monitoring and intervention to reduce the age-related mortality.

%B Frontiers in immunology %V 14 %P 1280144 %G eng %R 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1280144 %0 Journal Article %J Soc Sci Med %D 2023 %T The impact of hearing loss on trajectories of depressive symptoms in married couples. %A West, Jessica S %A Smith, Sherri L %A Dupre, Matthew E %K Aged %K depression %K Female %K Hearing loss %K Humans %K Male %K Marriage %K Retirement %K Spouses %X

Hearing loss is a prevalent chronic stressor among older adults and is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes. The life course principle of linked lives highlights that an individual's stressors can impact the health and well-being of others; however, there are limited large-scale studies examining hearing loss within marital dyads. Using 11 waves (1998-2018) of the Health and Retirement Study (n = 4881 couples), we estimate age-based mixed models to examine how 1) one's own hearing, 2) one's spouse's hearing, or 3) both spouses' hearing influence changes in depressive symptoms. For men, their wives' hearing loss, their own hearing loss, and both spouses having hearing loss are associated with increased depressive symptoms. For women, their own hearing loss and both spouses having hearing loss are associated with increased depressive symptoms, but their husbands' hearing loss is not. The connections between hearing loss and depressive symptoms within couples are a dynamic process that unfolds differently by gender over time.

%B Soc Sci Med %V 321 %P 115780 %8 2023 Mar %G eng %R 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115780 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2023 %T Inequalities in Retirement Life Span in the United States. %A Shi, Jiaxin %A Dudel, Christian %A Monden, Christiaan %A van Raalte, Alyson %K Aged %K Educational Status %K Employment %K Female %K Humans %K Life Expectancy %K Life Tables %K Longevity %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: The length of retirement life may be highly unequal due to persistent and significant discrepancies in old-age mortality. This study assesses gender and educational differences in the average retirement life span and the variation in retirement life span, taking into account individual labor force exit and reentry dynamics.

METHODS: We used longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study from 1996 to 2016, focusing on respondents aged 50 and older (N = 32,228). Multistate life tables were estimated using discrete-time event history models. The average retirement life span, as well as absolute and relative variation in retirement life span, were calculated analytically.

RESULTS: Among women, we found a persistent educational gradient in average retirement life span over the whole period studied; among men, the relationship between education and retirement expectancy differed across periods. Women and the lower-educated had higher absolute variation in retirement life span than men and the higher-educated-yet these relationships were reversed when examined by relative variation.

DISCUSSION: Our multistate approach provides an accurate and comprehensive picture of the retirement life span of older Americans over the past two decades. Such findings should be considered in high-level discussions on Social Security. Potential reforms such as raising the eligibility age or cutting benefits may have unexpected implications for different social groups due to their differential effects on retirement initiation and reentry dynamics.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %V 78 %P 891-901 %8 2023 May 11 %G eng %N 5 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbac180 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD %D 2023 %T Initiation of Antihypertensive Medication from Midlife on Incident Dementia: The Health and Retirement Study. %A Wei, Jingkai %A Xu, Hanzhang %A Zhang, Donglan %A Tang, Huilin %A Wang, Tiansheng %A Steck, Susan E %A Divers, Jasmin %A Zhang, Jiajia %A Merchant, Anwar T %K Antihypertensive Agents %K Cognition %K Humans %K Hypertension %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %X

BACKGROUND: Hypertension has been identified as a risk factor of dementia, but most randomized trials did not show efficacy in reducing the risk of dementia. Midlife hypertension may be a target for intervention, but it is infeasible to conduct a trial initiating antihypertensive medication from midlife till dementia occurs late life.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to emulate a target trial to estimate the effectiveness of initiating antihypertensive medication from midlife on reducing incident dementia using observational data.

METHODS: The Health and Retirement Study from 1996 to 2018 was used to emulate a target trial among non-institutional dementia-free subjects aged 45 to 65 years. Dementia status was determined using algorithm based on cognitive tests. Individuals were assigned to initiating antihypertensive medication or not, based on the self-reported use of antihypertensive medication at baseline in 1996. Observational analog of intention-to-treat and per-protocol effects were conducted. Pooled logistic regression models with inverse-probability of treatment and censoring weighting using logistic regression models were applied, and risk ratios (RRs) were calculated, with 200 bootstrapping conducted for the 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS: A total of 2,375 subjects were included in the analysis. After 22 years of follow-up, initiating antihypertensive medication reduced incident dementia by 22% (RR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.99). No significant reduction of incident dementia was observed with sustained use of antihypertensive medication.

CONCLUSION: Initiating antihypertensive medication from midlife may be beneficial for reducing incident dementia in late life. Future studies are warranted to estimate the effectiveness using large samples with improved clinical measurements.

%B Journal of Alzheimer's Disease : JAD %V 94 %P 1431-1441 %G eng %N 4 %R 10.3233/JAD-230398 %0 Journal Article %J Population Research and Policy Review %D 2023 %T Life, Longevity, and the Pursuit of Happiness: The Role of Disability in Shaping Racial and Sex Disparities in Living a Long and Happy Life %A Bardo,Anthony R. %A Cummings,Jason L. %K Activities of Daily Living %K Black People %K Black white differences %K Black women %K Business And Economics–Economic Situation And Conditions %K Data quality %K Demographers %K Demography %K Disability %K Disadvantaged %K Gender Differences %K Happiness %K health %K Inequality %K Intersectionality %K Life Expectancy %K Life span %K limitations %K Longevity %K Marital Status %K Men %K Older people %K Peers %K Quality of Life %K race %K Racial differences %K Racial inequality %K Retirement %K Severity %K Sex differences %K Subjective well-being %K Wealth %K women %X Disability-free life expectancy is a common measure used by demographers to gauge quantity and quality of life. Yet, the extent to which positive dimensions of quality of life differ by disability status remains unexplored. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 16,614), we estimated happy life expectancy by age, race, sex, and severe Activities of Daily Living (ADL) limitations. First, results show that happy life expectancy differed substantially by disability status, as older adults with severe ADL limitations experienced 50–60% fewer remaining years of their life happy compared to their more able-bodied peers. Second, healthy Black women and men at age fifty can expect to live five fewer years of their remaining life happy compared to their White peers, but there were no significant race or sex differences among individuals with severe ADL limitations. Finally, the racial gap in Happy Life Expectancy between Black and White women was largely accounted for by group differences in marital status, education, and wealth, but Black men continued to be disadvantaged compared to their White peers. Implications of this study point to a need to critically examine the intersections of race and sex to develop a clearer portrait of the pattern and underlying factors associated with social disparities in longevity and quality of life. Findings highlight the importance of considering positive dimensions of quality of life alongside measures of illness, disability, or disease when determining whether we are adding life to years or just years to life. %B Population Research and Policy Review %V 42 %P 72 %@ 01675923 %G eng %U https://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/life-longevity-pursuit-happiness-role-disability/docview/2849184861/se-2 %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T Lower-Middle Class Americans Near Retirement are Worse Off Than 20 Years Ago, New USC and Columbia Study Shows %A USC Schaeffer Center %K lower-middle class %K Retirement %I Schaeffer Center, University of Southern California %G eng %U https://healthpolicy.usc.edu/article/forgotten-middle/ %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Pension Economics and Finance %D 2023 %T Migration, work, and retirement: the case of Mexican-origin populations %A Emma Aguila %A Lee, Zeewan %A Rebeca Wong %K Hispanics %K Immigrants %K Retirement %K Social Security %X Mexico and the United States both face rapid population aging as well as older populations with high poverty rates. Among the most vulnerable populations of retirement age in either nation are Mexican immigrants to the United States. This work uses data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study and the Mexican Health and Aging Study to assess retirement decisions among persons born in Mexico and working in either nation as well as such decisions by non-Hispanic Whites in the United States. Social security system incentives matter for the retirement of Mexican immigrants in the U.S. but not for return-migrants in Mexico. %B Journal of Pension Economics and Finance %G eng %R 10.1017/S1474747221000342 %0 Report %D 2023 %T Occupations Shape Retirement across Countries %A Philip Sauré %A Arthur Seibold %A Elizaveta Smorodenkova %A Hosny Zoabi %K Cross-country analysis %K occupational distribution %K Retirement %X We study how occupations shape individual and aggregate retirement behavior. First, we document large differences in individual retirement ages across occupations in U.S. data. We then show that retirement behavior among European workers is strongly correlated with U.S. occupational retirement ages, indicating an inherent association between occupations and retirement that is present across institutional settings. Finally, we find that occupational composition is highly predictive of aggregate retirement behavior across 45 countries. Our findings suggest that events affecting occupational structure, such as skill-biased technological change or international trade, have consequences for aggregate retirement behavior and social security systems. %I Munich Society for the Promotion of Economic Research %G eng %U https://www.cesifo.org/DocDL/cesifo1_wp10365.pdf %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T Older Workers And Their Wealth %A Teresa Ghilarducci %K Older workers %K Retirement %K Wealth %I Forbes %C New York, NY %G eng %U https://www.forbes.com/sites/teresaghilarducci/2023/06/28/older-workers-and-their-wealth/?sh=7b300e8ff798 %0 Journal Article %J Innovation and Aging %D 2023 %T Pain, Physical Demands at Work, and Future Work Expectations Among Older Adults in the United States. %A Andrasfay, Theresa %A Fennell, Gillian %A Crimmins, Eileen %K Disability %K Retirement %K Working Longer %X

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In the United States, pain is becoming increasingly prevalent among older adults at the same time as policies are incentivizing work longer. Given that pain and physically demanding jobs are both linked to early retirement and they often go hand-in-hand, it is important to assess how the unique effects of pain and physical work demands may interact in predicting future work expectations.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using Health and Retirement Study data (1998, 2004, 2010, and 2016 waves), we assess how pain and physical job demands influence future work expectations of 10,358 adults at midlife (ages 51-56), after accounting for sociodemographic, job, health, and financial characteristics.

RESULTS: Compared to men with no pain, activity-interfering pain was associated with low expectations of full-time work past 62 regardless of job demands, while noninterfering pain was associated with 62% higher odds (odds ratio [OR] = 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35-1.93) of expecting not to work full-time past age 62 only among those with physically demanding jobs. Having both interfering pain and a physically demanding job was associated with increased odds of expecting not to work full-time past age 65 for men (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.06-1.47) and past age 62 for women (OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.00-1.39).

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The co-occurrence of physically demanding work with pain-particularly activity-interfering pain-is associated with low expectations of full-time work past ages 62 and 65 for adults at midlife. Working longer may be feasible for older adults whose pain does not interfere with work, but unrealistic for individuals facing both pain and physically demanding work.

%B Innovation and Aging %V 7 %P igad089 %G eng %N 10 %R 10.1093/geroni/igad089 %0 Journal Article %J Psychoneuroendocrinology %D 2023 %T Positive social factors prospectively predict younger epigenetic age: Findings from the Health and Retirement Study. %A Hillmann, Abby R %A Dhingra, Roma %A Reed, Rebecca G %K Aging %K DNA Methylation %K Epigenesis %K genetic %K Retirement %K Social Factors %K Spouses %X

OBJECTIVES: Positive social factors may slow biological aging, but this has yet to be rigorously tested. This study investigated whether baseline levels or changes over time in social support and contact frequency prospectively predicted epigenetic age.

METHOD: Health and Retirement Study participants (N = 1912, 46.3 % male, aged 42-87 at baseline) reported longitudinal social support and contact frequency data up to 3 times between 2006 and 2016 and provided blood in 2016. Baseline levels (intercepts) and changes over time (slopes) in social support from and contact frequency with spouses, children, friends, and other family were outputted from multilevel models and used to predict epigenetic age, estimated from Horvath, Hannum, GrimAge, PhenoAge, and Dunedin Pace of Aging.

RESULTS: In models adjusted for demographic and health characteristics, higher baseline levels of support from and contact frequency with friends were prospectively associated with a slower Pace of Aging (support: p = .002; contact: p = 0.009) and a lower GrimAge (contact: p = .001). In addition, higher contact frequency with children at baseline was prospectively associated with a lower GrimAge (p < .001), and higher contact frequency with family at baseline and an increase in family contact over time was associated with a lower Hannum age (baseline: p = .005; slope: p = .015).

CONCLUSIONS: Perceived support from and contact with close others, particularly friends, may have implications for healthy biological aging. Notably, the effect sizes for friends were comparable to the effect of body mass index on epigenetic age. Positive social factors were generally associated with second- and third-generation clocks, which may be more sensitive to psychosocial factors than first-generation clocks.

%B Psychoneuroendocrinology %V 148 %P 105988 %G eng %R 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105988 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of strength and conditioning research %D 2023 %T Prevalence and Trends of Weakness Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the United States. %A McGrath, Ryan %A FitzSimmons, Samantha %A Andrew, Sarah %A Black, Kennedy %A Bradley, Adam %A Christensen, Bryan K %A Collins, Kyle %A Klawitter, Lukus %A Kieser, Jacob %A Langford, Matthew %A Orr, Megan %A Hackney, Kyle J %K Aged %K Body Mass Index %K Female %K Hand Strength %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Muscle Weakness %K Prevalence %K Retirement %K United States %X

McGrath, R, FitzSimmons, S, Andrew, S, Black, K, Bradley, A, Christensen, BK, Collins, K, Klawitter, L, Kieser, J, Langford, M, Orr, M, and Hackney, KJ. Prevalence and trends of weakness among middle-aged and older adults in the United States. J Strength Cond Res 37(12): 2484-2490, 2023-Muscle weakness, which is often determined with low handgrip strength (HGS), is associated with several adverse health conditions; however, the prevalence and trends of weakness in the United States is not well-understood. We sought to estimate the prevalence and trends of weakness in Americans aged at least 50 years. The total unweighted analytic sample included 22,895 Americans from the 2006-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Handgrip strength was measured with a handgrip dynamometer. Men with weakness were below at least one of the absolute or normalized (body mass, body mass index) cut points: <35.5 kg, <0.45 kg/kg, <1.05 kg/kg/m 2 . The presence of any weakness in women was also identified as being below one of the absolute or normalized HGS cut points: <20.0 kg, <0.34 kg/kg, or <0.79 kg/kg/m 2 . There was an increasing trend in the prevalence of any weakness over time ( p < 0.001). The prevalence of weakness was 45.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 44.0-46.0) in the 2006-2008 waves and 52.6% (CI: 51.5-53.7) in the 2014-2016 waves. Weakness prevalence was higher for older (≥65 years) Americans (64.2%; CI: 62.8-65.5) compared with middle-aged (50-64 years) Americans (42.2%; CI: 40.6-43.8) in the 2014-2016 waves. Moreover, the prevalence of weakness in the 2014-2016 waves was generally higher in women (54.5%; CI: 53.1-55.9) than in men (50.4%; CI: 48.7-52.0). Differences existed in weakness prevalence across races and ethnicities. The findings from our investigation suggest that the prevalence of weakness is overall pronounced and increasing in Americans. Efforts for mitigating and better operationalizing weakness will elevate in importance as our older American population grows.

%B Journal of strength and conditioning research %V 37 %P 2484-2490 %G eng %N 12 %R 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004560 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of strength and conditioning research %D 2023 %T Prevalence and Trends of Weakness Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in the United States. %A McGrath, Ryan %A FitzSimmons, Samantha %A Andrew, Sarah %A Black, Kennedy %K Aged %K Body Mass Index %K Female %K Hand Strength %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Muscle Weakness %K Prevalence %K Retirement %K United States %X

McGrath, R, FitzSimmons, S, Andrew, S, Black, K, Bradley, A, Christensen, BK, Collins, K, Klawitter, L, Kieser, J, Langford, M, Orr, M, and Hackney, KJ. Prevalence and trends of weakness among middle-aged and older adults in the United States. J Strength Cond Res 37(12): 2484-2490, 2023-Muscle weakness, which is often determined with low handgrip strength (HGS), is associated with several adverse health conditions; however, the prevalence and trends of weakness in the United States is not well-understood. We sought to estimate the prevalence and trends of weakness in Americans aged at least 50 years. The total unweighted analytic sample included 22,895 Americans from the 2006-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Handgrip strength was measured with a handgrip dynamometer. Men with weakness were below at least one of the absolute or normalized (body mass, body mass index) cut points: <35.5 kg, <0.45 kg/kg, <1.05 kg/kg/m 2 . The presence of any weakness in women was also identified as being below one of the absolute or normalized HGS cut points: <20.0 kg, <0.34 kg/kg, or <0.79 kg/kg/m 2 . There was an increasing trend in the prevalence of any weakness over time ( p < 0.001). The prevalence of weakness was 45.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 44.0-46.0) in the 2006-2008 waves and 52.6% (CI: 51.5-53.7) in the 2014-2016 waves. Weakness prevalence was higher for older (≥65 years) Americans (64.2%; CI: 62.8-65.5) compared with middle-aged (50-64 years) Americans (42.2%; CI: 40.6-43.8) in the 2014-2016 waves. Moreover, the prevalence of weakness in the 2014-2016 waves was generally higher in women (54.5%; CI: 53.1-55.9) than in men (50.4%; CI: 48.7-52.0). Differences existed in weakness prevalence across races and ethnicities. The findings from our investigation suggest that the prevalence of weakness is overall pronounced and increasing in Americans. Efforts for mitigating and better operationalizing weakness will elevate in importance as our older American population grows.

%B Journal of strength and conditioning research %V 37 %P 2484-2490 %G eng %N 12 %R 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004560 %0 Journal Article %J Research on Aging %D 2023 %T Productive Aging Lifestyles: A Latent Class Analysis of Work and Volunteer Patterns over the Retirement Transition. %A Carr, Dawn C %A Kail, Ben L %A Taylor, Miles %K Latent Class Analysis %K Older workers %K productive aging %K Retirement %K Volunteerism %X

Frank Caro and colleagues' foundational work set the stage for a broad and multifaceted productive aging (PA) literature. Recent PA research has focused on health benefits associated with work and volunteering, respectively. However, these activities are often assumed to have independent associations with health and wellbeing. Less clear is whether and in what ways older adults participate in productive engagement lifestyles including multiple activities over a long period of time. This paper uses latent class analyses and the Health and Retirement Study to examine combined engagement in work and volunteer activities over 12 years between ages 56-68 to (1) identify patterns of work and volunteer activities across the retirement transition, (2) evaluate characteristics of individuals within these patterns, and (3) explore whether particular patterns are associated with markers of health and wellbeing. We describe how our findings inform successful aging by incentivizing socially and individually beneficial PA lifestyles.

%B Research on Aging %G eng %R 10.1177/01640275221103793 %0 Journal Article %J Soc Sci Med %D 2023 %T Reciprocal associations between social media use and self-perception of aging among older adults: Do men and women differ? %A Wang, Kun %A Gu, Danan %K Adult %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Aging %K Female %K Humans %K Male %K Retirement %K Self Concept %K Social media %X

PURPOSE: Despite the positive impact of social media use in late adulthood, social media use is still low among older adults. Research in technology adoption and utilization indicates the importance of age-specific factors, such as self-perception of aging (SPA). As it is unclear whether SPA facilitates social media use or social media use promotes SPA, reverse causality has emerged as a major point of contention within this literature, with several studies reporting conflicting results. Thus, in this study, we aim to contribute unique insight by examining (1) whether positive and negative SPAs demonstrate unique associations with social media use and (2) whether these reciprocal associations differ by gender.

METHODS: Using two waves (2014 and 2018) from the Health and Retirement Study, 4101 older Americans (age ≥65 years) with normal baseline cognition were included in this study. Autoregressive cross-lagged analyses were conducted to assess reciprocal associations between SPA and social media use among the total sample and by gender subgroups.

RESULTS: Controlling for covariates, we found that more frequent social media use marginally predicted higher positive SPA four years later (B = 0.02, p = .07), and higher negative SPA marginally predicted less frequent social media use four years later (B = -0.07, p = .08). However, the by-gender analysis showed that the positive effect of social media use on positive SPA was only significant among older men (B = 0.04, p < .05), whereas the negative impact of negative SPA on social media use only existed among older women (B = -0.13, p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS: The reciprocal associations between SPA and social media use differ by the valence of SPA (positive/negative) and gender. Future interventions for SPA and digital technology use among older adults should be gender-tailored.

%B Soc Sci Med %V 321 %P 115786 %8 2023 Mar %G eng %R 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115786 %0 Government Document %D 2023 %T Retirement Account Disparities Have Increased by Income and Persisted by Race Over Time %A United States Government Accountability Office %K Income %K race disparity %K Retirement %X Disparities between low-income and high-income older workers’ retirement accounts were greater in 2019 than in 2007, according to GAO’s analysis of Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) data on households 51 to 64. For example, about one in 10 low-income households had a retirement account balance in 2019 compared to about one in five in 2007, while about nine in 10 high-income households had a balance through the period. For those with a balance, the median balance was higher for high-income households over the period, while any change for the other income groups was not statistically significant. Racial disparities also persisted over the period. A higher share of White households had a balance than those of all other races. Also, White households had about double the median balance as households of all other races. %I United States Government Accountability Office %G eng %U https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-23-105342.pdf %0 Journal Article %J Int J Epidemiol %D 2023 %T Retirement and cardiovascular disease: a longitudinal study in 35 countries. %A Sato, Koryu %A Noguchi, Haruko %A Inoue, Kosuke %A Kawachi, Ichiro %A Kondo, Naoki %K Cardiovascular disease %K Retirement %X

BACKGROUND: Many countries have been increasing their state pension age (SPA); nonetheless, there is little consensus on whether retirement affects the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study examined the associations of retirement with CVD and risk factors.

METHODS: We used harmonized longitudinal datasets from the Health and Retirement Study and its sister surveys in 35 countries. Data comprised 396 904 observations from 106 927 unique individuals aged 50-70 years, with a mean follow-up period of 6.7 years. Fixed-effects instrumental variable regressions were performed using the SPA as an instrument.

RESULTS: We found a 2.2%-point decrease in the risk of heart disease [coefficient = -0.022 (95% confidence interval: -0.031 to -0.012)] and a 3.0%-point decrease in physical inactivity [-0.030 (-0.049 to -0.010)] among retirees, compared with workers. In both sexes, retirement was associated with a decreased heart disease risk, whereas decreased smoking was observed only among women. People with high educational levels showed associations between retirement and decreased risks of stroke, obesity and physical inactivity. People who retired from non-physical labour exhibited reduced risks of heart disease, obesity and physical inactivity, whereas those who retired from physical labour indicated an increased risk of obesity.

CONCLUSIONS: Retirement was associated with a reduced risk of heart disease on average. Some associations of retirement with CVD and risk factors appeared heterogeneous by individual characteristics.

%B Int J Epidemiol %G eng %R 10.1093/ije/dyad058 %0 Government Document %D 2023 %T Retirement Trajectories and Social Security’s Retirement Earnings Test %A Social Security Advisory Board %K Earnings %K Retirement %K Social Security %X Social Security’s retirement earnings test (RET) temporarily withholds or reduces the Social Security benefits of people below full retirement age (FRA) who work and earn above a certain threshold while collecting retirement benefits. Those benefits are increased at FRA to account for the months when benefits were withheld or reduced under the RET. The legislative intent of the RET, which has been part of the law since Social Security’s creation in 1935, was to determine whether a worker had left the workforce, since Social Security is designed as an insurance program to partially replace insured workers’ wages that are lost due to old age, disability, or death (for surviving dependents). Studies show that most people do not fully understand how the RET works. While many know that benefits are reduced due to earnings before FRA, most do not understand that this reduction is temporary. %I Social Security Advisory Board %G eng %U https://www.ssab.gov/research/retirement-trajectories-and-social-security-retirement-earnings-test/?mc_cid=8bc0768a81&mc_eid=3249cd8214 %0 Journal Article %J J Psychosom Res %D 2023 %T Sense of purpose in life and allostatic load in two longitudinal cohorts. %A Lewis, Nathan A %A Hill, Patrick L %K Adult %K Aging %K Allostasis %K Biomarkers %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %X

OBJECTIVE: Sense of purpose in life has been linked with better physical health, longevity, and reduced risk for disability and dementia, but the mechanisms linking sense of purpose with diverse health outcomes are unclear. Sense of purpose may promote better physiological regulation in response to stressors and health challenges, leading to lower allostatic load and disease risk over time. The current study examined the association between sense of purpose in life and allostatic load over time in adults over age 50.

METHODS: Data from the nationally representative US Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) were used to examine associations between sense of purpose and allostatic load across 8 and 12 years of follow-up, respectively. Blood-based and anthropometric biomarkers were collected at four-year intervals and used to compute allostatic load scores based on clinical cut-off values representing low, moderate, and high risk.

RESULTS: Population-weighted multilevel models revealed that sense of purpose in life was associated with lower overall levels of allostatic load in HRS, but not in ELSA after adjusting for relevant covariates. Sense of purpose in life did not predict rate of change in allostatic load in either sample.

CONCLUSIONS: The present investigation supports sense of purpose predicting preserved differentiation of allostatic regulation, with more purposeful individuals demonstrating consistently lower allostatic load over time. Persistent differences in allostatic burden may account for divergent health trajectories between individuals low and high in sense of purpose.

%B J Psychosom Res %V 170 %P 111346 %G eng %R 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111346 %0 Journal Article %J Health Econ %D 2023 %T Short-term effect of retirement on health: Evidence from nonparametric fuzzy regression discontinuity design. %A Ebeid, Mohamed %A Oguzoglu, Umut %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Male %K Retirement %K Surveys and Questionnaires %X

We estimate the short-term effect of retirement on health in the US using the Health and Retirement Study survey. We use the nonparametric fuzzy regression discontinuity design to avoid assuming any functional form on the age-health profile and minimize potential bias in identifying the causal effect of retirement on health status in the short term. Estimates indicate an 8% decline in the cognitive functioning score of retirees and a 28% increase in the CESD depression scale. The likelihood of being in good health status declined by 16%. The transition from working to retirement has more significant negative impacts on males than females. In addition, retirement has more considerable adverse effects on less-educated individuals compared to high-educated individuals. The short-term effects of retirement on health are consistent and robust across different bandwidths, weighting kernel functions, and age-profile specifications. Moreover, the Treatment Effect Derivative test results highly support the external validity of the nonparametric estimates of the retirement effect on health.

%B Health Econ %V 32 %P 1323-1343 %G eng %N 6 %R 10.1002/hec.4669 %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T Should You Take Social Security at Age 62, 65, or 70? A Comprehensive Analysis Offers a Very Clear Answer %A Williams, Sean %K claiming age %K Retirement %K Social Security %I The Motley Fool %G eng %U https://www.fool.com/retirement/2023/10/07/should-you-take-social-security-at-age-62-65-or-70/ %0 Journal Article %J Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A %D 2023 %T Social Frailty Index: Development and validation of an index of social attributes predictive of mortality in older adults. %A Shah, Sachin J %A Oreper, Sandra %A Jeon, Sun Young %A Boscardin, W John %A Fang, Margaret C %A Covinsky, Kenneth E %K Aged %K Child %K Frailty %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Retirement %K Sociological Factors %X

While social characteristics are well-known predictors of mortality, prediction models rely almost exclusively on demographics, medical comorbidities, and function. Lacking an efficient way to summarize the prognostic impact of social factor, many studies exclude social factors altogether. Our objective was to develop and validate a summary measure of social risk and determine its ability to risk-stratify beyond traditional risk models. We examined participants in the Health and Retirement Study, a longitudinal, survey of US older adults. We developed the model from a comprehensive inventory of 183 social characteristics using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, a penalized regression approach. Then, we assessed the predictive capacity of the model and its ability to improve on traditional prediction models. We studied 8,250 adults aged ≥65 y. Within 4 y of the baseline interview, 22% had died. Drawn from 183 possible predictors, the Social Frailty Index included age, gender, and eight social predictors: neighborhood cleanliness, perceived control over financial situation, meeting with children less than yearly, not working for pay, active with children, volunteering, feeling isolated, and being treated with less courtesy or respect. In the validation cohort, predicted and observed mortality were strongly correlated. Additionally, the Social Frailty Index meaningfully risk-stratified participants beyond the Charlson score (medical comorbidity index) and the Lee Index (comorbidity and function model). The Social Frailty Index includes age, gender, and eight social characteristics and accurately risk-stratifies older adults. The model improves upon commonly used risk prediction tools and has application in clinical, population health, and research settings.

%B Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A %V 120 %P e2209414120 %8 2023 Feb 14 %G eng %N 7 %R 10.1073/pnas.2209414120 %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T Study Shows Retirees Underestimate Social Security by Nearly $2,000 — How To Resolve This Issue %A Cariaga, Vance %K Retirement %K Social Security %I Yahoo! %G eng %U https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/study-shows-retirees-underestimate-social-111329408.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAA5lZBA4yel0NU_bHYLyy4BMVJ5pJwu10CEkndY8y8C6Wdmh5BMHN_Q9xwgS_laKOs2f4yyCom5f9nJ3g %0 Journal Article %J Geroscience %D 2023 %T Systemic inflammation and biological aging in the Health and Retirement Study. %A Meier, Helen C S %A Mitchell, Colter %A Karadimas, Thomas %A Jessica Faul %K Aging %K Biomarkers %K DNA Methylation %K Epigenesis, Genetic %K Humans %K Inflammation %K Retirement %X

Chronic, low-level systemic inflammation associated with aging, or inflammaging, is a risk factor for several chronic diseases and mortality. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, we generated a continuous latent variable for systemic inflammation from seven measured indicators of inflammation and examined associations with another biomarker of biological aging, DNA methylation age acceleration measured by epigenetic clocks, and 4-year mortality (N = 3,113). We found that greater systemic inflammation was positively associated with DNA methylation age acceleration for 10 of the 13 epigenetic clocks, after adjustment for sociodemographics and chronic disease risk factors. The latent variable for systemic inflammation was associated with 4-year mortality independent of DNA methylation age acceleration and was a better predictor of 4-year mortality than any of the epigenetic clocks examined, as well as mortality risk factors, including obesity and multimorbidity. Inflammaging and DNA methylation age acceleration may represent different biological processes contributing to mortality risk. Leveraging multiple measured inflammation markers to capture inflammaging is important for biology of aging research.

%B Geroscience %V 45 %P 3257-3265 %G eng %N 6 %R 10.1007/s11357-023-00880-9 %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T These Factors Drive Americans to Retire Earlier Than Expected %A Manganaro, John %K Early retirement %K Retirement %K Retirement decisions %I ThinkAdvisor %G eng %U https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2023/07/18/these-factors-drive-americans-to-retire-earlier-than-expected/ %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T This Expense is 5x More Likely to Drive Spending Volatility in Retirement than Health Care %A Anderson, Brian %K expenses %K Health Care %K Retirement %I 401KSpecialist %G eng %U https://401kspecialistmag.com/this-expense-is-5x-more-likely-to-drive-spending-volatility-in-retirement-than-health-care/ %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T This Is the Most Unpredictable Cost You Will Face in Retirement %A Kissell, Chris %K expenses %K home costs %K Retirement %I MSN %G eng %U https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/retirement/this-is-the-most-unpredictable-cost-you-will-face-in-retirement/ar-AA1gTuJp#image=1 %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T This is your brain at work %A Capos, Claudia %K Brain health %K Cognition %K Retirement %I Michigan Today, University of MIchigan %C Ann Arbor, MI %G eng %U https://michigantoday.umich.edu/2023/01/27/this-is-your-brain-at-work/ %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T Is This the Best Way for Retirees to Avoid Loneliness? %A Kissell, Chris %K Loneliness %K Retirement %K Volunteering %I Money Talks News %G eng %U https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/retirement/is-this-the-best-way-for-retirees-to-avoid-loneliness/ar-AA1aS8qs?li=BB16M4hs %0 Journal Article %J Mech Ageing Dev %D 2023 %T Understanding Alzheimer's disease in the context of aging: Findings from applications of stochastic process models to the Health and Retirement Study. %A Arbeev, Konstantin G %A Bagley, Olivia %A Yashkin, Arseniy P %A Duan, Hongzhe %A Akushevich, Igor %A Ukraintseva, Svetlana V %A Yashin, Anatoliy I %K Aged %K Aging %K Alzheimer disease %K Apolipoproteins E %K Humans %K Medicare %K Retirement %K United States %X

There is growing literature on applications of biodemographic models, including stochastic process models (SPM), to studying regularities of age dynamics of biological variables in relation to aging and disease development. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is especially good candidate for SPM applications because age is a major risk factor for this heterogeneous complex trait. However, such applications are largely lacking. This paper starts filling this gap and applies SPM to data on onset of AD and longitudinal trajectories of body mass index (BMI) constructed from the Health and Retirement Study surveys and Medicare-linked data. We found that APOE e4 carriers are less robust to deviations of trajectories of BMI from the optimal levels compared to non-carriers. We also observed age-related decline in adaptive response (resilience) related to deviations of BMI from optimal levels as well as APOE- and age-dependence in other components related to variability of BMI around the mean allostatic values and accumulation of allostatic load. SPM applications thus allow revealing novel connections between age, genetic factors and longitudinal trajectories of risk factors in the context of AD and aging creating new opportunities for understanding AD development, forecasting trends in AD incidence and prevalence in populations, and studying disparities in those.

%B Mech Ageing Dev %V 211 %P 111791 %8 2023 Apr %G eng %R 10.1016/j.mad.2023.111791 %0 Report %D 2023 %T What Happened to Late Boomers’ Retirement Wealth? %A Chen, Anqi %A Alicia H. Munnell %A Quinby, Laura D. %K Great Recession %K late boomers %K Retirement %K Wealth %X The brief’s key findings are: Late Boomers have less retirement wealth than earlier cohorts, including surprisingly low 401(k) assets. To explain this drop, the analysis explored both changing demographics and labor market experiences. The results show that part of the drop is due to a decline in the share of Late Boomers who are White, married, and have college degrees. The main factor, though, is that Late Boomers saw a weakening in the link between work and wealth due to the Great Recession. The Great Recession story is a bit of good news for younger cohorts, as some of the downward pressure on their wealth holdings should abate. %B Issue in Brief %I Center for Retirement Research at Boston College %C Chestnut Hill, MA %G eng %U https://crr.bc.edu/what-happened-to-late-boomers-retirement-wealth/ %0 Report %D 2023 %T Wills, Wealth, and Race %A Aubry, Jean-Pierre %A Alicia H. Munnell %A Gal Wettstein %K inheritances %K Racial Disparities %K Retirement %X The brief’s key findings are: The analysis explores how receiving an inheritance, having a will, and planning and realizing a bequest are interrelated and vary by race. Black and Hispanic individuals are less likely to get an inheritance, have a will, and plan to leave a bequest. Among those who do plan to leave a bequest, Black and Hispanic individuals are less likely to realize their bequest target. However, having a will increases the chances of achieving one’s bequest target, offering a potential way to improve the situation. %B Issue in Brief %I Center for Retirement Research at Boston College %C Chestnut Hill, MA %G eng %U https://crr.bc.edu/wills-wealth-and-race/ %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T You Might Live Longer Than You Think. Your Finances Might Not. %A Zumbrum, Josh %K Finances %K Longevity %K Retirement %I The Wall Street Journal %G eng %U https://www.wsj.com/articles/death-finances-and-how-many-of-us-get-our-money-needs-wrong-51a660a2?page=1 %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T You'll Only Have This Much Social Security Left After Paying Medical Bills in Retirement %A Obel, MIke %K medical bills %K Retirement %K Social Security %I Yahoo! %G eng %U https://www.yahoo.com/video/youll-only-much-social-security-140008728.html %0 Web Page %D 2023 %T Younger Boomers Have Less: How to Avoid Running Out of Money in Retirement %A O'Connor, Brian J. %K late boomers %K Money %K Retirement %I Yahoo! %G eng %U https://finance.yahoo.com/news/younger-boomers-less-avoid-running-183834669.html?guccounter=1 %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T 7 Types of Retirees Who Claim Social Security Early %A Kissell, Chris %K Retirement %K Social Security claiming %I Money Talks News %G eng %U https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/retirement/7-types-of-retirees-who-claim-social-security-early/ss-AA12Gvnn#image=2 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Economics and Finance %D 2022 %T Adjustable consumption model for retirees to balance spending and risk %A Cobb, Barry R %A Murray, Tim %A Smith, Jeffrey S %K consumption %K Monte Carlo simulation %K Retirement %K Social Security %X A retirement consumption strategy that suggests initial consumption and a consumption adjustment factor that adapts spending to returns in the retiree’s investment portfolio while considering appropriate risk tolerance is introduced. This approach allows households to increase their spending earlier in retirement as compared to constant real consumption strategies while still achieving a bequest motive and maintaining investment liquidity. Failure in the model is defined as living only on Social Security payments, and this risk is not significantly increased by employing the adjustable consumption model. Consumption and wealth patterns throughout retirement tend to follow empirical data from the Health and Retirement Study. Results for retirees at varying levels of accumulated wealth, Social Security income level, and risk level are provided. %B Journal of Economics and Finance %V 46 %G eng %N 420–451 %R 10.1007/s12197-022-09572-0 %0 Report %D 2022 %T After 50 Years of Progress, How Prepared Are Women for Retirement? %A Alicia H. Munnell %A Liu, Siyan %A Quinby, Laura D. %K Marriage %K race %K Retirement %K single %K women %X Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity) in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. In the 50 years since the enactment of Title IX, women have made enormous strides in terms of educational attainment, work, and earnings. Although a wage gap by gender persists, women’s progress in the workforce has clearly enhanced their economic status as individuals. On the other hand, women have chosen to spend less of their adult life married, and the decision to eschew the potential support of a spouse could have put them more at risk economically. This study uses the Health and Retirement Study to document the economic gains and the changing demographic profiles of women and then assesses the extent to which they are prepared for retirement. Since the trends in both economic gains and marriage have differed for Black and White women, the results are reported by race as well as for all women. This review shows that women have gained in educational attainment, work force activity, and earnings, and this progress has translated into wealth. Moreover, women do not appear to have undone their economic gains since Title IX’s passage by opting to spend more time on their own – those who spend the majority of their adult life single are as well prepared for retirement as married couples. %B Special Reports %I Center for Retirement Research at Boston College %C Chestnut Hill, MA %G eng %U https://crr.bc.edu/special-projects/special-reports/after-50-years-of-progress-how-prepared-are-women-for-retirement/ %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T After 50 Years of Progress, How Prepared Are Women for Retirement? %A Alicia H. Munnell %K Retirement %K retirement preparedness %K women %I MarketWatch %G eng %U https://www.marketwatch.com/story/after-50-years-of-progress-how-prepared-are-women-for-retirement-11660559958 %0 Journal Article %J Financial Planning Review %D 2022 %T Aging and loneliness: Why financial advisors should help clients and how %A Gibson, Philip %A Cheng, Yuanshan %A Sam, Janine K. %K behavioral finance %K Financial planning %K Retirement %X The primary goal of this study is to examine loneliness in retirement and explore steps that a financial planner can take to mitigate client loneliness. Using data from the Participant Lifestyle Questionnaire, and Leave-Behind Module from the Health and Retirement Study database, we show that even after controlling for relationship status and having a purpose in life, leisure activities can help reduce loneliness. When compared to increasing household wealth, the authors find that engaging in social activities has a greater impact on decreasing loneliness, signaling a possible duty of care owed to clients as it relates to well-being. We conclude with implications and practical strategies financial advisors can implement to help clients as they plan for and navigate retirement. %B Financial Planning Review %V 5 %P e1136 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1002/cfp2.1136 %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T Are you planning for retirement all wrong? %A Eisenberg, Richard %K Planning %K Retirement %K risks %I MarketWatch %G eng %U https://www.marketwatch.com/story/you-may-be-planning-for-retirement-all-wrong-11660769394?mod=mw_latestnews %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Alzheimer's Disease %D 2022 %T Associations Between Midlife Functional Limitations and Self-Reported Health and Cognitive Status: Results from the 1998-2016 Health and Retirement Study. %A Wu, Benson %A Toseef, Mohammad Usama %A Stickel, Ariana M %A González, Hector M %A Tarraf, Wassim %K Activities of Daily Living %K Age Factors %K Cognitive Dysfunction %K ethnicity %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Mobility Limitation %K Neuropsychological tests %K Psychomotor Performance %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Self Report %K Surveys and Questionnaires %X

BACKGROUND: Life-course approaches to identify and help improve modifiable risk factors, particularly in midlife, may mitigate cognitive aging.

OBJECTIVE: We examined how midlife self-rated physical functioning and health may predict cognitive health in older age.

METHODS: We used data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2016; unweighted-N = 4,685). We used survey multinomial logistic regression and latent growth curve models to examine how midlife (age 50-64 years) activities of daily living (ADL), physical function, and self-reported health affect cognitive trajectories and cognitive impairment not dementia (CIND) and dementia status 18 years later. Then, we tested for sex and racial/ethnic modifications.

RESULTS: After covariates-adjustment, worse instrumental ADL (IADL) functioning, mobility, and self-reported health were associated with both CIND and dementia. Hispanics were more likely to meet criteria for dementia than non-Hispanic Whites given increasing IADL impairment.

CONCLUSION: Midlife health, activities limitations, and difficulties with mobility are predictive of dementia in later life. Hispanics may be more susceptible to dementia in the presence of midlife IADLs. Assessing midlife physical function and general health with brief questionnaires may be useful for predicting cognitive impairment and dementia in later life.

%B Journal of Alzheimer's Disease %V 85 %P 1621-1637 %G eng %N 4 %R 10.3233/JAD-215192 %0 Journal Article %J Work Aging and Retirement %D 2022 %T Beyond Hours Worked and Dollars Earned: Multidimensional EQ, Retirement Trajectories and Health in Later Life %A Sarah B. Andrea %A Eisenberg-Guyot, Jerzy %A Vanessa M Oddo %A Peckham, Trevor %A Jacoby, Daniel %A Hajat, Anjum %K employment quality %K health %K Retirement %X The working lives of Americans have become less stable over the past several decades and older adults may be particularly vulnerable to these changes in employment quality (EQ). We aimed to develop a multidimensional indicator of EQ among older adults and identify EQ and retirement trajectories in the United States. Using longitudinal data on employment stability, material rewards, workers’ rights, working-time arrangements, unionization, and interpersonal power relations from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we used principal component analysis to construct an EQ score. Then, we used sequence analysis to identify late-career EQ trajectories (age 50–70 years; N = 11,958 respondents), overall and by sociodemographics (race, gender, educational attainment, marital status). We subsequently examined the sociodemographic, employment, and health profiles of these trajectories. We identified 10 EQ trajectories; the most prevalent trajectories were Minimally Attached and Wealthy (13.9%) and Good EQ to Well-off Retirement (13.7%), however, 42% of respondents were classified into suboptimal trajectories. Those in suboptimal trajectories were disproportionately women, people of color, and less-educated. Individuals in the Poor EQ to Delayed and Poor Retirement and Unattached and Poor clusters self-reported the greatest prevalence of poor health and depression, while individuals in the Wealthy Business Owners and Great EQ to Well-off Retirement clusters self-reported the lowest prevalence of poor health and depression at baseline. Trajectories were substantially constrained for women of color. Although our study demonstrates EQ is inequitably distributed in later life, labor organizing and policy change may afford opportunities to improve EQ and retirement among marginalized populations. %B Work Aging and Retirement %V 8 %P 51-73 %@ 2054-4650 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1093/workar/waab012 %0 Journal Article %J PLoS One %D 2022 %T Can adherence to moral standards and ethical behaviors help maintain a sense of purpose in life? Evidence from a longitudinal study of middle-aged and older adults. %A Weziak-Bialowolska, Dorota %A Bialowolski, Piotr %K Health Status %K Morals %K Retirement %X

Personal factors, such as character strengths, have been shown to be favorably associated with concurrent and future well-being. Positive associations have also been reported between purpose in life and concurrent and subsequent health and well-being. Evidence on antecedents of purpose in life is, however, limited. This study examines whether the adherence to moral standards and ethical behaviors (AMSEB) is associated with subsequent purpose in life. Data from the Health and Retirement Study obtained from a sample of 8,788 middle-aged and older adults in the US (mean age = 64.9 years, age range 50-96 years) were used. The prospective associations between AMSEB and purpose in life were examined using generalized linear models. A rich set of covariates and prior outcomes were used as controls to reduce the risk of reverse causation. The robustness analyses included computation of sensitivity measures, E-values, and running a set of secondary analyses conducted on subsamples of respondents and using a limited set of covariates. It was found that middle-aged and older adults who demonstrated higher AMSEB reported a higher sense of purpose in life after the 4-year follow-up period. This association was found to be monotonic, moderately robust to potential unmeasured confounding and independent of demographics, prior socioeconomic status, prior health conditions, and health behaviors as well as prior psychological predispositions such as dispositional optimism and life satisfaction. It was also robust to missing data patterns. Policymakers and health practitioners may consider a predisposition to adherence to moral standards and ethical behaviors as a potential intervention target, as its improvement and/or maintenance has the potential to improve longevity and to help promote healthy and purposeful aging.

%B PLoS One %V 17 %P e0273221 %G eng %N 8 %R 10.1371/journal.pone.0273221 %0 Journal Article %J Labour Economics %D 2022 %T Computerization, obsolescence and the length of working life %A Péter Hudomiet %A Robert J. Willis %K Occupation %K Retirement %K skills %K Technology %X This paper analyzes how computerization affected the labor market outcomes of older workers between 1984 and 2017. Using the computerization supplements of the Current Population Survey (CPS) we show that different occupations were computerized at different times, older workers tended to start using computers with a delay compared to younger workers, but computer use within occupations converged to the same levels across age groups eventually. That is, there was a temporary knowledge gap between younger and older workers in most occupations. Using this variation, we estimate how this knowledge gap affected older workers’ labor market outcomes using millions of observations from the CPS, and additional data from the Health and Retirement Study. Our models control for occupation and time fixed effects and in some models, we also control for full occupation-time interactions and use middle aged (age 40-49) workers as the control group. We find strong and robust negative effects of the knowledge gap on wages, and a large, temporary increase in transitions from work to non-participation. These results are consistent with a model of creative destruction in which the computerization of jobs made older workers’ skills obsolete in birth cohorts that experienced computerization relatively late in their careers. We find larger effects on females and on middle-skilled workers. %B Labour Economics %V 77 %P 102005 %G eng %R https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2021.102005 %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T Cost of Chronic Disease in Retirement Is Highest for Women and People of Color %A National Council on Aging %K Chronic disease %K Racial Disparities %K Retirement %B PR Newswire %G eng %U https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cost-of-chronic-disease-in-retirement-is-highest-for-women-and-people-of-color-301529730.html %0 Journal Article %J Labour Economics %D 2022 %T Does retirement affect voluntary work provision? Evidence from Europe and the U.S. %A Peter Eibich %A Angelo Lorenti %A Irene Mosca %K ELSA %K instrumental variables %K Retirement %K SHARE %K TILDA %K voluntary work %X We examine whether retirement has a causal effect on the frequency of voluntary work provision in Europe and the U.S. We draw on data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe and the Health Retirement Study for the period 2009–2017 and use eligibility ages for old age pensions in an instrumental variable estimation to address endogeneity. We find that retirement increases the frequency of voluntary work provision in all countries. %B Labour Economics %V 76 %P 102185 %G eng %R https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2022.102185 %0 Book Section %B New Models for Managing Longevity Risk: Public-Private Partnerships %D 2022 %T Does working longer enhance old age? %A Maria D Fitzpatrick %A Olivia S. Mitchell %K health %K Retirement %K working %B New Models for Managing Longevity Risk: Public-Private Partnerships %I Oxford University Press %@ 978–0–19–285980–8 %G eng %& 4 %R 10.1093/oso/9780192859808.001.0001 %0 Journal Article %J Stroke %D 2022 %T Eight-Year Depressive Symptom Trajectories and Incident Stroke: A 10-Year Follow-Up of the HRS (Health and Retirement Study). %A Soh, Yenee %A Tiemeier, Henning %A Kawachi, Ichiro %A Berkman, Lisa F %A Kubzansky, Laura D %K depression %K Follow-Up Studies %K Prospective Studies %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Stroke %X

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests a link between depressive symptoms and risk of subsequent stroke. However, most studies assess depressive symptoms at only one timepoint, with few examining this relationship using repeatedly measured depressive symptoms. This study aimed to examine the relationship between depressive symptom trajectories and risk of incident stroke.

METHODS: This prospective cohort included 12 520 US individuals aged ≥50 years enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study, free of stroke at study baseline (1998). We used the 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale to assess depressive symptoms (high defined as ≥3 symptoms; low <3 symptoms) at 4 consecutive, biennial timepoints from 1998 to 2004. We assigned individuals to 5 predefined trajectories based on their scores at each timepoint (consistently low, decreasing, fluctuating, increasing, and consistently high). Using self-reported doctors' diagnoses, we assessed incident stroke over a subsequent 10-year period from 2006 to 2016. Cox regression models estimated the association of depressive symptom trajectories with risk of incident stroke, adjusting for demographics, health behaviors, and health conditions.

RESULTS: During follow-up, 1434 incident strokes occurred. Compared with individuals with consistently low symptoms, individuals with consistently high depressive symptoms (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.18 [95% CI, 1.02-1.36]), increasing symptoms (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.10-1.57]), and fluctuating symptoms (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.01-1.46]) all had higher hazards of stroke onset. Individuals in the decreasing symptom trajectory group did not show increased stroke risk.

CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptom trajectories characterized by high symptoms at multiple timepoints were associated with increased stroke risk. However, a trajectory with depressive symptoms that started high but decreased over time was not associated with higher stroke risk. Given the remitting-relapsing nature of depressive symptoms, it is important to understand the relationship between depressive symptoms and stroke risk over time through repeated assessments.

%B Stroke %V 53 %P 2569-2576 %G eng %N 8 %R 10.1161/STROKEAHA.121.037768 %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T Empty-Nesters Aren’t Saving for Retirement Like They Promised. That’s a Problem. %A Gail MarksJarvis %K children %K Retirement %K Savings %X Intent on helping children pay for college, many parents cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs over four or more years while forgoing their own retirement savings and vowing they will catch up later. It’s a promise many fail to keep. %I Barron's %G eng %U https://www.barrons.com/articles/retirement-empty-nest-51652468128 %0 Thesis %B Economics %D 2022 %T Essays in the Economics of Collective Bargaining and Labor Market Power %A Mazewski, Matthew %K Economics %K Labor Unions %K nursing home care %K Pensions %K Retirement %X This dissertation consists of three empirical research studies that broadly pertain to the economics of collective bargaining, or the process by which employees act through labor unions to negotiate with employers over compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment; and of labor market power, which refers to the ability of economic actors to set wages and employment at levels different from those that would obtain under a theoretical ideal of perfect competition, wherein both workers and firms are atomized agents with no unilateral ability to influence a market equilibrium. %B Economics %I Columbia University %C New York, NY %V Ph.D. %G eng %R https://doi.org/10.7916/e73r-pb05 %0 Report %D 2022 %T EXPLANATIONS FOR THE DECLINE IN SPENDING AT OLDER AGES %A Rohwedder, Susann %A Michael D Hurd %A Hudomiet, Péter %K CAMS %K consumer spending %K Retirement %X We use new data from the 2019 wave of the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey to help interpret the observed decline in spending as individuals age. At one extreme, forward-looking individuals optimally chose the decline; at the other, myopic individuals overspent and were forced to reduce spending because they had run out of wealth. Which interpretation is correct has important implications for the measurement of economic preparation for retirement. According to their own assessments, the fraction of respondents feeling financially constrained is lower at advanced ages, and the fraction satisfied with their economic situation is considerably higher at older ages than at ages near retirement. An important mechanism reconciling the evidence of reduced spending and greater economic satisfaction at older ages may be that individuals’ enjoyment of several activities declines with worsening health, widowing, and increasing age, leading to a lessening desire to spend on them. We find strong support for this hypothesis. Nonetheless, close to 20% of those older than 80 report not being satisfied with their financial situation, pointing to heterogeneity in economic security. %B Working Papers %I NBER %C Cambridge, MA %G eng %U http://www.nber.org/papers/w30460 %0 Report %D 2022 %T Family Proximity and CoResidence in Retirement Heterogeneity in Residential Changes Across Older Adults’ Care Contexts %A Megan Doherty Bea %A Somalis Chy %K Grandchild Care %K residential mobility %K Retirement %X Residential changes to live near or with family can facilitate caregiving for children and older adults, along with other supports, but family-based residential changes could also have implications for economic security in retirement, including if changes correspond with earlier receipt of retirement benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA). This study examines: 1) How often do residential changes to live near or with family coincide with retirement? 2) How do caregiving responsibilities impact the risk of such a residential change? and 3) How do these associations correspond with early SSA claiming around retirement? Using the longitudinal data of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) from 2000 to 2018, we follow 2,798 households pre- and post-retirement. Results show that the risk of a residential change that puts an older adult household in close proximity to their child is significantly higher at the onset of retirement, compared to pre-retirement years, while the risks of residential changes that result in co-residence with children are less tied to retirement. There is evidence that grandchild-caregiving responsibilities for the older adult increase the risk of these residential changes. Finally, we find little evidence that such changes are tied to earlier Social Security retirement benefits claiming when comparing those who make such changes around retirement to those who do not. Thus, although many older adults are making significant changes to their living arrangements as they manage family-care needs, they are not at disproportionate risk of claiming SSA retirement benefits early when doing so.ability due to economic needs. Findings will reveal social and economic determinants of family-focused residential changes and consequences for benefit receipt. %I Center for Financial Security, University of Wisconsin-Madison %C Madison, WI %G eng %U https://cfsrdrc.wisc.edu/project/wi22-03 %0 Book Section %B Overtime: America's Aging Workforce and the Future of Working Longer %D 2022 %T Forecasting Employment of the Older Population %A Michael D Hurd %A Rohwedder, Susann %E Berkman, Lisa F %E Truesdale, Beth C. %K Employment %K Older workers %K Retirement %B Overtime: America's Aging Workforce and the Future of Working Longer %I Oxford University Press %P 155-174 %G eng %& 7 %R 10.1093/oso/9780197512067.003.0008 %0 Journal Article %J PLoS One %D 2022 %T Frailty does not cause all frail symptoms: United States Health and Retirement Study. %A Chao, Yi-Sheng %A Wu, Chao-Jung %A Po, June Y T %A Huang, Shih-Yu %A Wu, Hsing-Chien %A Hsu, Hui-Ting %A Cheng, Yen-Po %A Lai, Yi-Chun %A Chen, Wei-Chih %K Frail Elderly %K Frailty %K Geriatric Assessment %K Retirement %X

BACKGROUND: Frailty is associated with major health outcomes. However, the relationships between frailty and frailty symptoms haven't been well studied. This study aims to show the associations between frailty and frailty symptoms.

METHODS: The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) is an ongoing longitudinal biannual survey in the United States. Three of the most used frailty diagnoses, defined by the Functional Domains Model, the Burden Model, and the Biologic Syndrome Model, were reproduced according to previous studies. The associations between frailty statuses and input symptoms were assessed using odds ratios and correlation coefficients.

RESULTS: The sample sizes, mean ages, and frailty prevalence matched those reported in previous studies. Frailty statuses were weakly correlated with each other (coefficients = 0.19 to 0.38, p < 0.001 for all). There were 49 input symptoms identified by these three models. Frailty statuses defined by the three models were not significantly correlated with one or two symptoms defined by the same models (p > 0.05 for all). One to six symptoms defined by the other two models were not significantly correlated with each of the three frailty statuses (p > 0.05 for all). Frailty statuses were significantly correlated with their own bias variables (p < 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSION: Frailty diagnoses lack significant correlations with some of their own frailty symptoms and some of the frailty symptoms defined by the other two models. This finding raises questions like whether the frailty symptoms lacking significant correlations with frailty statuses could be included to diagnose frailty and whether frailty exists and causes frailty symptoms.

%B PLoS One %V 17 %P e0272289 %G eng %N 11 %R 10.1371/journal.pone.0272289 %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T Has COVID Created a Retirement Confidence Conundrum? %A Nevin E. Adams %K COVID-19 %K Retirement %I National Association of Plan Advisors %G eng %U https://www.napa-net.org/news-info/daily-news/has-covid-created-retirement-confidence-conundrum %0 Report %D 2022 %T Housing Equity Extraction from Older Adults via Reduction in Home Improvement %A Murray, Tim %A Dunn, Richard A. %K home improvement %K household production %K housing equity %K Retirement %X Housing equity accounts for a substantial share of retirees’ total wealth, yet many do not use their housing equity to increase consumption in retirement as the Life-Cycle Hypothesis predicts they should. We show that retirees spend a decreasing share of their house value on home improvement as they age, cumulatively summing to 8.4 percent of mean house value for married households. This reduction in home improvement could explain why house values for older adults have lower appreciation rates and why the quality of houses of older adults has decline. Reduction in home improvement can serve as a method of equity extraction for households that are unable to acquire traditional or reverse mortgage instruments. %G eng %U https://timmurrayecon.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/murray_dunn_equity_extraction.pdf %0 Report %D 2022 %T How Does Local Cost-of-Living Affect Retirement for Low and Moderate Earners? %A Quinby, Laura D. %A Gal Wettstein %K cost-of-living %K Low income %K moderate income %K Retirement %X This paper uses the Health and Retirement Study to explore how local cost-of-living affects Social Security replacement rates and household behavior. In theory, labor markets with high cost-of-living also offer more compensation. If this compensating differential is paid in wages, rather than benefits, it reduces the share of earnings replaced by Social Security due to the progressive benefit structure. This paper examines how important the cost-of-living penalty is, in practice, and whether it impacts households’ saving or labor supply. %B Working Papers %I Center for Retirement Research at Boston College %G eng %U https://crr.bc.edu/working-papers/how-does-local-cost-of-living-affect-retirement-for-low-and-moderate-earners/ %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T How Much Less You’ll Spend Throughout Retirement Depends on These 2 Factors %A Villanova, Patrick %K health %K Retirement %K Spending %K Wealth %B yahoo!finance %I Yahoo.com %G eng %U https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/much-less-ll-spend-throughout-222057678.html %0 Journal Article %J Scientific Reports %D 2022 %T How social/environmental determinants and inflammation affect salivary telomere length among middle-older adults in the health and retirement study. %A Courtney, Margaret Gough %A Roberts, Josephine %A Godde, Kanya %K C-reactive protein %K Inflammation %K Retirement %K Social determinants of health %K Telomere %K Telomere Shortening %X

Social epidemiology posits that chronic stress from social determinants will lead to a prolonged inflammatory response that may induce accelerated aging as measured, for example, through telomere length (TL). In this paper, we hypothesize variables across demographic, health-related, and contextual/environmental domains influence the body's stress response, increase inflammation (as measured through high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)), and thereby lead to shortening of telomeres. This population-based research uses data from the 2008 Health and Retirement Study on participants ages ≤ 54-95 + years, estimating logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models of variables (with and without confounders) across the domains on shortened TL. A mediation analysis is also conducted. Contrary to expectations, hs-CRP is not associated with risk of shortened TL. Rather, factors related to accessing health care, underlying conditions of frailty, and social inequality appear to predict risk of shorter TL, and models demonstrate considerable confounding. Further, hs-CRP is not a mediator for TL. Therefore, the social determinants of health examined do not appear to follow an inflammatory pathway for shortened TL. The finding of a relationship to social determinants affecting access to health care and medical conditions underscores the need to address social determinants alongside primary care when examining health inequities.

%B Scientific Reports %V 12 %P 8882 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1038/s41598-022-12742-z %0 Report %D 2022 %T How Well Do Retirees Assess the Risks They Face in Retirement? %A Wenliang Hou %K Financial risks %K health costs %K Retirement %X The brief’s key findings are: Retirees face many financial risks, such as outliving their money, investment losses, and unexpected health expenses. How important are these risks and how well do retirees perceive them? The analysis finds a big disconnect between how actual and perceived risks are ranked:Actual: 1) longevity; 2) health; and 3) market. Perceived: 1) market; 2) longevity; and 3) health. In short, retirees overestimate market volatility and underestimate how long they will live and their health costs. %I Center for Retirement Research at Boston College %C Chestnut Hill, MA %G eng %U https://crr.bc.edu/briefs/how-well-do-retirees-assess-the-risks-they-face-in-retirement/ %0 Journal Article %J Journal of the American Heart Association %D 2022 %T Hypertension and Diabetes Status by Patterns of Stress in Older Adults From the US Health and Retirement Study: A Latent Class Analysis. %A Fernandez, Jessica R %A Montiel Ishino, Francisco A %A Williams, Faustine %A Slopen, Natalie %A Forde, Allana T %K Diabetes Mellitus %K ethnicity %K Hypertension %K Latent Class Analysis %K Retirement %X

Background Hypertension and diabetes disproportionately affect older non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adults in the United States. Chronic stress may partially explain these disparities. This study identified underlying stress profiles of older US adults, analyzed stress profiles in relation to hypertension and diabetes, examined the distribution of stress profiles by race and ethnicity, and assessed patterns of change in latent classes of stress over time. Methods and Results Latent class analysis was conducted with a nationally representative sample of older US adults who completed 3 waves of the HRS (Health and Retirement Study) (ie, 2010 [n=6863], 2014 [n=4995], and 2018 [n=3089]). Latent classes of stress in 2010 (ie, stress profiles) were identified using 15 indicators of unmet needs within 5 categories (ie, physiological, safety/security, belonging, esteem, and self-fulfillment). Hypertension and diabetes status were examined as outcomes of latent class membership at 3 time points, and race and ethnicity were examined in association with class membership, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. Finally, a latent transition analysis examined the stability of latent class membership and racial and ethnic differences in the patterns of stress profiles experienced from 2010 to 2018. Five classes were identified: Generally Unmet Needs (13% of sample), Generally Met Needs (42% of sample), Unmet Self-Efficacy/Goal Needs (12% of sample), Unmet Financial Needs (20% of sample), and Unmet Social Belonging Needs (13% of sample). Compared with the Generally Met Needs class, the Generally Unmet Needs class had higher odds of hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 1.80; [95% CI, 1.35-2.39]) and diabetes (OR, 1.94; [95% CI, 1.45-2.59]), and the Unmet Financial Needs class had higher odds of diabetes (OR, 1.50; [95% CI, 1.10-2.05]). Non-Hispanic Black participants compared with non-Hispanic White participants had higher odds of being members of the Generally Unmet Needs, Unmet Self-Efficacy/Goal Needs, and Unmet Financial Needs classes (OR, 2.70; [95% CI, 1.59-4.58]; OR, 1.99; [95% CI, 1.15-3.43]; and OR, 4.74; [95% CI, 3.32-6.76], respectively). Class membership remained relatively stable over time, with 93% of participants remaining in Generally Met Needs and 78% of participants remaining in Generally Unmet Needs across time points. Compared with non-Hispanic White participants, non-Hispanic Black participants had lower odds of Generally Met Needs class membership at any time point (OR, 0.60; [95% CI, 0.42-0.84]) and had lower odds of moving into the Generally Met Needs class and higher odds of moving into the Unmet Financial Needs class from 2010 to 2014 (OR, 0.33; [95% CI, 0.13-0.86]; and OR, 3.02; [95% CI, 1.16-7.87], respectively). Conclusions Underlying classes of stress based on unmet needs were associated with hypertension and diabetes status. Racial and ethnic differences were observed for both latent class membership and transitions between classes over time. Latent classes of stress associated with unmet needs, hypertension, and diabetes and the ability to transition between classes may explain the perpetuation of racial and ethnic disparities in cardiovascular health. Interventions targeting unmet needs may be used to confront these disparities.

%B Journal of the American Heart Association %V 11 %P e024594 %G eng %N 12 %R 10.1161/JAHA.121.024594 %0 Journal Article %J PLoS One %D 2022 %T Identifying pathways to religious service attendance among older adults: A lagged exposure-wide analysis. %A Cowden, Richard G %A Nakamura, Julia S %A Chen, Zhuo Job %A Case, Brendan %A Kim, Eric S %A VanderWeele, Tyler J %K Health Behavior %K Prospective Studies %K psychological distress %K Psychosocial Intervention %K Retirement %X

We used prospective data (spanning 8 years) from a national sample of older U.S. adults aged > 50 years (the Health and Retirement Study, N = 13,771) to evaluate potential factors that lead to subsequent religious service attendance. We applied a lagged exposure-wide epidemiologic design and evaluated 60 candidate predictors of regular subsequent religious service attendance. Candidate predictors were drawn from the following domains: health behaviors, physical health, psychological well-being, psychological distress, social factors, and work. After rigorous adjustment for a rich set of potential confounders, we observed modest evidence that changes in some indices of physical health, psychological well-being, psychological distress, and social functioning predicted regular religious service attendance four years later. Our findings suggest that there may be opportunities to support more regular religious service attendance among older adults who positively self-identify with a religious/spiritual tradition (e.g., aid services for those with functional limitations, psychological interventions to increase hope), which could have downstream benefits for various dimensions of well-being in the later years of life.

%B PLoS One %V 17 %P e0278178 %G eng %N 11 %R 10.1371/journal.pone.0278178 %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T In retirement, you may not need to spend so much %A Coy, Peter %K Retirement %K Spending %I The New York Times %G eng %U https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/28/opinion/retirement-spending.html %0 Report %D 2022 %T Inequalities in Retirement Lifespan in the United States %A Shi, Jiaxin %A Christian Dudel %A Monden, Christiaan %A van Raalte, Alyson A. %K Education %K gender %K Inequality %K Retirement %K work-related issues %X Objectives Persistent and substantial disparities in old-age mortality suggest that there may be great inequalities in the length of retirement life. This study aims to assess gender and educational differences in the average retirement lifespan and the variation in retirement lifespan, taking into account individual labor-force exit and re-entry dynamics. Methods We used longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study in 1996–2016, focusing on respondents aged 50 and above (N = 32,228). Multistate life tables were estimated using discrete-time event history models. The average retirement lifespan, as well as absolute and relative inequalities in retirement lifespan, were calculated analytically. Results We found that among women there was a persistent educational gradient in average retirement lifespan over the whole period studied; among men, the relationship between education and retirement expectancy was different across periods. Women and the lower-educated had higher absolute inequality in retirement lifespan than men and the highereducated—yet these relationships were reversed when examined by relative inequality. Discussion Our multistate approach provides an accurate and comprehensive picture of the retirement lifespan of older Americans in the past two decades. Such findings should be considered in high-level discussions on Social Security. Potential reforms such as raising the eligibility age or cutting benefits may have unexpected implications for different social groups due to their differential impacts on retirement initiation and re-entry dynamics. %B MPIDR Working Paper %I Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research %C Germany %G eng %R 10.4054/MPIDR-WP-2022-015 %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T Is inflation taking a summer vacation? %A Goodkind, Nicole %K COVID-19 %K Finances %K inflation %K Retirement %B Business %I CNN %G eng %U https://us.cnn.com/2022/08/09/investing/premarket-stocks-trading/index.html %0 Thesis %D 2022 %T The Joint Retirement Decision and Life Satisfaction of Older Adults %A Slabach, Colin %K Couples %K Life Satisfaction %K Retirement %I Texas Tech University %C Lubbock, TX %G eng %U https://hdl.handle.net/2346/90267 %0 Journal Article %J BMC Geriatrics %D 2022 %T Later-life transitions and changes in prescription medication use for pain and depression. %A Lam, Jack %A Vuolo, Mike %K depression %K pain %K prescription drugs %K Prescriptions %K Retirement %X

BACKGROUND: Over the past two decades, prescription medication use for pain and depression increased dramatically. Most studies consider the early life course, despite a similar increase among those in later life. In this paper, we examine whether and how later life transitions may relate to changes in medication use.

METHODS: We draw on data from the Health and Retirement Study and fixed-effects models to examine whether work, family, and civic transitions in later life are related to changes in the usage of prescription pain and depression medication.

RESULTS: Results show that individuals had higher odds of regularly using prescription pain and depression medications in periods when out of the labor market. Higher odds of depression medication use were also associated with periods of widowhood, and lower odds of use when frequently volunteering. Such relations persist adjusting for reported levels of pain and depression.

CONCLUSION: Our findings call attention to the importance of social ties and the presence of actors that may regulate health behaviors, as well as a change in social context, that may shape medication use in later life.

%B BMC Geriatrics %V 22 %P 222 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1186/s12877-022-02921-y %0 Journal Article %J International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health %D 2022 %T Level of Concern, Spending, and External Support Related to COVID-19: A Comparison between Working and Non-Working Older Adults. %A Yu, Zuojin %A Le, Aurora B %A Doerr, Alexa %A Smith, Todd D %K COVID-19 %K Logistic Models %K Pandemics %K Retirement %X

This study compared levels of concern, spending, and use of external support by working status among older adults in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. It assessed whether work influences these variables related to wellness. Data from 2489 older adults from the 2020 U.S. Health and Retirement Study were analyzed using multiple linear and logistic regression. Older adults who worked had lower concerns about the pandemic (β = -0.28, = 0.048), were less likely to increase their spending (OR = 0.74, = 0.041), and were less likely to use external support (OR = 0.50, < 0.001). Use of external support increased with age (OR = 1.04, < 0.001) and increased spending (OR = 1.32, = 0.019). Married older adults were less likely to increase spending (OR = 0.75, = 0.007) and had lower concerns toward COVID-19 (β = -0.28, = 0.011). Higher levels of concern were reported among women (β = 0.31, = 0.005) and participants who had friends or family members diagnosed with COVID-19 (β = 0.51, < 0.001). Women were more likely to use support (OR = 1.80, < 0.001). Work appears to bolster older adult wellness outcomes.

%B International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health %V 19 %P 11375 %G eng %N 18 %R 10.3390/ijerph191811375 %0 Journal Article %J Social Science & Medicine %D 2022 %T Managing the onset of a new disease in older age: Housing wealth, mortgage borrowing, and medication adherence. %A Moulton, Stephanie %A Rhodes, Alec %A Haurin, Donald %A Loibl, Cäzilia %K health shock %K Housing wealth %K Medications %K mortgage borrowing %K Retirement %X

The relationship between wealth and health is an important yet complex topic for health research. While prior studies document the importance of wealth for healthy aging, the understanding of the mechanisms through which wealth supports health consumption is limited. We investigate the wealth-to-health link by explicitly modeling the effect of liquidating home equity through borrowing on health expenditures, measured here as cost-related non-adherence to prescription medications (CRN), following the onset of one of six costly diseases on or after age 65. Using individual-level data from the 2002-2018 waves of the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (3,772 respondents; 13,708 observations), we exploit exogenous spatial and intertemporal variation in ZIP-code level house values to instrument for borrowing. Results indicate each additional $10,000 in new mortgage borrowing is associated with a 1.6 percentage point reduction in CRN. In subsample regressions, this relationship is strongest for older adults for whom home equity is their largest source of wealth. In a falsification test, we find no relationship between house value changes and CRN for older renters, and no effect of mortgage borrowing on prescription drug non-adherence for health or memory reasons. Our results contribute to the literature by documenting how housing wealth can be tapped by older adults through borrowing to smooth health-related consumption following disease diagnosis. However, not all older homeowners are willing or able to borrow from home equity. Our findings suggest that it is not simply the stock of housing wealth that leads to better health outcomes, but instead the liquidation of housing wealth. Housing wealth is thus not a uniform social determinate of health for older homeowners as it is moderated by the ability to borrow.

%B Social Science & Medicine %V 314 %P 115437 %G eng %R 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115437 %0 Journal Article %J BMC Geriatrics %D 2022 %T Multimorbidity and long-term disability and physical functioning decline in middle-aged and older Americans: an observational study. %A Aubert, Carole E %A Kabeto, Mohammed %A Kumar, Navasuja %A Wei, Melissa Y %K Activities of Daily Living %K Hand Strength %K multimorbidity %K Retirement %K walking speed %X

BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity is highly prevalent and associated with several adverse health outcomes, including functional limitations. While maintaining physical functioning is relevant for all adults, identifying those with multimorbidity at risk for faster rates of physical functioning decline may help to target interventions to delay the onset and progression of disability. We quantified the association of multimorbidity with rates of long-term disability and objective physical functioning decline.

METHODS: In the Health and Retirement Study, we computed the Multimorbidity-Weighted Index (MWI) by assigning previously validated weights (based on physical functioning) to each chronic condition. We used an adjusted negative binomial regression to assess the association of MWI with disability (measured by basic and instrumental activities of daily living [ADLs, IADLs]) over 16 years, and linear mixed effects models to assess the association of MWI with gait speed and grip strength over 8 years.

RESULTS: Among 16,616 participants (mean age 67.3, SD 9.7 years; 57.8% women), each additional MWI point was associated with a 10% increase in incidence rate of disability (IRR: 1.10; 95%CI: 1.09, 1.10). In 2,748 participants with data on gait speed and grip strength, each additional MWI point was associated with a decline in gait speed of 0.004 m/s (95%CI: -0.006, -0.001). The association with grip strength was not statistically significant (-0.01 kg, 95%CI: -0.73, 0.04). The rate of decline increased with time for all outcomes, with a significant interaction between time and MWI for disability progression only.

CONCLUSION: Multimorbidity, as weighted on physical functioning, was associated with long-term disability, including faster rates of disability progression, and decline in gait speed. Given the importance of maintaining physical functioning and preserving functional independence, MWI is a readily available tool that can help identify adults to target early on for interventions.

%B BMC Geriatrics %V 22 %P 910 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1186/s12877-022-03548-9 %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T Panel examines COVID-19 impact on retirement expectations %A Mseka, Ayo %K COVID-19 %K Retirement %I Insurance News %G eng %U https://insurancenewsnet.com/innarticle/panel-examines-covid-19-impact-on-retirement-expectations %0 Journal Article %J The Journal of the Economics of Ageing %D 2022 %T Pathways to Retirement Among Dual Earning Couples %A Carman, Katherine %A Edwards, Kathryn A. %A Brown, Kristine M %K Employment %K financial decision making %K Households %K Retirement %K retirement benefits %K Unemployment %X Research indicates significant roles for gradual transitions to full retirement and for coordination between spouses in the typical retirement experience. However, there is little research exploring the potentially important interactions between the two. This paper addresses this gap in the literature and provides a more robust understanding of retirement behavior by examining the transition from full-time work to fully retired among dual earning couples, which we call joint retirement trajectories. We analyze 12 waves of the Health and Retirement Study to map out the distribution of potential pathways that couples undertake when retiring. We aimed to present the fullest picture possible of joint retirement trajectories under the hypothesis that if there were a common, dominant, or typical path, it would emerge. Instead, the consistent finding is variation across couples in the length, sequence, leader, concordance, and labor supply in the move from full-time work to fully retired. Using simple heuristics to classify joint retirement trajectories allows us to gain perspective in the rarity of full simultaneous retirement and motivates future research into the joint use of partial retirement by couples. %B The Journal of the Economics of Ageing %V 22 %G eng %R 10.1016/j.jeoa.2022.100384 %0 Journal Article %J Front Public Health %D 2022 %T The positive impact of informal spousal caregiving on the physical activity of older adults. %A Zan, Hua %A Shin, Su Hyun %K Aged %K Caregivers %K Female %K Humans %K Retirement %K Spouses %K United States %X

INTRODUCTION: Although physical activity (PA) is crucial for health, the literature is mixed about how individuals' PA decisions are affected by their spouses. To fill this gap, we examined the extent to which providing care for one spouse affects the PA of the other spouse among those aged 50 or older in the United States.

METHODS: We analyzed 9,173 older adults living with their spouses or partners from the 2004 to 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. To identify the causal effect of spousal caregiving on the PA of older adults, we estimated individual-fixed effects models using a two-stage least squared instrumental variable approach with spousal falls as our instrument. We also estimated the models by splitting the sample by gender and race/ethnicity to identify heterogeneous impacts of spousal caregiving on PA decisions among subgroups.

RESULTS: We found that a one percentage point increase in the probability of providing care to spouses led to an increase in the probability of initiating moderate or vigorous PA (MVPA) by 0.34-0.52 percentage points. This effect was salient, especially among female and non-Hispanic white older adults.

DISCUSSION: Caregiving experience might provide opportunities to learn about caregiving burdens and trigger an emotional response about the salience of an event (i.e., they need care in the future). Older caregivers might start MVPA in an effort to improve or maintain their health and avoid burdening their families for caregiving in the future. This study demonstrated spousal influence on PA. Instead of delivering PA-promotion information (e.g., the harm of sedentary lifestyle and benefits of regular PA) to individuals, risk communication and education efforts on PA promotion might be more effective considering the family context. Family events such as health shocks or the emergence of caregiving needs from family members provide windows of opportunities for intervening. Subgroup differences should also be considered in targeted interventions.

%B Front Public Health %V 10 %P 977846 %8 2022 %G eng %R 10.3389/fpubh.2022.977846 %0 Journal Article %J Scientific Reports %D 2022 %T Predictors of Covid-19 level of concern among older adults from the health and retirement study. %A Beydoun, Hind A %A Beydoun, May A %A Weiss, Jordan %A Gautam, Rana S %A Hossain, Sharmin %A Alemu, Brook T %A Zonderman, Alan B %K COVID-19 %K Female %K Life Style %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %X

The purpose of this longitudinal study is to construct a prediction model for Covid-19 level of concern using established Covid-19 socio-demographic, lifestyle and health risk characteristics and to examine specific contributions of obesity-related cardiometabolic health characteristics as predictors of Covid-19 level of concern among a representative sample of U.S. older adults. We performed secondary analyses of existing data on 2872 2006-2020 Health and Retirement Study participants and examined 19 characteristics in relation to the outcome of interest using logistic regression and machine learning algorithms. In mixed-effects ordinal logistic regression models, a history of diabetes, stroke as well as 1-2 cardiometabolic risk factors and/or chronic conditions were associated with greater Covid-19 level of concern, after controlling for confounders. Female sex, birth cohort, minority race, Hispanic ethnicity and total wealth as well as depressive symptoms were associated with higher level of Covid-19 concern, and education was associated with lower level of Covid-19 concern in fully adjusted mixed-effects ordinal logistic regression models. The selected socio-demographic, lifestyle and health characteristics accounted for < 70% of the variability in Covid-19 level of concern based on machine learning algorithms. Independent risk factors for Covid-19 level of concern among U.S. older adults include socio-demographic characteristics and depressive symptoms. Advanced research is needed to identify relevant predictors and elucidate underlying mechanisms of observed relationships.

%B Scientific Reports %V 12 %P 4396 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1038/s41598-022-08332-8 %0 Journal Article %J Preventive Medicine %D 2022 %T Purpose in life and 8-year mortality by gender and race/ethnicity among older adults in the U.S. %A Shiba, Koichiro %A Kubzansky, Laura D %A Williams, David R %A VanderWeele, Tyler J %A Kim, Eric S %K Cohort Studies %K ethnicity %K Mortality %K Odds Ratio %K Retirement %X

We examined the associations between a sense of purpose and all-cause mortality by gender and race/ethnicity groups. Data were from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative cohort study of U.S. adults aged >50 (n = 13,159). Sense of purpose was self-reported at baseline (2006/2008), and risk of all-cause mortality was assessed over an 8-year follow-up period. We also formally tested for potential effect modification by gender and race/ethnicity. We observed the associations between higher purpose and lower all-cause mortality risk across all gender and race/ethnicity groups. There was modest evidence that the highest level of purpose (versus lowest quartile) was associated with even lower risk of all-cause mortality among women (risk ratio = 0.66, 95% confidence interval: 0.56, 0.77) compared to men (risk ratio = 0.80, 95% confidence interval: 0.69, 0.93; p-value for multiplicative effect modification =0.07). However, we observed no evidence of effect modification by race/ethnicity. Having a higher sense of purpose appears protective against all-cause mortality regardless of gender and race/ethnicity. Purpose, a potentially modifiable factor, might be a health asset across diverse populations.

%B Preventive Medicine %V 164 %P 107310 %G eng %R 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107310 %0 Journal Article %J BMJ Open %D 2022 %T Regional variation in healthcare usage for Medicare beneficiaries: a cross-sectional study based on the health and retirement study. %A Luo, Dian %K health %K Health Expenditures %K Insurance %K Medicare %K Retirement %X

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether regional variation changes with different beneficiary health insurance coverage types.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) in 2018 was used.

SETTING: Medicare beneficiaries only covered by Medicare (group 1) are compared with those covered by Medicare and other health insurance (group 2). Outcomes included healthcare usage measures: (1) whether beneficiaries have a hospital stay and (2) the number for those with at least one stay; (3) whether beneficiaries have a doctor's visit and (4) the number for those with at least one visit. We compared healthcare usage in both groups across the five regions: (1) New England and Mid-Atlantic; (2) East North Central and West North Central; (3) South Atlantic; (4) East South Central and West South Central; (5) Mountain and Pacific. We used logistic regression for binary outcomes and negative binomial regression for count outcomes in each group.

PARTICIPANTS: We identified 8749 Medicare beneficiaries, of which 4098 in group 1 and 4651 in group 2.

RESULTS: Residents in all non-reference regions had a significantly lower probability of seeking a doctor's visit in group 1 (OR with 95% CI 0.606 (0.374 to 0.982), 0.619 (0.392 to 0.977), 0.472 (0.299 to 0.746) and 0.618 (0.386 to 0.990) in the order of above regions, respectively), which is not significant in group 2. Residents in most non-reference regions (except South Atlantic) had a significantly fewer number of seeking a hospital stay in group 2 (incident rate ratio (IRR) with 95% CI 0.797 (0.691 to 0.919), 0.740 (0.643 to 0.865), 0.726 (0.613 to 0.859) in the order of above regions, respectively), which is not significant in group 1.

CONCLUSION: Regional variation in the likelihood of having a doctor's visit was reduced in Medicare beneficiaries covered by supplemental health insurance. Regional variation in hospital stays was accentuated among Medicare beneficiaries covered by supplemental health insurance.

%B BMJ Open %V 12 %P e061375 %G eng %N 8 %R 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-061375 %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T Regret Is a Powerful Savings, Planning Motivator: New Study %A Manganaro, John %K financial regret %K Retirement %K Savings %I ThinkAdvisor %G eng %U https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2022/11/28/regret-is-a-powerful-savings-planning-motivator-new-study/ %0 Journal Article %J The Journals of Gerontology, Series B %D 2022 %T The Relationship Between Fertility History and Incident Dementia in the U.S. Health and Retirement Study. %A Gemmill, Alison %A Weiss, Jordan %K Cohort Studies %K Dementia %K Fertility %K Pregnancy %K Prospective Studies %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %X

OBJECTIVES: An emerging literature suggests that fertility history, which includes measures of parity and birth timing, may influence cognitive health in older ages, especially among women given their differential exposure to pregnancy and sex hormones. Yet, few studies have examined associations between measures of fertility history and incident dementia in population-based samples.

METHOD: We examined the associations between parity, younger age at first birth, and older age at last birth with incident dementia over a 16-year period in a prospective sample of 15,361 men and women aged 51-100 years at baseline drawn from the Health and Retirement Study. We used Cox regression and the Fine and Gray model to obtain cause-specific hazard ratios (csHRs) and subdistribution hazard ratios for incident dementia from gender-stratified models, with the latter method accounting for the semicompeting risk of death.

RESULTS: During the follow-up period (median 13.0 years), the crude incidence rate for dementia was 16.6 and 19.9 per 1,000 person-years for men and women, respectively. In crude models estimating csHRs, higher parity (vs parity 2) and younger age at first birth were associated with increased risk of dementia for both genders. These associations did not persist after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status, and health conditions, with much of the attenuation in estimates occurring after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics.

DISCUSSION: In this population-based, multiethnic cohort, we observed limited evidence for an association between measures of fertility history and incident dementia among men and women after adjusting for potential confounders.

%B The Journals of Gerontology, Series B %V 77 %P 1118-1131 %G eng %N 6 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbab183 %0 Thesis %D 2022 %T Retirees' psychological and financial well-being: Investigating partnership effects and financial knowledge on retirement outcomes %A Abualshamat, Ghirass Ghazi %K Couples %K Financial well-being %K psychological well-being %K Retirement %X An obvious trend over the past years showed an increased number of retirees in the United States. The increase in retirees has brought increased concern about how individuals adjust to the retirement life phase. This dissertation investigates retirees' psychological and financial well-being by looking at partnership effects and financial knowledge on retirement outcomes. The first paper looked into the relationship between couples' joint retirement and retirement satisfaction. The analysis uses cross-sectional data from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study (HRS). This paper shows a positive relationship between the likelihood of being very satisfied during retirement and the partner's retirement status, household income, net worth, health, education, and age. The second paper investigated the relationship between couples' joint retirement and post-retirement depression. The analysis uses cross-sectional data from the HRS for 2016. This paper indicates that retirees are less likely to be depressed when their partner is fully retired than retirees with a not retired partner. The third paper examined whether financial knowledge is associated with older investors' investment holdings by looking at the type and the number of investment instruments in a portfolio. The analysis uses cross-sectional data from the 2015 National Financial Capability Study-Investor Survey by FINRA. The results show a positive relationship between financial knowledge and having an investment instruments score of zero and one. The results also show a negative relationship between financial knowledge and having a portfolio with investment instruments score above one. %I Texas Tech University %C Lubbock, TX %G eng %U https://hdl.handle.net/2346/89461 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Clinical Oncology %D 2022 %T Retirement behavior of cancer survivors and the role of employer-sponsored health insurance. %A Bradley, Cathy J %A Owsley, Kelsey %K Cancer Survivors %K Employer-sponsored health insurance %K Retirement %X Workers who rely on employment for health insurance may choose to continue working following a serious health condition, potentially harming their health in retirement. In this study, we examine the influence of retiree and employment-contingent insurance on retirement behavior and health of workers diagnosed with cancer. Methods: This longitudinal cohort study used 2000-2018 Health and Retirement Study data to examine changes in employment, weekly hours worked, and health status measures following a cancer diagnosis by health insurance status. We selected respondents who reported a new cancer diagnosis (n = 354) and a matched, non-cancer sample (n = 1,770 respondents), restricting both samples to those employed and younger than age 63. Results: Women with cancer and retiree health insurance were 21.0 percentage points less likely to work (95% CI: –38.5 to –3.5; p < 0.05) relative to women with employer health insurance, but no retiree insurance. Employed women with cancer but no health insurance increased weekly hours worked by 32% relative to similar non-cancer controls. Men and women with a new cancer diagnosis and without health insurance were also less likely to work (p < 0.05). Respondents with employer-based health insurance reported better subsequent health status than respondents without health insurance from their employer. Conclusions: Cancer survivors with both employer insurance and retiree health insurance are able to leave the workforce earlier, and report better health status when they stop working following a cancer diagnosis. %B Journal of Clinical Oncology %V 40 %P 222 %G eng %N 28 suppl %R 10.1200/JCO.2022.40.28_suppl.222 %0 Report %D 2022 %T Retirement Coordination and Leisure Complementarity %A Merkurieva, Irina S. %K intertemporal household choice %K Leisure complementarity %K Retirement %X Empirical evidence suggests that in a large fraction of working couples spouses retire within a short period of time. This retirement coordination is frequently attributed to leisure complementarities. Contrary to this view, I find strong substitutability between the leisure of the two household members. Using a dynamic programming model of optimal retirement and labor supply decisions, I further show that high levels of retirement coordination can be observed even in the absence of leisure complementarity. Retirement coordination is higher in the households with more equality in the earnings profiles and utility derived from the leisure of their individual members. %I University of St Andrews %G eng %U https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~im58/Coordination.pdf %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T Retirement Depression: Coping with the Emotional Pain %A Chamlou, Nina %K depression %K Mental Health %K Retirement %X The loss of a routine and sense of purpose could lead you to experience symptoms of depression after retirement. Help is available and relief is possible. %I PyschCentral %G eng %U https://psychcentral.com/depression/retirement-depression %0 Thesis %D 2022 %T The Retirement Transition and Retirement-Savings Behaviors: Three Essays Analyzing Various Retirement Concerns Focusing on Military Veterans %A Cantu, Jayson %K Retirement %K savings for retirement %K Veterans %I Texas Tech University %C Lubbock, TX %V Ph.D. %G eng %U https://ttu-ir.tdl.org/bitstream/handle/2346/89211/CANTU-DISSERTATION-2022.pdf?sequence=1 %0 Journal Article %J The Journal of the Economics of Ageing %D 2022 %T Revisiting the Effect of Retirement on Cognition: Heterogeneity and Endowment %A Dawoon Jung %A Jinkook Lee %A Erik Meijer %K Cognition %K genetic risk score %K O*NET %K Occupation %K Retirement %X Since the seminal paper of Rohwedder and Willis (2010), the effect of retirement on cognition has drawn significant research interest from economists. Especially with ongoing policy discussions about public pension reforms and the increasing burden of dementia, it is indisputably an important research question with significant policy implications. Building on this growing literature, our paper makes two important contributions. First, we explicitly consider cognitive demands of jobs in studying hetereogeneity of the retirement effect. As the primary explanation for the potential adverse effect of retirement is that cognition is better maintained through mental exercise (Salthouse, 2006), by investigating the cognitive demands of the job one retires from we can directly test the hypothesized relationship. Second, we avoid biases associated with omitted variables, particularly by controlling for endowed cognitive ability. While endowed, genetic differences in cognitive ability is an important omitted variable that can explain individual differences in cognitive performance as well as selection into a particular type of job, this inherited characteristic has not been controlled for in the prior literature. Taking advantage of the polygenic risk score of cognition (Davies et al., 2015), we control for individual differences in genetic endowments in estimating the effect of retirement on cognition. We find supporting evidence for differential effects of retirement by cognitive demands of jobs after controlling for innate differences in cognition and educational attainment. %B The Journal of the Economics of Ageing %V 21 %P 100361 %G eng %R https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeoa.2021.100361 %0 Journal Article %D 2022 %T The Role of Physical, Cognitive, and Interpersonal Occupational Requirements and Working Conditions on Disability and Retirement %A Italo Lopez Garcia %A Kathleen J. Mullen %A Jeffrey Wenger %K cognitive %K Disability %K physical %K Retirement %X We examine of the role of physical and mental job requirements, as well as hazardous working conditions, on retirement and disability among older individuals in the United States. By linking occupation-level data on job requirements from the Occupational Requirements Survey (ORS) to individual-level data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we create composite indices for physical activities and the physical work environment, as well as two indices of mental job requirements related to job autonomy and flexibility index, and being supervised and working with the pubic. Using data from the HRS Life History Mail Survey, we merge these indices to the HRS panel using the most important occupation held by the individual in her prime years. We find that a 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in the physical activity and physical work environment indices are associated with a 10 to 13 percentage point (pp) increase in the probability of being retired and a 3 to 5 pp increase in the probability of transitioning into retirement. The associations of these indices with disability outcomes follow the same patterns as retirement, but they are lower in magnitude. A 1 SD increase in job autonomy/flexibility is associated with a 22 pp decrease in the probability of being retired and a 12 pp decrease in retirement transitions, but it does not predict disability outcomes. Finally, the effects of physically demanding and hazardous jobs on labor force exit are concentrated among men and low-educated workers, while delays in retirement predicted by higher job autonomy and flexibility are driven by college-educated workers. %G eng %U https://mrdrc.isr.umich.edu/pubs/the-role-of-physical-cognitive-and-interpersonal-occupational-requirements-and-working-conditions-on-disability-and-retirement/ %0 Journal Article %J International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry %D 2022 %T Social isolation trajectories in midlife and later-life: patterns and associations with health. %A Luo, Mengsha %A Li, Lydia %K Memory Disorders %K Retirement %K social isolation %X

OBJECTIVES: Social isolation has objective and subjective dimensions. Few studies have simultaneously examined trajectories of both dimensions. We integrated multiple indicators of both dimensions to identify social isolation trajectory patterns and investigated how different patterns were related to adults' physical, mental, cognitive, and self-rated health.

METHODS: We used latent class growth modeling to examine social isolation trajectory patterns, based on data from the 2008-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 6457). Mixed-effect linear models were used to examine how trajectory patterns were associated with functional limitations, depressive symptoms, memory deficits, and self-rated health over the 8-year study period.

RESULTS: Four social isolation trajectory patterns were identified: severe isolation (15.4%), moderate isolation (37.6%), some objective and rare subjective isolation (35.4%), and rare objective and low subjective isolation (11.6%). Social isolation trajectory patterns showed a gradient in all health domains. The rare objective and low subjective isolation group had the best health (i.e., the fewest functional limitations, depressive symptoms, and memory deficits and the best self-rated health); the some objective and rare subjective isolation group had the next best health; the moderate isolation group had the second worst health; and the severe isolation group had the worst health.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and stability of severe and moderate social isolation suggest it may be necessary to address social isolation at the national level. The most favorable health outcomes associated with the rare objective and low subjective isolation group supports interventions to strengthen social networks and engagement midlife and later-life.

%B International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry %V 37 %G eng %N 5 %R 10.1002/gps.5715 %0 Journal Article %J BMC Public Health %D 2022 %T Sociodemographic and health status differences in delaying medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic among older adults: findings from the Health and Retirement Study. %A Farina, Mateo P %A Jennifer A Ailshire %K COVID-19 %K Health Status %K Health Status Disparities %K Pandemics %K Retirement %X

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 Pandemic, adults in the United States reported delaying medical care, which may be tied risk of infection and local policies limiting appointment. Some populations may have been more likely to delay care than others, leading to other forms of health inequality during this period. To-date there is little research on delayed care among U.S. older adult. We determine the prevalence of delayed medical care among older adults and investigate sociodemographic and health status inequalities in delaying health care.

METHOD: We used data from the first public release of the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study COVID-19 Subsample (N = 3006). Using logistic regression, we assessed whether differences in delaying health care varied by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, self-rated health (SRH), and having any Activity of Daily Living (ADL) limitation. We also conducted additional analysis that evaluated differences in delaying care by two care subtypes: doctor and dental care visits.

RESULTS: About 30% of U.S. older adults reported delaying care with the most common types of delayed care being dental or doctor visits. Adults ages 75 and older were less likely to delay care, while women, college educated, and those with poor SRH, and any ADL limitations were more likely to delay care.

CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one-third of older adults delayed care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased likelihood of delayed care among people with worse health suggests that there may be longer-term impacts on the health care system and population health from the COVID-19 pandemic, and may contribute to health inequalities in the near future.

%B BMC Public Health %V 22 %P 1720 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1186/s12889-022-14118-4 %0 Journal Article %J American Journal of Infection Control %D 2022 %T Socio-demographic, lifestyle and health characteristics as predictors of self-reported Covid-19 history among older adults: 2006-2020 Health and Retirement Study. %A Beydoun, Hind A %A Beydoun, May A %A Hossain, Sharmin %A Alemu, Brook T %A Gautam, Rana S %A Weiss, Jordan %A Zonderman, Alan B %K Cardiovascular Diseases %K Chronic disease %K COVID-19 %K ethnicity %K Female %K Life Style %K Retirement %K Self Report %X

BACKGROUND: To identify key socio-demographic, lifestyle, and health predictors of self-reported coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) history, examine cardiometabolic health characteristics as predictors of self-reported Covid-19 history and compare groups with and without a history of Covid-19 on trajectories in cardiometabolic health and blood pressure measurements over time, among United States (U.S.) older adults.

METHODS: Nationally representative longitudinal data on U.S. older adults from the 2006-2020 Health and Retirement Study were analyzed using logistic and mixed-effects logistic regression models.

RESULTS: Based on logistic regression, number of household members (OR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.52), depressive symptoms score (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.42) and number of cardiometabolic risk factors or chronic conditions ("1-2" vs "0") (OR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.67) were significant predictors of self-reported Covid-19 history. Based on mixed-effects logistic regression, several statistically significant predictors of Covid-19 history were identified, including female sex (OR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.57, 5.96), other race (OR = 5.85, 95% CI: 2.37, 14.43), Hispanic ethnicity (OR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.15, 6.17), number of household members (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.42), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (1-4 times per month vs never) (OR = 0.38, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.78) and number of cardiometabolic risk factors or chronic conditions ("1-2" vs "0") (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.60).

CONCLUSIONS: Number of household members, depressive symptoms and number of cardiometabolic risk factors or chronic conditions may be key predictors for self-reported Covid-19 history among U.S. older adults. In-depth analyses are needed to confirm preliminary findings.

%B American Journal of Infection Control %V 50 %P 482-490 %G eng %N 5 %R 10.1016/j.ajic.2022.02.021 %0 Journal Article %J Biodemography and Social Biology %D 2022 %T Socioeconomic status and immune aging in older US adults in the health and retirement study. %A Klopack, Eric T %A Bharat Thyagarajan %A Jessica Faul %A Meier, Helen C S %A Ramasubramanian, Ramya %A Jung K Kim %A Crimmins, Eileen M %K Child %K Educational Status %K ethnicity %K Hispanic or Latino %K Retirement %K Social Class %X

Socioeconomic and demographic factors including educational attainment, race and ethnicity, and childhood socioeconomic status (SES) are powerful predictors of inequalities in aging, morbidity, and mortality. Immune aging, including accumulation of late-differentiated, senescent-like lymphocytes and lower levels of naïve lymphocytes, may play a role in the development of the age-related health inequalities. This study used nationally representative data from more than 9,000 US adults from the Health and Retirement Study to investigate associations between educational attainment, race and ethnicity, and childhood SES and lymphocyte percentages. Respondents with lower educational attainment, Hispanic adults, and those who had a parent with less than a high school education had lymphocyte percentages consistent with more immune aging compared to those with greater educational attainment, non-Hispanic White adults, and respondents who had parents with a high school education, respectively. Associations between education, Hispanic ethnicity, and parents' education and late differentiated senescent-like T lymphocytes (TemRA) and B cells were largely driven by cytomegalovirus (CMV), suggesting it is a factor in observed SES inequalities in immunosenescence. Naïve T lymphocytes may be particularly affected by socioeconomic position and may therefore be of particular interest to research interested in inequalities in health and aging.

%B Biodemography and Social Biology %V 67 %P 187-202 %G eng %N 3-4 %R 10.1080/19485565.2022.2149465 %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T Spenders Vs. Savers: How To Determine Your Retirement Spending Personality %A T. Rowe Price %K Retirement %K Saving %K Spending %I Forbes %G eng %U https://www.forbes.com/sites/t-rowe-price/2022/11/21/spenders-vs-savers-how-to-determine-your-retirement-spending-personality/?sh=2c2df4362bb2 %0 Report %D 2022 %T Spending Trajectories After Age 65 %A Michael D Hurd %A Rohwedder, Susann %K health care cost %K Households %K Personal finance %K Retirement %K retirement benefits %K socioeconomic status %X There is a large body of work concerned with the importance of saving for retirement and with developing tools to facilitate and support the accumulation of retirement wealth. Much less attention has been paid to the decumulation phase—that is, the spending down of wealth following retirement. Understanding the decumulation phase requires information about the spending patterns of older households and how those patterns evolve with age. The RAND Corporation has conducted extensive research on spending trajectories of older households. Building on this prior work, the authors provide statistics on household spending and its composition based on longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study. They present estimates of the trajectories of spending after age 65 among single and coupled households stratified by wealth holdings observed at or closely following age 65. According to the results, real spending declined for both single and coupled households. The rates of decline varied only modestly across initial wealth quartiles. The fact that spending declines broadly, even among those in the highest wealth quartile, suggests that the decline is not related to economic position. The authors discuss how the estimated trajectories can help with the prediction of households' spending needs at older ages. %B Research Reports %I RAND Corporation %C Santa Monica, CA %G eng %R 10.7249/RRA2355-1 %0 Report %D 2022 %T Spending Trajectories After Age 65: Variation by Initial Wealth %A Michael D Hurd %A Susann Rohwedder %K Retirement %K Savings %K Spending %X There is a large body of work concerned with the importance of saving for retirement and with developing tools to facilitate and support the accumulation of retirement wealth. Much less attention has been paid to the decumulation phase—that is, the spending down of wealth following retirement. Understanding the decumulation phase requires information about the spending patterns of older households and how those patterns evolve with age. The RAND Corporation has conducted extensive research on spending trajectories of older households. Building on this prior work, the authors provide statistics on household spending and its composition based on longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study. They present estimates of the trajectories of spending after age 65 among single and coupled households stratified by wealth holdings observed at or closely following age 65. According to the results, real spending declined for both single and coupled households. The rates of decline varied only modestly across initial wealth quartiles. The fact that spending declines broadly, even among those in the highest wealth quartile, suggests that the decline is not related to economic position. The authors discuss how the estimated trajectories can help with the prediction of households' spending needs at older ages. %B Research Reports %I RAND Corporation %C Santa Monica, CA %G eng %R 10.7249/RRA2355-1 %0 Thesis %D 2022 %T Three Essays Examining the Financial Well-being of Older Americans %A Olajide, Lamide %K financial satisfaction %K Financial well-being %K Personality Traits %K Retirement %X This dissertation explored the subjective and objective financial well-being of older Americans using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). The first essay examines the impact of retirement on financial satisfaction. This study finds that retiring (a change from active work life to retirement) is negatively associated with financial satisfaction. However, results show that going back to the workforce from 2008 to 2012 is negatively related to being financially satisfied. The second essay uses 2008, 2012, and 2016 waves of the HRS through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to investigate if financial self-efficacy mediates the relationship between emotions and financial satisfaction and if this differs for retirees and pre-retirees. Results show that negative emotions predict financial satisfaction negatively through financial self-efficacy for retirees. However, for the pre-retirees, no statistically significant mediation relationship is found. Finally, the third essay explores the role of personality traits in explaining the disparity between perception and reality of the financial situation. Findings from this study show that conscientious and extroverted individuals perceive their financial situation o be higher than it is objectively. Conversely, individuals who exhibit traits relating to neuroticism, openness to experience, and agreeableness think their financial situation is worse than it is objectively. These findings have implications for individuals, households, and financial professionals while working with clients. %I Texas Tech University %C Lubbock, TX %G eng %U https://hdl.handle.net/2346/89474 %0 Journal Article %J International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health %D 2022 %T Toxic Psychosocial Stress, Resiliency Resources and Time to Dementia Diagnosis in a Nationally Representative Sample of Older Americans in the Health and Retirement Study from 2006-2016. %A Allan K Nkwata %A Zhang, Ming %A Song, Xiao %A Bruno J Giordani %A Amara E. Ezeamama %K African Americans %K Dementia %K Psychological %K Retirement %K Stress %K Whites %X

BACKGROUND: Toxic stress (TS), resiliency-promoting factors (RPFs) and their interactions were investigated in relationship to incident dementia in a nationally representative sample ( = 6516) of American adults ≥50 years enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study between 2006 and 2016.

METHODS: TS included experiences of everyday discrimination and RPF included personal mastery. Race/ethnicity was self-reported as African American, Caucasian, or Other. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models estimated TS-, RPF- and race-associated hazard ratios (HR) for dementia diagnosis and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with adjustment for comorbidity, lifestyle, and socio-demographic confounders.

RESULTS: Discrimination-associated risk of dementia diagnosis on average increased with education level [discrimination x education, = 0.032; HR = 1.75 (95% CI: 1.01-3.03) if < high school, HR = 5.67 (95% CI: 2.94-10.94) if high school completed and HR = 2.48 (95% CI: 1.53-4.00) if ≥some college education]. Likewise, African American vs. Caucasian race disparity in new-onset dementia was evident (HR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.42-3.17) among adults with high-mastery while absent (HR = 1.35, 95% CI: 0.75-2.41) among adults with low mastery (Mastery x Race, = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: TS is a contextual driver of incident dementia that seemingly operates in a race and RPF-dependent fashion among American adults. Association pattern suggests that TS may overwhelm the cognitive reserve benefit of RPF particularly in status-inconsistent contexts including persons subjected to discrimination despite high education and persons of African American descent despite high mastery. Policies that reduce discrimination and promote equitable treatment by race/ethnicity may support cognitive resiliency and reduce the risk of dementia diagnosis in adult Americans.

%B International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health %V 19 %P 2419 %G eng %N 4 %R 10.3390/ijerph19042419 %0 Journal Article %J PNAS %D 2022 %T Trends in inequalities in the prevalence of dementia in the United States. %A Hudomiet, Péter %A Michael D Hurd %A Rohwedder, Susann %K Dementia %K Educational Status %K ethnicity %K Prevalence %K Retirement %X

This paper presents estimates of the prevalence of dementia in the United States from 2000 to 2016 by age, sex, race and ethnicity, education, and a measure of lifetime earnings, using data on 21,442 individuals aged 65 y and older and 97,629 person-year observations from a nationally representative survey, the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). The survey includes a range of cognitive tests, and a subsample underwent clinical assessment for dementia. We developed a longitudinal, latent-variable model of cognitive status, which we estimated using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. This model provides more accurate estimates of dementia prevalence in population subgroups than do previously used methods on the HRS. The age-adjusted prevalence of dementia decreased from 12.2% in 2000 (95% CI, 11.7 to 12.7%) to 8.5% in 2016 (7.9 to 9.1%) in the 65+ population, a statistically significant decline of 3.7 percentage points or 30.1%. Females are more likely to live with dementia, but the sex difference has narrowed. In the male subsample, we found a reduction in inequalities across education, earnings, and racial and ethnic groups; among females, those inequalities also declined, but less strongly. We observed a substantial increase in the level of education between 2000 and 2016 in the sample. This compositional change can explain, in a statistical sense, about 40% of the reduction in dementia prevalence among men and 20% among women, whereas compositional changes in the older population by age, race and ethnicity, and cardiovascular risk factors mattered less.

%B PNAS %V 119 %P e2212205119 %G eng %N 46 %R 10.1073/pnas.2212205119 %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T Underestimating Longevity Risk %A McCarthy, Ed %K Life Expectancy %K longevity risk %K Retirement %I planadviser %G eng %U https://www.planadviser.com/exclusives/decumulation-is-personal/ %0 Journal Article %J The Journals of Gerontology, Series B %D 2022 %T Unmet Expectations About Work at Age 62 and Depressive Symptoms. %A Leah R. Abrams %A Philippa J Clarke %A Neil K Mehta %K depression %K Expectations %K Mental Health %K Retirement %X

OBJECTIVES: Exiting the labor force earlier or later than planned is common, with predictable economic consequences. However, the mental health ramifications of such off-time events are not known but are important to promoting well-being in retirement.

METHODS: Using the Health and Retirement Study (1992-2016), we created six groups based on the alignment of expectations about full-time work at age 62 (reported at ages 51-61) with realized labor force status after reaching age 62 (N=10,421). Negative binomial models estimated the adjusted association between unmet expectations about work and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS: Unexpectedly not working was associated with higher depressive symptoms than working as expected after adjusting for sociodemographic, economic, and health factors at the time of expectations (IRR=1.35, 95% CI:1.17, 1.56). Additionally adjusting for health declines and marriage dissolution between expectations and age 62 partially attenuated the association, but unexpectedly not working remained significantly associated with a 1.16 increase in the incidence rate of depressive symptoms. Unexpectedly working at 62 was not associated with depressive symptoms. Race/ethnicity interacted with expectation alignment (F(15,42)=2.44, p=0.0118) in that Hispanic respondents experienced an increase in depressive symptoms when working after unmet and unsure expectations compared to met expectations, whereas white respondents did not.

DISCUSSION: Unlike working longer than expected, unexpectedly not working at 62 was associated with depressive symptoms, even after accounting for health declines. Public and employer policies should assist workers in remaining in the labor force as long as planned and offer mental health supports for unexpected work exits.

%B The Journals of Gerontology, Series B %V 77 %P 615-625 %G eng %N 3 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbab113 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization %D 2022 %T The welfare cost of late-life depression %A Ray Miller %A Sayorn Chin %A Ashish Kumar Sedai %K consumption %K Cost-utility analysis %K depression %K Mental Health %K Retirement %X We quantify the welfare cost of depression among older Americans by estimating a panel VAR model of mental and physical health, labor supply, and consumption using data from the Health and Retirement Study. We use the estimated model and age sixty joint distribution of outcomes to simulate life-cycle paths with and without prevalence of depressive symptoms after age sixty. We estimate that the prevalence of late-life depressive symptoms costs an average of between 0.85 and 2.1 years in quality-adjusted life expectancy per person. Moreover, depression may result in an average loss of labor supply of up to 1.1 months and lifetime consumption of up to $16,000. Combining into a single compensating variation welfare metric, we estimate a bound on the average welfare cost of depression of 8–15% of annual consumption after age sixty. On aggregate, this amounts to roughly $180–360 billion annually. We also project that while the average welfare cost of late-life depression is declining slightly over birth cohorts, the welfare burden is becoming significantly more unequal. %B Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization %V 204 %P 15-36 %G eng %R 10.1016/j.jebo.2022.10.001 %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T What happens when the kids leave home? %K consumption %K financial plan %K Retirement %K Spending %B Retirement Weekly %I MarketWatch %G eng %U https://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-happens-when-the-kids-leave-home-11648229013 %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T When saving for retirement, seniors overestimate market volatility and underestimate life expectancy %A Paul, Trina %K Life Expectancy %K Retirement %K Saving %I CNBC %G eng %U https://www.cnbc.com/select/seniors-overestimate-market-volatility-when-saving-for-retirement/ %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T Why You Might Spend Less On Travel In Retirement Than You Thought %A Ledsom, Alex %K Retirement %K Spending %K Travel %I Forbes %G eng %U https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2022/10/30/why-you-might-spend-less-on-travel-in-retirement-than-you-thought/?sh=1d6c28e92c9e %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T Why You Should Keep Working After Retirement %A Lankford, Kimberly %K Retirement %K Savings %K Sense of purpose %K working %I AARP %G eng %U https://www.aarp.org/work/careers/working-after-retirement/?intcmp=AE-HP-TTN-R2-POS2-REALPOSS-TODAY %0 Web Page %D 2022 %T Without pensions, future retirees face financial trouble. Where’s Washington? %A Helaine Olen %K Pensions %K Retirement %I The Washington Post %G eng %U https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/07/26/retirement-savings-without-pension-trouble/ %0 Report %D 2022 %T Work and Retirement of Older Black and Hispanic Adults %A Emma Aguila %A Zeewan Lee %K adults %K black %K Hispanic %K Older %K Retirement %K Work %X Growing U.S. income inequality and the aging of Black and Hispanic populations point to greater risks of financial insecurity for older populations in coming years. Research on retirement determinants for Blacks and Hispanics is limited. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, we analyze retirement determinants for Blacks and Hispanics. We link this data to the Working Trajectories file and restricted SSA individual-level files to determine Social Security wealth by race and ethnic origin. Using sociodemographic, health, and economic covariates, we construct a conditional probit model that identifies the probability a given individual will retire from the workforce over time. We find that Hispanics, Blacks, and non-Hispanic whites respond similarly to Social Security, private pension incentives, and other institutional (e.g., health insurance) influences on retirement. In their retirement decisions, non-Hispanic Blacks are not responsive to some sociodemographic characteristics (male, couple, and number of household members), but they are responsive to physical and mental health problems. Hispanics are less responsive than non-Hispanic whites to most sociodemographic characteristics (male, education, and couple) and mental health problems in their retirement decisions. Our findings for non-Hispanic whites are consistent with previous literature. Our research can inform programs and policies to improve the quality of life for older adults, especially those isolated by cultural, economic, educational, or other barriers. %I Michigan Retirement and Disability Research Center, University of Michigan %C Ann Arbor, Michigan %G eng %U https://mrdrc.isr.umich.edu/publications/papers/pdf/wp452.pdf %0 Journal Article %J Research on Aging %D 2022 %T Would It Kill You to Retire? Testing Short/Long Term/Recurrent Effects of Retirement on All-Cause Mortality Risk. %A Oi, Katsuya %K health %K mortality risk %K Retirement %X

This study traced all-cause mortality risk over the course of retirement and tested whether re-retirement impacts mortality risk differently than the first time. The study differentiated retirement on whether prompted by health (health retirement) or not (non-health retirement). Based on data from 1992 to 2016 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), the sample consists of 7747 women and 7958 men who were working at the baseline. Adjusting for physical health before/after retirement, the discrete-time logit model found increased mortality risk within the first year of non-health retirement only for men, regardless of physical health changes. Re-retirement did not raise mortality risk further. Furthermore, health retirement increased mortality for men and women but substantially less after their surviving the first year. The findings urge future study to explore non-physical pathways of an immediate mortality increase for men in retirement, as well as the monitoring of population trends in health retirement and its antecedents.

%B Research on Aging %V 44 %P 619-638 %G eng %N 7-8 %R 10.1177/01640275211068151 %0 Web Page %D 2021 %T The best reason of all to postpone retirement %A Hulbert, Mark %K Cognitive decline %K Retirement %X Working longer can postpone cognitive decline %B Retirement Weekly %I MarketWatch %G eng %U https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-best-reason-of-all-to-postpone-retirement-11638548181?rss=1&siteid=rss %0 Web Page %D 2021 %T Boomers Face This Risk in Retirement: Here’s How To Avoid It %A Villanova, Patrick %K Baby Boomers %K Pensions %K Retirement %X Baby boomers seem to be overestimating how long their retirement savings will last — or maybe underestimating how long they’ll live. New research from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College found that Boomers may be drawing down their retirement wealth faster than previous generations, because they lack the widespread access to pensions that older generations enjoyed. Using data from the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study, CRR researchers determined the more annuitized resources retirees have at their disposal, the slower they draw down their wealth. A financial advisor can help you calculate how much retirement savings and income you’ll need once you stop working. %B Finance %I Yahoo! %G eng %U https://finance.yahoo.com/news/boomers-face-risk-retirement-avoid-204937633.html %0 Report %D 2021 %T Can the Drawdown Patterns of Earlier Cohorts Help Predict Boomers’ Behavior? %A Siliciano, Robert L. %A Gal Wettstein %K defined benefit plan %K defined contribution plan %K Retirement %X Past generations drew down their wealth slowly in retirement, leaving much of their savings untouched. However, this pattern may not hold as the Baby Boomer generation retires, because they are less likely to have a defined benefit (DB) plan and will need to tap the assets in their defined contribution (DC) plans to support their consumption. This paper uses data from the Health and Retirement Study to estimate the relationship between access to DB plans and the speed at which past generations drew down their wealth. %B Working Paper %I Center for Retirement Research at Boston College %C Newton, MA %G eng %U https://crr.bc.edu/working-papers/can-the-drawdown-patterns-of-earlier-cohorts-help-predict-boomers-behavior/ %0 Journal Article %J The Journal of Gerontology: Series B %D 2021 %T Changes in Health Care Access and Utilization for Low-SES Adults Age 51-64 after Medicaid Expansion. %A Tipirneni, Renuka %A Helen G Levy %A Kenneth M. Langa %A Ryan J McCammon %A Zivin, Kara %A Jamie E Luster %A Karmakar, Monita %A John Z. Ayanian %K Affordable Care Act %K Hospitalization %K Medicaid %K Retirement %X

OBJECTIVES: Whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance expansions improved access to care and health for adults age 51-64 has not been closely examined. This study examined longitudinal changes in access, utilization, and health for low-socioeconomic status adults age 51-64 before and after the ACA Medicaid expansion.

METHODS: Longitudinal difference-in-differences (DID) study before (2010-2014) and after (2016) Medicaid expansion, including N=2,088 noninstitutionalized low-education adults age 51-64 (N=633 in Medicaid expansion states, N=1,455 in non-expansion states) from the nationally representative biennial Health and Retirement Study. Outcomes included coverage (any, Medicaid, private), access (usual source of care, difficulty finding doctor, foregone care, cost-related medication nonadherence, out-of-pocket costs), utilization (outpatient visit, hospitalization), and health status.

RESULTS: Low-education adults age 51-64 had increased rates of Medicaid coverage (+10.6 percentage points [pp] in expansion states, +3.2 pp in non-expansion states, DID +7.4 pp, p=0.001) and increased likelihood of hospitalizations (+9.2 pp in expansion states, -1.1 pp in non-expansion states, DID +10.4 pp, p=0.003) in Medicaid expansion compared with non-expansion states after 2014. Those in expansion states also had a smaller increase in limitations in paid work/housework over time, compared to those in non-expansion states (+3.6 pp in expansion states, +11.0 pp in non-expansion states, DID -7.5 pp, p=0.006). There were no other significant differences in access, utilization or health trends between expansion and non-expansion states.

DISCUSSION: After Medicaid expansion, low-education status adults age 51-64 were more likely to be hospitalized, suggesting poor baseline access to chronic disease management and pent-up demand for hospital services.

%B The Journal of Gerontology: Series B %V 76 %P 1218-1230 %G eng %N 6 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbaa123 %0 Report %D 2021 %T The Changing Picture of Who Claims Social Security Early %A Philip Armour %A Knapp, David %K claims %K Retirement %K Social Security %X The authors identify the demographic, employment, and economic characteristics associated with those who claim at the EEA and relate these characteristics to people who claim after it. %B Research Report %I AARP Public Policy Institute %C Washington, D.C. %G eng %R 10.26419/ppi.00133.001 %0 Journal Article %J International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health %D 2021 %T Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Association between Neighborhood Environment and Perceived Control in Older Adults: Findings from HRS. %A Lee, Sunwoo %K Residence Characteristics %K Retirement %K Social capital %X

The current study examined how neighborhood environments are related to older adults' perceived control over time. A longitudinal study design was employed using data sampled from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 2014 and 2018. In total, 3170 older adults, whose age ranged between 60 and 99 years at the baseline, were followed up with a 4-year lag. Measures included two domains of neighborhood characteristics: social cohesion and physical disorder (at baseline and follow-up) and perceived control (at follow-up). Path coefficients between the latent factors were examined using structural equation modeling. Results showed that there was a significant cross-sectional and longitudinal association between neighborhood social cohesion and older adults' perceived control, while neighborhood physical disorder was cross-sectionally associated with perceived control. Study findings provide evidence for promoting social integration and social capital in their neighborhood that might contribute to older adults' perceived competence and beliefs in control.

%B International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health %V 18 %P 11344 %G eng %N 21 %R 10.3390/ijerph182111344 %0 Report %D 2021 %T Decoding Retiree Spending %A Sudipto Banerjee %K Retirement %K Spending %X KEY INSIGHTS ■ Income replacement strategies often assume inflation-adjusted spending in retirement is flat; however, the data reveals that retiree spending declines annually by 2%, and it varies by wealth. ■ Retirees typically choose to adjust their nondiscretionary spending (often considered fixed spending) to match their guaranteed income, challenging the notion that these expenses are truly fixed. ■ Retiree spending behavior reveals a preference for asset preservation. Aligning products and services that account for this will hasten adoption of retirement income solutions. %B T. Rowe Price Insights %I T. Rowe Price %C Baltimore, MD %G eng %U https://www.troweprice.com/content/dam/retirement-plan-services/pdfs/insights/research-findings/Decoding_Retiree_Spending.pdf %0 Journal Article %J SSM - Population Health %D 2021 %T Does postponing retirement affect cognitive function? A counterfactual experiment to disentangle life course risk factors %A Jo Mhairi Hale %A Maarten J. Bijlsma %A Angelo Lorenti %K Causal inference %K cognitive function %K Labor force participation %K life course %K Retirement %X Evidence suggests that contemporaneous labor force participation affects cognitive function; however, it is unclear whether it is employment itself or endogenous factors related to individuals’ likelihood of employment that protects against cognitive decline. We exploit innovations in counterfactual causal inference to disentangle the effect of postponing retirement on later-life cognitive function from the effects of other life-course factors. With the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (1996–2014, n = 20,469), we use the parametric g-formula to estimate the effect of postponing retirement to age 67. We also study whether the benefit of postponing retirement is affected by gender, education, and/or occupation, and whether retirement affects cognitive function through depressive symptoms or comorbidities. We find that postponing retirement is protective against cognitive decline, accounting for other life-course factors (population: 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.20,0.47; individual: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.26,0.60). The extent of the protective effect depends on subgroup, with the highest educated experiencing the greatest mitigation of cognitive decline (individual: 50%, 95% CI: 32%,71%). By using innovative models that better reflect the empirical reality of interconnected life-course processes, this work makes progress in understanding how retirement affects cognitive function. %B SSM - Population Health %V 15 %P 100855 %@ 2352-8273 %G eng %R 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100855 %0 Report %D 2021 %T Does the ACA Medicaid Expansion Encourage Early Retirement? %A Sezen Ozcan Onal %K Affordable Care Act %K Labor force participation %K Medicaid %K Retirement %X In this study, I examine the effect of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion on the retirement plans of low-educated, childless adults, aged 50-64. I employ a triple-differences (DDD) methodology, exploiting variation in individuals’ health insurance status and the timing of the expansion decisions of states. I find that with Medicaid expansion, insured workers without retirement health insurance (RHI) prior to the expansion decreased full-time work by 7.8 percentage points relative to those with RHI and those without any employer-sponsored coverage whatsoever. Among those no longer working full-time, 94 percent transitioned to complete retirement. %I University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee %C Milwaukee, WI %G eng %U https://uwm.edu/economics/wp-content/uploads/sites/205/2021/08/Ozcan_Onal.pdf %0 Journal Article %J Stroke %D 2021 %T Dose-Response Relationship Between Long-Term Blood Pressure Variability and Cognitive Decline. %A Li, Chenglong %A Ma, Yanjun %A Hua, Rong %A Yang, Zhenchun %A Zhong, Baoliang %A Wang, Hongyu %A Xie, Wuxiang %K Blood pressure %K Cognitive decline %K ELSA %K Hypertension %K Retirement %X

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We aimed to test whether higher long-term blood pressure variability was associated with accelerated rate of cognitive decline and evaluate potential dose-response relationship.

METHODS: Original survey data from the Health and Retirement Study and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing were used. Standardized score of cognitive function was the main outcome measure. Visit-to-visit blood pressure SD, coefficient of variation, and variation independent of mean were used. Linear mixed model and restricted spline were applied to assess association and explore dose-response pattern. Segmented regression was used to analyze dose-response relationship and estimate turning point. Meta-analysis using random-effects model was conducted to pool results, with used to test heterogeneity.

RESULTS: A total of 12 298 dementia-free participants were included (mean age: 64.6±8.6 years). Significant association was observed between blood pressure variability and cognitive decline. Each 10% increment in coefficient of variation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure was associated with accelerated global cognitive decline of 0.026 SD/y (95% CI, 0.016-0.036, 0.001) and 0.022 SD/y (95% CI, 0.017-0.027, 0.001), respectively. Nonlinear dose-response relationship was found (0.001 for nonlinearity), with clear turning point observed (0.001 for change in slopes).

CONCLUSIONS: Higher long-term blood pressure variability was associated with accelerated cognitive decline among general adults aged ≥50 years, with nonlinear dose-response relationship. Further randomized controlled trials are warranted to evaluate potential benefits of blood pressure variability-lowering strategies from a cognitive health perspective.

%B Stroke %V 52 %P 3249–3257 %G eng %N 10 %R 10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.033697 %0 Conference Paper %B Retirement and Disability Research Consortium 23rd Annual Meeting %D 2021 %T Economic Security in Retirement: Does Borrowing from Home Equity Moderate the Impact of a Health Shock on Health Outcomes? %A Stephanie Moulton %A Joseph, Joshua %A Cäzilia Loibl %A Donald Haurin %K health shock %K Home equity %K Retirement %X Health shocks pose a significant risk to economic security in retirement. About 35 percent of older adults are diagnosed with a major disease by age 65, rising to 65 percent by age 90 (Poterba et al. 2018). These health shocks are costly. While the majority of older adults receive Medicare, nearly 20 percent of health expenditures are paid out of pocket (DeNardi et al. 2016). Older adults often self-insure against these risks by accumulating wealth, including home equity. In this study, we ask: To what extent does home equity mitigate the economic burden created by a health shock, ultimately leading to better health outcomes? In contrast to a life cycle model, older adults tend to only spend down home equity following an expense shock (Davidoff, 2010; Nakajima & Telyukova, 2019; Poterba & Venti, 2017a). Several recent studies document a decline in home equity after a health shock (Gilligan et al. 2018; Gupta et al. 2018; Poterba et al. 2018), with home equity being second only to formal health insurance for financing health related consumption after a health shock in older age (Dalton and LaFave 2017). These studies do not identify the extent to which liquidating home equity improves the older household’s health following a shock. An existing body of literature estimates the causal relationship between housing wealth and health outcomes generally, not limited to individuals with a health shock (Angrisani and Lee 2016; Costa-Font et al. 2019; Fichera & Gathergood 2016; Hamoudi and Dowd 2013; 2014). Similar to our approach, these studies rely on geographic and intertemporal variations in house prices to isolate the exogenous component of housing wealth, either through reduced form specifications that directly model the relationship between changes in house values or house prices on health outcomes (Angrisani and Lee 2016; Fichera & Gathergood 2016; Hamoudi and Dowd 2013; 2014) or by using geographic changes in house prices as an instrument for housing wealth (Costa-Font et al. 2019). While these papers tend to find a positive relationship between increases in housing wealth and health outcomes, they do not model the mechanisms through which this occurs—which is critical to inform policy. We expect that it is not simply the stock of home equity held by older adults that leads to better health outcomes, but the liquidation of home equity through borrowing following a health shock that leads to improved health outcomes. %B Retirement and Disability Research Consortium 23rd Annual Meeting %I Center for Financial Security, University of Wisconsin-Madison %C Virtual Event %8 08/2021 %G eng %U https://cfsrdrc.wisc.edu/files/2021-RDRC-Meeting-Booklet.pdf#page=7 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics %D 2021 %T Geographic Heterogeneity in Housing Market Risk and Portfolio Choice %A Tong Yob Nam %K Geographic heterogeneity %K Housing market risk %K Labor income risk %K Portfolio choice %K Retirement %X The U.S. housing market is heterogeneous in that house price dynamics vary greatly across regions. Depending on the location of the main residence, households are exposed to completely different housing market risk. This paper examines how geographic heterogeneity in housing market risk affects household portfolio allocations. Housing supply elasticity largely explains variation in housing market risk across regions. Where housing supply elasticity is low, households face higher housing market risk since house price growth rates are more volatile and more positively correlated with stock returns and labor income growth rates. Using the restricted version of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data with detailed geographic information, I find that households in areas with low housing supply elasticity tend to hold less stock in their portfolios. This tendency, however, weakens after retirement when labor income risk disappears. %B Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics %V 62 %P 508-547 %G eng %N 4 %R 10.1007/s11146-020-09762-9 %0 Report %D 2021 %T Heterogeneity in Self-Employment and the Transition to Retirement among Older Adults in the United States %A Abramowitz, Joelle %K Retirement %K Self-employment %X The fraction of workers who are self-employed increases with age, but the types of self-employment that older workers do and the effects of this work on their well-being is not well understood. This project examines such heterogeneity by considering how differing investment and managerial responsibilities in self-employment contribute to disparities in characteristics and measures of economic, physical, and mental well-being. The paper first uses internal narrative descriptions of industry and occupation in the 1994 to 2018 Health and Retirement Study and machine learning methods to classify self-employment reports into a useful framework of self-employment roles. The project then uses these roles to examine self-employment heterogeneity and finds substantial differences in demographic characteristics, work characteristics, income, benefits, quality of life, and retirement expectations across self-employment roles. Further work finds distinctive patterns in role changes with the transition to retirement such that large shares of workers in all roles transition into independent self-employment at the time of retirement. Work linking to administrative records suggests substantial discrepancies, which vary across roles, between survey responses and administrative records and finds the most prominent discrepancies for post-retirement independent self-employment. The paper’s findings motivate future research exploring the work trajectories leading to these roles and their consequences on financial, physical, and mental well-being into retirement. %B MRDRC Working Paper %I Michigan Retirement and Disability Research Center, University of Michigan %C Ann Arbor, MI %G eng %U https://mrdrc.isr.umich.edu/pubs/heterogeneity-in-self-employment-and-the-transition-to-retirement-among-older-adults-in-the-united-states/ %0 Thesis %B Economics %D 2021 %T HETEROGENEOUS AND UNCERTAIN HEALTH DYNAMICS AND WORKING DECISIONS OF OLDER ADULTS %A Angela Denis Pagliero %K beliefs %K health dynamics %K Retirement %K uncertainty %X As the population ages, governments and international organizations are trying to lengthen the labor-force participation of older adults. For older adults, health is an important determinant of working decisions. In this paper, I introduce heterogeneity in health dynamics with age and argue uncertainty about health dynamics affects the working decisions of older adults. Using the Health and Retirement Study, I first show evidence of heterogeneity in health profiles with age. Second, I use subjective survival expectations to infer health beliefs in a Bayesian-learning framework. Third, I flexibly estimate how working decisions depend on those beliefs, using a neural-network approach that does not require additional structure. The results show beliefs have substantial negative bias. That is, on average, individuals incorrectly believe their health will deteriorate too fast. Furthermore, eliminating that bias would increase labor-force participation by up to 2 percentage points. In the last part of the paper, I look at a policy that could affect beliefs: the provision of information on blood-glucose and cholesterol levels. I take advantage of the randomization in the collection and provision of such information. The results show the information has only small effects on beliefs and working decisions, and consequently, policies with larger effects on beliefs are needed to delay retirement. %B Economics %I The University of Chicago %C Chicago, IL %V Ph.D. %G eng %U https://knowledge.uchicago.edu/record/2999 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Public Economics %D 2021 %T Housing liquidity and long-term care insurance demand: A quantitative evaluation %A Achou, Bertrand %K Housing %K Insurance %K Life-cycle %K Liquidity %K Long-term Care %K Retirement %X In theory, illiquid housing may substitute for long-term care insurance (LTCI) as retirees decumulate housing wealth mainly when moving to long-term care facilities. In this paper, I build and estimate a rich life-cycle model of single retirees in order to evaluate whether the impact of housing liquidity on LTCI demand is large. Overall, I find that the prospects of increasing LTCI demand by making housing more liquid are quite limited, as even large increases in housing liquidity generate modest increases in LTCI demand. I also find a limited impact of housing liquidity on the demand for life annuities. Finally, I show that the types of bequest motives used to rationalize the low take-up of reverse mortgages are generally inconsistent with the low demand for LTCI, suggesting that other factors may play a role in this low take-up of reverse mortgages. %B Journal of Public Economics %V 194 %P 104353 %@ 0047-2727 %G eng %R https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2020.104353 %0 Report %D 2021 %T Marital Transitions, Housing, and Long-Term Care in Old Age %A Chang, Minsu %A Ko, Ami %K Couples %K Housing %K Retirement %X Retired couples dissave housing wealth at a much slower rate than singles, conditional on income. This paper studies mechanisms through which marital transitions affect housing decisions of retirees. We develop and estimate a life-cycle savings model where marital transitions affect long-term care arrangements, bequest motives, and eligibility for means-tested welfare programs. We find that the key driver behind the stark difference in dissaving of housing wealth between retired couples and singles varies substantially by income. For low-income households, how means-tested public insurance treats housing has the most impact on their housing decisions. For middle- and highincome households, family caregiving and bequest motives are the dominant driver, respectively. Our counterfactual policy experiments show that the current structure of the Medicaid estate recovery program which exempts housing wealth only for couples is more desirable than alternative rules, such as extending the homestead exemption to singles or providing the exemption to singles only. By inducing lower-income couples to decumulate housing wealth at a slower rate, the current Medicaid program reduces impoverishment risk in retirement. %G eng %U http://www.ko-ami.com/uploads/1/0/5/9/105963965/chang_ko_march2021.pdf %0 Journal Article %J The Journal of Retirement %D 2021 %T Measuring Racial/Ethnic Retirement Wealth Inequality %A Wenliang Hou %A Geoffrey T. Sanzenbacher %K Retirement %K Social Security %K Wealth management %X As the US population becomes more diverse, it will be increasingly important for policymakers addressing Social Security’s solvency to understand how reliant various racial and ethnic groups will be on the program versus other sources of retirement wealth. Yet, to date, studies on retirement wealth have tended not to focus on race and ethnicity, have largely ignored the role of Social Security, or have excluded the most recent cohort approaching retirement—the Late Boomers. This project uses data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to document the retirement resources of White, Black, and Hispanic households at various points in the wealth distribution for five HRS cohorts of 51- to 56-year-olds between 1992 and 2016.TOPICS: Retirement, wealth management, social securityKey Findings▪ In 2016, the typical Black household had 46 percent of the retirement wealth of the typical White household; the typical Hispanic household had 49 percent. This inequality would be much higher but for the presence of Social Security.▪ The 1992 to 2010 HRS cohorts showed little change in retirement wealth inequality, although a decline in 51- to 56-year-old White households’ retirement wealth between 2010 and 2016 narrowed the racial and ethnic gaps in retirement wealth slightly.▪ The progressivity of Social Security, combined with lower average incomes for minority households, means that replacement rates are more equal than wealth—in 2016, the replacement rate of Black households was 82 percent of White households and Hispanic households was 95 percent. %B The Journal of Retirement %V 8 %P 12–28 %G eng %N 3 %R 10.3905/jor.2020.1.079 %0 Journal Article %J The Journal of Retirement %D 2021 %T Minding the Gap in Subjective Mortality Estimates %A David Blanchett %K legal/regulatory/public policy %K Retirement %K Wealth management %X This article explores the accuracy of subjective life expectancy estimates using data primarily from the from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Although individuals appear to some sense about their likelihood of survival (i.e., their subjective mortality), there are notable gaps in these estimates, consistent with past research. Evidence suggests that although subjective estimates may be relatively accurate, on average, and that households appear to do a relatively good job considering various objective factors (for example, health status), there are often significant errors in individual forecasts, and households do not appear to correctly consider all the relevant objective factors (such as income and smoking). Therefore, financial planners need to educate themselves on how to better model and personalize mortality assumptions into financial plans versus relying on purely subjective estimates to ensure that planning assumptions are as accurate as possible.TOPICS: Retirement, wealth management, legal/regulatory/public policyKey Findings▪ Errors in mortality forecasts can have a significant impact on a variety of household decisions, such as required savings, optimal retirement spending, etc.▪ This analysis suggests that while individuals appear to have some sense of their mortality, there can be notable errors in these estimates and that a number of attributes are not appropriately considered when forecasting mortality.▪ Given the clear gaps that exist in subjective mortality estimates, objective information should largely (or entirely) be the basis for any type of retirement period estimate in a financial plan. %B The Journal of Retirement %V 9 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.3905/jor.2021.1.093 %0 Report %D 2021 %T Occupations, Retirement, and the Value of Disability Insurance %A Lindsay Jacobs %K disability insurance %K life-cycle modeling %K Occupational choice %K Retirement %X Occupations vary greatly in physical intensity, and there are, correspondingly, many differences in later-life work disability risk, retirement patterns, and applications for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)—a national program that insures shocks to work productivity due to disability, with about 10 million current beneficiaries in the U.S. In light of its widespread coverage and large differences in utilization across occupations, this paper aims to measure the value of the SSDI program across a broad population and the extent to which it influences the major choice of occupation. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study and O*NET, I estimate a life-cycle equilibrium model of occupational choice, work, savings, and disability at older ages, and find that incorporating occupations and preference heterogeneity is an integral part of understanding work and SSDI application behavior. While SSDI coverage is nearly universal and the premiums from workers are uniform, estimates suggest that the value of the program varies greatly, from being worth 2.1 to 14.5 percent of earned income—depending on preferences and choice of occupation—though for all groups it is welfare improving. I also find that SSDI plays an important role in the choice of occupation for older workers, providing an insurance value that results in over ten percent more people choosing physically intense, blue-collar occupations at older ages. This overall effect, however, masks the underlying selection of less risk-averse individuals into blue-collar jobs, which proves to be necessary for accurately evaluating the impacts of policy on behavior. %G eng %U https://lindsayjacobs.github.io/papers/Occupations-Retirement-DI_Jacobs.pdf %0 Web Page %D 2021 %T Opinion: Retirees with annuities have more fun %A Arends, Brett %K annuities %K Retirement %K Wealth %X The reassurance that they won’t outlive their savings lets them open up their wallets and have a good time while they can, argue researchers David Blanchett and Michael Finke. Blanchett is the head of retirement research at QMA/Prudential Financial, an insurance company, and Finke is a professor and chair of economic security research at the American College of Financial Services. %B Retirement Weekly %I MarketWatch %G eng %U https://www.marketwatch.com/story/retirees-with-annuities-have-more-fun-11628192718 %0 Journal Article %J The Journal of Retirement %D 2021 %T Post-Retirement Labor and Non-Retirement Risky Asset Allocation %A Curnutt, Gary %A Sun, Qi %A Michael A. Guillemette %K legal/regulatory/public policy %K performance measurement %K Retirement %K risk management %X This article studies how post-retirement labor is related to non-retirement risky asset allocation. By using panel data from the 1992–2018 Health and Retirement Study, this article empirically finds a negative relationship over time between non-retirement risky asset allocation and post-retirement labor. Furthermore, this article explores the forced retirement risk (a type of labor income risk) for the post-retirement labor group. Descriptive findings indicate that members of the post-retirement labor group have a greater risk of being forced to retire, and the trend of forced retirement risk is inversely related to equity returns. This latter finding suggests a potential correlation between forced retirement risk and stock returns. If an individual’s human capital is at greater risk or becomes more stock-like (i.e., labor income risk correlates with stock returns), then investing in fewer risky assets would be justifiable. When both of these findings are accounted for, they corroborate the findings of this article: post-retirement labor is negatively associated with risky asset allocation. %B The Journal of Retirement %V 9 %P 112-123 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.3905/jor.2021.1.087 %0 Web Page %D 2021 %T Retiree Poverty Rates Vary Substantially by State %A Shaw, DJ %K financial stability %K Retirement %K women %B Data & Research %I planadviser %G eng %U https://www.planadviser.com/retiree-poverty-rates-vary-substantially-state/ %0 Web Page %D 2021 %T Retirees who pay the most in taxes make only $36,000 a year on average, study finds %A Asymkos, Stephanie %K Retirement %K Taxes %X Retirees who have the most money pay the most in taxes, according to a recent working paper, but they’re not necessarily rich. “Most of the tax burden is carried by the top quintile of households,” Anqi Chen, co-author and assistant director of savings research at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, told Yahoo Money. But “it's important to keep in mind that when we think about the top quintile of households — the top 20% — they're not the super wealthy.” %B Yahoo! Finance %I Yahoo! %G eng %U https://finance.yahoo.com/news/retirees-pay-the-most-in-taxes-175434021.html %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Pension Economics and Finance %D 2021 %T Retirement incentives and behavior of private and public sector workers %A Courtney Coile %A Stewart, Susan %K Pensions %K Private Sector %K Public Sector %K Retirement %K retirement incentives %X Over the past several decades, private sector workers in the USA with employed-sponsored pensions have experienced a dramatic shift from defined benefit (DB) to defined contribution plans, while this trend has been less pronounced for public sector workers. In this paper, we use data from the Health and Retirement Study to explore changes in the retirement incentives and retirement behavior of public and private sector workers over the past quarter-century. We find that both groups have become less likely to report having a DB pension or any pension. Compared to their private sector counterparts, public sector workers have a higher level of retirement wealth and a larger financial gain from continued work at older ages, and these differences by sector are growing across cohorts. Both groups respond to financial incentives in making retirement decisions. However, growing differences by sector in the gain to continued work do not appear to have translated into diverging retirement behavior, as we observe similar trends in the two groups. %B Journal of Pension Economics and Finance %V 20 %P 393-409 %@ 1474-7472 %G eng %N 3 %R 10.1017/S1474747219000416 %0 Journal Article %J The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics %D 2021 %T Retirement, Unretirement, and Housing Wealth during the Great Recession %A Zhao, Lingxiao %A Burge, Gregory %K Housing wealth %K property taxes %K Retirement %K unretirement %X This paper explores the effect of housing wealth shocks and changes in property tax liabilities on the timing of retirement and unretirement (retirement reversals). Using longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study that spans the recent boom/bust cycle in the housing market, we exploit regional variation in the amplitude of housing price movements to identify the causal effect of unexpected housing wealth shocks, mitigating endogeneity concerns. We consistently find workers delay (hasten) retirement when they experience unexpected losses (gains) in housing wealth or have increased (decreased) property tax burdens. Extensions show these factors influence retirement reversals in the expected opposite directions. Importantly, we verify these effects remain even after controlling for early retirement expectations, providing additional evidence that the wealth shocks of the recent housing market cycle were unanticipated. Finally, we explore the nuanced role of gender and marital status in this context. %B The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics %V 62 %P 342-369 %@ 1573-045X %G eng %N 3 %R 10.1007/s11146-020-09753-w %0 Journal Article %J Journal of the Society for Social Work & Research %D 2021 %T Reversing the Gains of the Civil Rights and Women’s Movements: How Housing Strain and Market Exclusion Led to Wealth Depletion During the Great Recession %A West, Stacia %A Amy Castro Baker %A Ma, Chenyi %A Elliot, Stacy %K Black women %K gender %K Intersectionality %K race %K Recession %K Retirement %K Wealth %X Objective: We use feminist standpoint theory to investigate how the intersection of identity influenced wealth loss following the Great Recession among older single adults who benefitted from the social movements and legislative gains of the 1960s and 1970s. Looking back on more than a decade of recession and recovery, this study explores how intersections of race, class, and gender produced different wealth outcomes for the early baby boomer EBB cohort. Method: A sample of older baby boomers from the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study were selected at two waves, 2004 and 2016. We used a generalized estimation equation with interaction effects to test changes in wealth over time for different race and gender groups. Results: Controlling for income and health, we found that both single Black and white women lost wealth at significantly higher rates than single white men. Poor health was associated with wealth shocks, or substantial wealth loss, for single white women, whereas the intersection of race and gender was associated with wealth loss for single Black women. Black women in this cohort ended the Great Recession with $85,000 less than their peers based on the overlapping identities of race and gender independent of health trouble. Conclusions: The policy history of women’s credit and lending access, as well as predatory targeting during the subprime lending crisis, contextualizes our findings. We discuss policy approaches to prevent future wealth erosion in households headed by Black women. %B Journal of the Society for Social Work & Research %V 12 %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1086/714544 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Financial Planning %D 2021 %T Right-Sizing Retirement: Exploring the Retirement Consumption Gap in Early Retirement %A David Blanchett %A Cormier, Warren %K consumption %K Early retirement %K Financial planning %K Investments %K Personal finance %K Retirement %K Retirement Planning %X * Research suggests some households underspend in retirement, resulting in a "retirement consumption gap." This paper explores this effect, specifically during the first 10 years of retirement, and incorporates both household assets and preretirement spending using data from the Health and Retirement Study. * Only 18 percent of households have enough wealth to cover pre-retirement consumption when they retire, which suggests most households will not be able to maintain their pre-retirement lifestyle in retirement-a finding consistent with other general estimates of the retirement readiness of Americans. * Real financial assets decline for 65 percent of households during the first 10 years of retirement, with a median real decline of 35 percent. * Real retiree spending declines for 75 percent of households during the first 10 years of retirement, with a median annual decline of approximately 2 percent per year. This suggests financial planners should consider changes in retirement spending that are less than inflation as part of a retirement plan. The percentage of households that can fund their retirement consumption increases dramatically during the first 10 years of retirement, from 18 percent to 48 percent, primarily due to reductions in spending. This suggests households "right-size" their spending early in retirement to better align with available resources. It is not clear, though, to what extent this behavior persists further into retirement (due to data limitations). Many well-funded households could increase consumption, but appear not to do so (i.e., exhibit a retirement consumption gap). Potential reasons include the desire to leave a bequest, uncertain medical expenses (especially late in retirement), uncertain life expectancy, etc. While this group is a minority of retiree households, understanding what drives this behavior is especially important to financial planners since this group tends to have the most accumulated wealth and are, therefore, more likely to seek the services of, or use, a financial planner. %B Journal of Financial Planning %V 34 %P 68-81 %@ 10403981 %G eng %N 2 %0 Journal Article %J Innovation in Aging %D 2021 %T The Role of Occupational Switching on Retirement of American Midlife Workers %A Oh, Yun taek %K midlife health %K Occupational choice %K Occupational employment %K Retirement %K Retirement and Labor Force %K Work %X An increasing number of midlife Americans are financially unprepared for retirement. This is a problem because of the increasing life expectancy that prolongs the need for financial resources. One way to resolve this problem is to postpone full retirement by having bridge jobs that provide more time to work and accumulate retirement savings. While having a bridge job means numerous labor market behavior such as working for different employers and reducing work hours and intensity, there is a limited number of studies focused specifically on how switching occupations can contribute to retirement decisions with a longer time frame. This study investigated the association between occupational switching and retirement patterns of American midlife workers aged between 50 to 59 years using the Health and Retirement Study longitudinal data from 2004 to 2016, Occupational Information Network data, and American Community Survey from 2003 to 2016. The changes in occupational demandingness before and after switching occupations were reflected by using mover design event study regression with fixed effects. In general, occupational switching is associated with later retirement until two to three years after switching occupations for both genders, yet this association varies by the directions of the change in occupational demandingness. %B Innovation in Aging %V 5 %P 984-985 %8 12 %G eng %U https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igab046.3539 %R 10.1093/geroni/igab046.3539 %0 Journal Article %J Occupational and Environmental Medicine %D 2021 %T S-207 Multidimensional employment quality, retirement trajectories and cardiometabolic health in later life in the US %A Sarah B. Andrea %A Eisenberg-Guyot, Jerzy %A Peckham, Trevor %A Vanessa M Oddo %A Hajat, Anjum %K cardiometabolic health %K employment quality %K Retirement %X Introduction The working lives of Americans have become less stable over the past several decades and older adults may be particularly vulnerable to these changes in employment quality (EQ).Objective We examined later-life multidimensional EQ and retirement trajectories of older Americans and the potential consequences worsening EQ may have for cardiometabolic health and health inequities in this population.Methods Using longitudinal data on employment stability, material rewards, workers’ rights, working-time arrangements, unionization, and interpersonal power relations from the Health and Retirement Study, we used principal component analysis to construct an EQ score. Then, we used sequence analysis to identify late-career EQ trajectories (age 50–70 years; N=11,958 respondents), overall and by race, gender, educational attainment, marital status. Finally, we estimated the association between trajectory-membership and post-sequence-analysis-period prevalence of poor cardiometabolic health.Results We identified ten EQ trajectories; the most prevalent trajectories were Minimally Attached and Wealthy (13.9%) and Good EQ to Good Retirement (13.7%), however, 42% of respondents were classified into suboptimal trajectories. Those in suboptimal trajectories were disproportionately women, Hispanic and/or Black, Indigenous and People of Color, and those with lower educational attainment. Moreover, those in suboptimal trajectories tended to report the worse cardiometabolic health. For example, the prevalence of hypertension was lowest for those in the Wealthy Business Owners trajectory and highest for Workers with Premature Mortality, followed by workers with Fair EQ and Good but Diminishing Wealth in Retirement.Conclusion EQ is inequitably distributed and may play a role in cardiometabolic health inequities in later life. %B Occupational and Environmental Medicine %V 78 %P A153–A154 %G eng %N Suppl 1 %R 10.1136/OEM-2021-EPI.420 %0 Newspaper Article %B The New York Times %D 2021 %T They Didn’t Expect to Retire Early. The Pandemic Changed Their Plans. %A Schwartz, Nelson D. %A Coral Murphy Marcos %K COVID-19 %K Early retirement %K involuntary retirement %K Retirement %X After years in which Americans worked later in life, the latest economic disruption has driven many out of the work force prematurely. %B The New York Times %C New York, New York %G eng %U https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/02/business/economy/retire-early-pandemic-social-security.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage %0 Thesis %B Economics %D 2021 %T THREE ESSAYS ON THE ECONOMICS OF THE ELDERLY %A Adelman, Alan %K Cognition %K Retirement %X The following three essays cover topics on the economics of aging. In the first paper, I estimate the effect of pre-retirement cognitive ability on retirement behavior using the Health and Retirement Study. I find that cognitive ability delays retirement by extending labor force participation past the age of 65. I also find evidence that cognitive ability increases the propensity to delay Social Security benefits. These findings suggest that cognitive ability has a protective effect on labor force attachment and delays transition into retirement. The second paper uses a novel data set from China to study how instituting a pension program can influence individual cognition. Collaborating with Plamen Nikolov, we find that introducing pension benefits has a negative effect on the cognitive functioning among the elderly. The largest effect size was on the delayed recall test, which is a significant predictor of the onset of dementia. We also find suggestive evidence that the program has a larger impact among women. This chapter shows that retirement plays a significant role in explaining cognitive decline at older ages. The third paper is a collaboration with Hwan-sik Choi. In this chapter we study the role of noncognitive ability, focusing on Conscientiousness, in wealth accumulation and its indirect effect through the health status channel. Conscientiousness is associated with an increase in total net wealth. The indirect effect through health status is positive and a substantial portion of the total effect of Conscientiousness. We explore novel instruments for health status using polygenic scores and obtain similar results to the OLS results: Conscientiousness plays an important role in wealth accumulation and a fundamental factor behind the health effect on wealth accumulation. %B Economics %I The State University of New York at Binghamton %V Ph.D. %G eng %U https://www.proquest.com/openview/a43ca4958ca58c90c118cd2334119879/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y %0 Report %D 2021 %T Underfunded Public Sector Pension Plans, Social Security Participation, and the Retirement Decisions of Public Employees %A Papke, Leslie E. %K Pension plans %K Public Sector %K Retirement %K Social Security %X This research compares the retirement choices and economic well-being of public sector employees who are covered by Social Security to those who are uncovered. I use a data set of public employees from 12 waves of the HRS that includes detailed pension wealth, personal early and normal retirement eligibility ages, detailed occupation information, and state of residence. I match these respondents to the funding status of their pension plan and to measures of state revenue capacity to estimate how personal characteristics, pension plan features, and pension plan financial risk affect their choice of retirement age, possible unretirement, and Social Security claiming. Over the period 2009 to 2012, 44 states introduced changes in state pension plans for general employees and teachers to address long-term underfunding—some states more than once. There is limited research to inform us on the relative importance of plan parameters and plan financial risk on the retirement choices and economic well-being of public sector workers—many of whom are not participating in Social Security. This work addresses this shortfall by analyzing how the structure and financial health of these plans affect participant choice of retirement age from the public sector job, subsequent work in the private sector and, if eligible, age of Social Security claiming. %B MRDRC Working Paper %I Michigan Retirement and Disability Research Center, University of Michigan %C Ann Arbor, MI %G eng %U https://mrdrc.isr.umich.edu/publications/papers/pdf/wp420.pdf %0 Report %D 2021 %T Wealth Trajectories Across Key Milestones: Longitudinal Evidence from Life-Course Transitions %A Gopi Shah Goda %A Streeter, Jialu L. %K childbirth %K Disability %K Divorce %K health shock %K Homeownership %K Marriage %K Retirement %K Wealth %K Widowhood %X Wealth varies considerably across the population and changes significantly over the lifecycle. In this paper, we trace out trajectories of wealth across several key life milestones, including marriage, homeownership, childbirth, divorce, disability, health shocks, retirement and widowhood using multiple decades of longitudinal panel data. We estimate both changes over the ten-year period before and after each milestone and assess whether those changes occur gradually or sharply after the milestone. We find evidence of significant long-run increases in wealth associated with homeownership and retirement, and significant long-run reductions in wealth associated with divorce, health shocks, and disability. In general, these changes appear to occur gradually rather than immediately after the milestone. Our results also indicate a large degree of heterogeneity across demographics, socioeconomic status and risk protection from insurance. In particular, those with lower levels of socioeconomic status and those without access to risk protection experience smaller wealth gains (or larger wealth losses) following life-course transitions. These results identify populations and life stages where individuals are most vulnerable to large reductions in wealth. %B NBER Working Paper %I National Bureau of Economic Research %C Cambridge, MA %G eng %R 10.3386/w28329 %0 Report %D 2021 %T Wealth Trajectories Across Key Milestones: Longitudinal Evidence from Life-Course Transitions %A Gopi Shah Goda %A Streeter, Jialu L. %K Disability %K Divorce %K Health Shocks %K Homeownership %K Marriage %K Retirement %K wealth trajectory %K Widowhood %X Wealth varies considerably across the population and changes significantly over the lifecycle. In this paper, we trace out trajectories of wealth across several key life milestones, including marriage, homeownership, childbirth, divorce, disability, health shocks, retirement and widowhood using multiple decades of longitudinal panel data. We estimate both changes over the ten-year period before and after each milestone and assess whether those changes occur gradually or sharply after the milestone. We find evidence of significant long-run increases in wealth associated with homeownership and retirement, and significant long-run reductions in wealth associated with divorce, health shocks, and disability. In general, these changes appear to occur gradually rather than immediately after the milestone. Our results also indicate a large degree of heterogeneity across demographics, socioeconomic status and risk protection from insurance. In particular, those with lower levels of socioeconomic status and those without access to risk protection experience smaller wealth gains (or larger wealth losses) following life-course transitions. These results identify populations and life stages where individuals are most vulnerable to large reductions in wealth. %B NBER Working Paper %I National Bureau of Economic Research %C Cambridge, MA %G eng %R 10.3386/w28329 %0 Web Page %D 2021 %T Wealthier, Healthier Households Keep Spending In Retirement, Study Says %A Rasmussen, Eric %K health %K Retirement %K Spending %K Wealth %B FA Online %I Financial Advisor %G eng %U https://www.fa-mag.com/news/wealthier-and-healthier-households-keep-spending-in-retirement-65306.html %0 Magazine Article %D 2021 %T What's Retirement Happiness? %A Jennifer Lea Reed %K investment %K Retirement %X More money doesn’t hurt, but health and relationships with peers matter just as much to retirees. If you’re looking for happiness in retirement for your clients, you can forget relationships with adult children, buying a slick car to cruise the cul-de-sac or lounging at a beach cabin in Mazatlán, Mexico. Instead, there are only three categories that lead to satisfaction—when you have enough money, when you have relationships with your peers and community, and when you have your health. These three things might seem different, but they have one critical thing in common: They all require investment before retirement. %B Financial Advisor %G eng %U https://www.fa-mag.com/news/what-s-retirement-happiness-64605.html?section=47 %0 Report %D 2021 %T Why do couples and singles save during retirement? %A Mariacristina De Nardi %A Eric French %A John Bailey Jones %A McGee, Rory %K AHEAD %K Couples %K Retirement %K Savings %K Singles %X While the savings of retired singles tend to fall with age, those of retired couples tend to rise. We estimate a rich model of retired singles and couples with bequest motives and uncertain longevity and medical expenses. Our estimates imply that while medical expenses are an important driver of the savings of middle-income singles, bequest motives matter for couples and high-income singles, and generate transfers to non-spousal heirs whenever a household member dies. The interaction of medical expenses and bequest motives is a crucial determinant of savings for all retirees. Hence, to understand savings, it is important to model household structure, medical expenses, and bequest motives. %B NBER Working Paper %I National Bureau of Economic Research %C Cambridge, MA %G eng %R 10.3386/w28828 %0 Report %D 2020 %T The 80%: Four Ways to Help Retirees Make Their Money Last %A National Council on Aging %A Leading Age LTSS Center @UMass Boston %A Nationwide %K Retirement %K Social Security Benefits %B White Paper %I National Council on Aging %G eng %U chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com/ffacfe7d-10b6-0083-2632-604077fd4eca/cb3ef5d5-2183-4720-bdb5-d0b5c4d848c2/2021-FWP-DG03_The%2080_White%20Paper_FINAL.pdf %0 Report %D 2020 %T The 80%: The True Scope of Financial Insecurity in Retirement %A Popham, Lauren %A Silberman, Susan %A Berke, Liz %A Tavares, Jane %A Cohen, Marc %K financial insecurity %K Retirement %B Issue Brief %I National Council on Aging %G eng %U chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com/ffacfe7d-10b6-0083-2632-604077fd4eca/302be397-f6e1-482b-ac71-ff2957dbe5bb/2021-FWP-DG02_The%2080_Issue%20Brief_FINAL.pdf %0 Report %D 2020 %T Age-specific Retirement Effects of The ACA Exchanges %A Woodruff, Corey %K Affordable Care Act %K Older workers %K Retirement %X In the U.S., as workers near traditional retirement age, health insurance becomes a major consideration in retirement decisions, especially for those who are too young to qualify for Medicare. In this paper, I examine the extent to which the opening of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges affected the retirement expectations and decisions of older workers. I estimate a difference-in-differences model that exploits variation in workers’ access to employer-based retiree health insurance (RHI) prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Retirement expectations and behavior are compared before and after the 2014 opening of the ACA health insurance exchanges. I find significant effects on both expectations and behavior for those nearing the minimum Social Security Eligibility age of 62, but not for earlier or later ages. The expected probability of working full-time at age 62 declines 5.4 percentages points for those without RHI relative to those with RHI. Treated individuals were 49 percentage points more likely to be retired by age 61 or 62 following the opening of the exchanges, relative to those in the comparison group. %I University of Colorado, Boulder %C Boulder, CO %G eng %U https://www.colorado.edu/economics/sites/default/files/attached-files/jmp_woodruff_1026.pdf %0 Report %D 2020 %T ARE OLDER NONTRADITIONAL WORKERS ABLE TO FIND HEALTH AND RETIREMENT COVERAGE? %A Matthew S. Rutledge %K Health Care %K nontraditional jobs %K Retirement %X In contrast to traditional employment, where employers provide health and retirement benefits, workers in nontraditional jobs have to seek out other options for health insurance coverage and retirement saving. How successful are they at finding alternatives? This study uses the Health and Retirement Study to examine older workers ages 50-64, who are both the largest cohort of workers in nontraditional jobs, and probably the group most in need of consistent health coverage and the ability to save for their imminent retirement. The study finds that about one-third of older workers in nontraditional jobs are uninsured, with the majority finding coverage through a spouse’s employer or a past employer of their own. The Affordable Care Act has also helped these workers find coverage, most often through Medicaid; the study finds that workers in nontraditional employment in states that expanded Medicaid saw greater increases in coverage (especially public coverage) than similar workers in non-expansion states. While policy reform has helped increase health insurance coverage, workers in nontraditional jobs are largely left without convenient, tax-deferred retirement saving options, in part because their spouses in traditional employment do not tend to save more to compensate. These results suggest that policies such as auto-IRA plans may be especially useful to workers in nontraditional employment. %B Center for Retirement Research at Boston College Working Papers %I Center for Retirement Research at Boston College %C Boston %G eng %U https://crr.bc.edu/working-papers/are-older-nontraditional-workers-able-to-find-health-and-retirement-coverage/ %9 Report %0 Thesis %B Gerontology %D 2020 %T Assessing the Impact of Retirement Resources on U.S. Older Female Workers’ Retirement Timing: A Theory of Planned Behavior Model %A Kim, Hansol %K Marital Status %K Retirement %K women %X Retirement is an important life event for all workers. Most older workers look forward to retirement and having a retirement plan is important for a successful transition. Those who plan also demonstrate a more positive attitude and greater confidence in their retirement. Much previous work on retirement and related policies or programs has focused on male workers. Consequently, social awareness of the problems encountered by older women during retirement remains low. Women have limited retirement resources (Vrdoljak & Rappaport, 2018) and are more likely to live in poverty than older men. Many older women who lack financial security depend on Social Security benefits. Moreover, the gender gap increases with age and is closely associated with quality of life and health (James, Matz-Costa, & Smyer, 2016). Unequal work experience and access to fewer retirement resources can postpone older women’s retirement, leading to a higher retirement age for women. Therefore, I examine the relationship between older women’s retirement resources and the timing of their retirement. I also examine the relationship between older women’s marital status and retirement timing. In this study, I investigated these questions with a sample of women aged between 50 and 62 years old who worked either full - or part - time, using data from the RAND Corporation and the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study (2017). Guided by the theory of planned behavior, multiple regression analysis was used to examine older adults’ expected retirement timing. Factors that might influence this timing included attitudes toward retirement, subjective norms about retirement, and perceived behavioral control (retirement security). My analyses also examined gender differences in predicting retirement timing. Subsequent analyses were conducted with women only, primarily to examine a potential linear relationship between retirement timing and marital status, one of the “background factors” in the theory of planned behavior. Additionally, logistic regression analyzed the effects of respondents’ expectations of retirement (i.e., comparing respondents with an expected timing of their retirement with those who did not). The study findings indicated that theory of planned behavior factors are useful for predicting retirement timing. The model works similarly for men and women, but there is a difference according to marital status. Unmarried women are likely to anticipate a later retirement than married women and are less likely to set an expected timing for retirement. %B Gerontology %I University of Kansas %C Lawrence, KS %V Doctor of Philosophy %G eng %U https://search.proquest.com/openview/c80fccefd40cb87ad80b58e81d14f9aa/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y %0 Journal Article %J Health and Place %D 2020 %T Association between telomere length and neighborhood characteristics by race and region in US midlife and older adults %A Amy D Thierry %K Adult %K Aged %K Aging %K Article %K Black person %K Caucasian %K controlled study %K Health Disparities %K health disparity %K human %K neglect %K neighborhood %K Neighborhood characteristics %K race %K race difference %K Retirement %K Telomere length %X Disadvantaged neighborhoods are correlated with worse health outcomes, particularly among US Blacks. However, less is known about the link between neighborhood characteristics and biomarkers of cellular age, such as telomere length (TL), which may be implicated in racial health inequities. Moreover, this relationship may vary across US region given patterns of racial segregation across the US. Therefore, this study analyzed 2008 Health and Retirement Study data on 3,869 US-born white and Black adults >50 years old to examine race differences in the relationship between salivary TL and (1) neighborhood safety, cleanliness, and social cohesion and (2) interactions between neighborhood characteristics and US region. Neighborhood characteristics were not associated with TL in whites. However, significant associations were found among Blacks with variation by region. Blacks living in less clean neighborhoods in the Northeast (b = −0.03, SE = 0.01, p < 0.05), Midwest (b = −0.04, SE = 0.01, p < 0.01), and South (b = −0.05, SE = 0.01, p < 0.01) as well as those reporting less neighborhood safety and social cohesion in the Midwest (b = −0.03, SE = 0.02, p < 0.05 and b = −0.03, SE = 0.01, p < 0.05) and South (b = −0.03, SE = 0.01, p < 0.05 for both characteristics) had shorter TL than Blacks in the West. Therefore, exposure to neighborhood level historical discrimination and neglect may be detrimental to TL in Blacks. Future research should further examine how neighborhoods contribute to aging disparities. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd %B Health and Place %V 62 %@ 13538292 (ISSN) %G eng %U https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353829219303752 %! Health Place %R 10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102272 %0 Journal Article %J Work, Aging and Retirement %D 2020 %T Boundaries of the Construct of Unemployment in the Preretirement Years: Exploring an Expanded Measurement of Lost-Work Opportunity %A Voss, M.W. %A Al Snih, S. %A Li, Wei %A Hung, M. %A Richards, L.G. %A Wang, M. %K Retirement %K Retirement Planning %K Work %X There is uncertainty related to whether retirement negatively affects health - possibly due to complexity around retirement decisions. Lost-work opportunity through unemployment or forced retirement has been shown to negatively affect health. Lost-work opportunity can be captured in two measurement fields, either a reported experience of being forced into retirement or reported unemployment. However, 17% of individuals retiring due to the loss of work opportunity identified in qualitative interviewing (i.e., unemployment, temporary lay-offs, company buy-outs, forced relocations, etc.) do not report this unemployment or involuntary retirement in quantitative survey responses. We propose broadening the conceptualization of late-career unemployment to incorporate other lost work opportunity scenarios. Using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a lost-work opportunity score (LOS) was computed from items indicating unemployment and forced or unplanned retirement. Correlations were computed between this LOS and all continuous variables in the RAND longitudinal compilation of the HRS to determine its convergent and discriminant validity. The LOS demonstrated a Chronbach's alpha of α =. 82 and had convergent validity with constructs of employment (9 variables), finances (36 variables), and health (14 variables), as predicted by the literature on retirement timing. No other continuous variables in the HRS were identified with a moderate or strong correlation to LOS, demonstrating discriminant validity. Further research should explore whether a combination of variables in the HRS can improve the accuracy of measuring lost-work opportunity. Improved precision in measurement, through an expanded conceptualization of lost-work opportunity, may help explicate the retirement-related factors that affect health, to inform policy and support healthy aging decisions at a societal level. %B Work, Aging and Retirement %V 6 %P 59-63 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1093/workar/waz006 %0 Journal Article %J Ageing and Society %D 2020 %T The contribution of dementia to the disparity in family wealth between black and non-black Americans %A Jennifer Kaufman %A William T Gallo %A Fahs,Marianne C. %K African Americans %K Age %K Aging %K Alzheimer's disease %K Alzheimers disease %K Blacks %K Costs %K Dementia %K dementia cost %K Equity %K Families & family life %K Gerontology And Geriatrics %K Health and Retirement Study %K Income inequality %K Long term health care %K Ownership %K Racial differences %K Racial Disparities %K Retirement %K Senility %K Studies %K United States–US %K Wealth %K wealth disparities %X {The enormous economic burden of dementia in the United States of America falls disproportionately on families coping with this devastating disease. Black Americans, who are at greater risk of developing dementia than white Americans, hold on average less than one-eighth of the wealth of white Americans. This study explores whether dementia exacerbates this wealth disparity by examining dementia's effect on wealth trajectories of black versus non-black Americans over an eight-year period preceding death, using five waves of data (beginning in 2002 or 2004) on decedents in the 2012 and 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 2,429). Dementia is associated with a loss of 97 per cent of wealth among black Americans, compared with 42 per cent among non-black Americans, while wealth loss among black and non-black Americans without dementia did not differ substantially (15% versus 19%). Dementia appears to increase the probability of wealth exhaustion among both black and non-black Americans, although the estimate is no longer significant after adjusting for all covariates (for blacks, odds ratio (OR) = 2.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.83, 5.00; for non-blacks %B Ageing and Society %V 40 %P 306-327 %@ 0144686X %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1017/S0144686X18000934 %0 Report %D 2020 %T Do Older Workers Without Benefits Find Health and Retirement Coverage? %A Matthew S. Rutledge %K health coverage %K nontraditional jobs %K Older workers %K Retirement %X Workers in nontraditional jobs, without health and retirement benefits, have to seek coverage elsewhere.On the health side, most do obtain coverage – often through a spouse’s employer or a private individual policy.And the percentage remaining uninsured has been declining in the wake of the Affordable Care Act, particularly in states that expanded Medicaid coverage.On the retirement side, workers often end up with no viable option, as they rarely open an IRA and their spouses with a 401(k) do not save more to compensate.The failure on the retirement side highlights the need for auto-IRA programs. %B Center for Retirement Research at Boston College Briefs %I Center for Retirement Research at Boston College %C Boston %G eng %U https://crr.bc.edu/briefs/do-older-workers-without-benefits-find-health-and-retirement-coverage/ %0 Journal Article %J Psychology and Aging %D 2020 %T Does being active mean being purposeful in older adulthood? Examining the moderating role of retirement. %A Nathan A Lewis %A Patrick L Hill %K Activity engagement %K life purpose %K Retirement %X

The degree to which individuals engage in leisure activities has been shown to predict well-being in older adults, but it is not known whether such activities may help older adults maintain purposefulness into retirement. The current study sought to address whether activity engagement is associated with purpose in life and whether this association differs based on retirement status. We used data from three waves of the Health and Retirement Study between 2008 and 2016. Multilevel growth models accounted for both within- and between-person effects of leisure activity participation and retirement status on change in sense of purpose in life. Participants reported higher sense of purpose on occasions when they engaged more in leisure activities, and more active participants exhibited less decline in purpose over time. Retired individuals showed steeper declines in sense of purpose, but this effect was mitigated among participants reporting greater activity engagement. Leisure activity participation may help to support sense of purpose in life, particularly among retired individuals. These findings underscore the potential for leisure activity interventions to help older adults compensate for loss of work-related roles and maintain purposefulness into retirement. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

%B Psychology and Aging %G eng %R 10.1037/pag0000568 %0 Report %D 2020 %T Does postponing retirement affect cognitive function? A counterfactual experiment to disentangle life course risk factors %A Jo Mhairi Hale %A Maarten J. Bijlsma %A Angelo Lorenti %K Age at retirement %K Ageing %K Labor %K length of working life %K Retirement %X Life-course sociodemographic and behavioral factors affect later-life cognitive function. Some evidence suggests that contemporaneous labor force participation also affects cognitive function; however, it is unclear whether it is employment itself or endogenous factors related to individuals’ likelihood of employment that protects against cognitive decline. We exploit innovations in counterfactual causal inference to disentangle the effect of postponing retirement on later-life cognitive function from the effects of other life-course factors. With the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (1996-2014, n=20,469), we use the parametric g-formula to estimate the population-averaged effect (PAE) of postponing retirement to age 67, the average treatment on the treated (ATT), the moderating effect of gender, education, and occupation, and the mediating effect via depressive symptoms and comorbidities. We find that postponing retirement is protective against cognitive decline, accounting for other life-course factors (age 67 PAE: 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.20,0.47; ATT: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.26,0.60). The extent of the protective effect depends on subgroup, with the highest educated experiencing the greatest reduction in cognitive decline (age 67 ATT: 50%, 95% CI: 32%,71%). By using innovative models that better reflect the empirical reality of interconnected life-course processes, this work makes progress in understanding how retirement affects cognitive function. %B Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research Working Paper %I Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research %C Rostock, Germany %G eng %U https://ideas.repec.org/p/dem/wpaper/wp-2020-013.html %9 Report %R 10.4054/MPIDR-WP-2020-013 %0 Report %D 2020 %T Does retirement affect voluntary work provision? Evidence from England, Ireland and the U.S. %A Eibich, Peter %A Angelo Lorenti %A Mosca, Irene %K ELSA %K instrumental variables %K Retirement %K TILDA %K voluntary work %X Voluntary work is an important contribution for many non-profit organizations, such as charities, political and religious organizations. Older individuals make up a sizable share of the volunteer workforce, and volunteering is often regarded as an example of “active ageing”. In this study, we examine whether retirement has a causal effect on the frequency of voluntary work provision in three English-speaking countries – England, Ireland and the U.S. We draw on data from the ELSA, TILDA and HRS studies and employ a harmonised approach in the empirical analysis. We use eligibility ages for old age pensions in an instrumental variable estimation to address potential confounding. We find that retirement increases the frequency of voluntary work provision in all three countries, especially among men. This suggests that labour market policies aimed at increasing labour force participation at older ages might have unintended consequences for the size of the volunteer workforce. %B Maynooth University Working Paper %I National University of Ireland Maynooth %C Maynooth %G eng %U http://repec.maynoothuniversity.ie/mayecw-files/N299-20.pdf %9 Report %0 Journal Article %J Research on Aging %D 2020 %T Does Retirement Get Under the Skin and Into the Head? Testing the Pathway from Retirement to Cardio-Metabolic Risk, then to Episodic Memory %A Oi, Katsuya %K Cognitive decline %K gender %K labor force %K Retirement %K Stress %X Many studies document significant causal impacts of retirement on cognitive abilities. It remains unclear if cognitive functioning could be hindered in post-retirement due to heightened physiological responses to stress. Using repeated observations of biomarkers, retirement status, and the word-recall test score from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 25,367; 15,343 among women and 10,024 among men), the study tests this pathway, separately for men and women. The study employs the two-stage least squares fixed-effects model that simultaneously fits three equations predicting the total-recall score, cardio-metabolic risk index, and retirement status. Being retired for at least a year decreases cardio-metabolic risk for men and women, and the resulting relief of cardio-metabolic risk improves cognitive functioning for women but not for men. Retirement does not lead to a downward health spiral as previously suggested; rather, it provides a much needed relief from stressors for those who are at health risks. %B Research on Aging %@ 0164-0275 %G eng %R https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027520941161 %0 Report %D 2020 %T Does Working Longer Enhance Old Age? %A Maria D Fitzpatrick %K health %K Retirement %K Social Security %K Working Longer %X Understanding the link between retirement and health is crucial for both improving people's wellbeing and for designing optimal public policy around retirement. Yet, to date, the economics literature has been inconclusive about whether retirement causes improvements or deterioration in health. The lack of consensus is likely driven by differences in study design, population, and the age of workers and set of health outcomes studied. In this paper, I explain and distill the literature, highlight patterns in the highestquality studies, and discuss the implications of the findings for longevity risk management and worker and retiree health going forward. %B Wharton Pension Research Council Working Papers %I The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania %C Philadelphia, PA %G eng %U https://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1691&context=prc_papers %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Holistic Nursing %D 2020 %T Episodic Memory in Later Life: Benefits of Prayer and Meditation %A Lekhak, N. %A Bhatta, T.R. %A Zauszniewski, J.A. %K Aged %K Article %K drawing %K Episodic Memory %K Female %K human %K human experiment %K major clinical study %K Male %K meditation %K mindfulness %K Religion %K Retirement %K secondary analysis %X {Purpose: To examine the effects of prayer and meditation on the episodic memory of older adults. Design: Secondary analysis of Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Method: Drawing from a subsample of HRS (n = 1,135), this study utilized generalized estimating equation regression models to examine the effects of meditation and prayer on changes in episodic memory of older adults over time. Findings: Findings show a statistically significant positive effect of the use of prayer (0.50, p <.05) on episodic memory score at baseline. We also observed a slight gain in episodic memory over time for older adults who used prayer (0.04, p =.05). Meditation was not found to have a statistically significant effect on changes in memory in later life. Conclusion: This study illustrates the benefits of prayer in preserving memory and provides much needed empirical basis for community-level interventions to enhance memory in later life. %B Journal of Holistic Nursing %G eng %R 10.1177/0898010119898547 %0 Web Page %D 2020 %T Happy Retirees? Maybe Not: Why Life Satisfaction Isn’t Necessarily ‘U-Shaped’ After All %A Bauer, Elizabeth %K Life Satisfaction %K Retirement %X Happiness, experts say, is U-shaped: generally speaking, we are happy/full of life satisfaction as young adults but, as we reach middle age, we become less satisfied, with a trough in one’s early 50s; from this trough we rebound to ever-increasing satisfaction levels as we age. It’s remarkable, really, considering the physical infirmities we face, plus financial worries, loss of loved ones, and more. What explains this? We become wiser and we are able to see all of life’s ups and downs with a greater sense of perspective. But what if that’s not true? %I Forbes %C Jersey City, New Jersey %G eng %U https://www.forbes.com/sites/ebauer/2020/12/06/why-life-satisfaction-isnt-necessarily-u-shaped-after-all/?sh=34a5562f4d97 %0 Report %D 2020 %T Home Maintenance and Housing Disinvestment among Older Americans %A Murray, Tim %A Dunn, Richard A. %K Equity %K home production %K Housing %K maintenance %K Retirement %X Housing assets account for a significant share of total household wealth for older Americans, but contrary to the predictions of the permanent income hypothesis, there is little evidence that households use housing equity as a regular source of income in retirement to smooth consumption. This study investigates the role that endogenous depreciation of the housing stock through deferred maintenance plays in allowing older households to extract value from their homes. We develop a household production model where households can either purchase professional services or undertake maintenance by combining market goods and time. We then estimate the value of home production to calculate the total value of housing disinvestment. We find that married households disinvest $20,864 between the ages of 65-84 by decreasing time and expenditure on maintenance, or 9.4% of mean home value. In contrast, single households disinvest an average $2,636 over the same ages, suggesting important complementarity in spousal time. Interestingly, not only do households extract an important share of home value through deferred maintenance, they appear to be forward looking, increasing both time and expenditure on maintenance in the years just prior to age 65 in expectation that they will reduce maintenance after retirement. %B Working Paper %G eng %U https://timmurrayecon.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Housing-Maintenace-and-Disinvestment-among-Older-Americans_web.pdf %0 Conference Paper %B Retirement and Disability Research Consortium 22nd Annual Meeting %D 2020 %T Home Ownership and Housing Debt in Retirement: Financial Asset for Consumption Smoothing or Albatross Around the Neck of Retirees? %A Fichtner, Jason %K Home ownership %K housing debt %K Retirement %X For many retirees, the home is their most valuable asset. A house is both used as an investment and for consumption. If a home is paid for at the time a person retires, they no longer have to service a mortgage or pay monthly rent, thus freeing up retirement income for other purposes. In this case, a large portion of income from Social Security can be devoted to consumption, benefiting the person’s standard of living. However, a mortgage that is not paid off creates a greater mandatory expense that may threaten the ability of Social Security benefits to replace income devoted to consumption in retirement. Additionally, home equity can be used to finance consumption in retirement, be it general, or targeted – such as for emergent health-related expenses or a financial emergency. While recent trends in housing asset appreciation appear to be improving the financial well-being of older Americans, without also understanding the level and use of housing debt, it is difficult to know whether retired homeowners are financially more secure. Using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) panel data from 1992-2016, this paper addresses three related topics. First, it updates information on how household mortgage-related debt evolved for various HRS cohorts. Second, it explores how homeowners have used home debt near, and in, retirement. Third, it considers whether there are important public policy lessons on the role of using home-related debt for achieving a financially secure retirement. %B Retirement and Disability Research Consortium 22nd Annual Meeting %I Retirement and Disability Research Consortium %C Virtual %G eng %U https://crr.bc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2020-RDRC-Meeting-Booklet.pdf#page=96 %0 Report %D 2020 %T How Much Taxes Will Retirees Owe on Their Retirement Income? %A Anqi Chen %A Alicia H. Munnell %K Retirement %K Taxes %X To evaluate their retirement resources, households approaching retirement will examine their Social Security statements, defined benefit pensions, defined contribution balances, and other financial assets. However, many households may forget that not all of these resources belong to them; they will need to pay some portion to federal and state government in taxes. It is unclear, however, just how large the tax burden is for the typical retired household and for households with different income levels. This project aims to shed light on the tax burdens that retirees face by estimating lifetime taxes for a group of recently retired households. The project uses data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) linked to administrative earnings to determine Social Security benefits and administrative records on state of residence to estimate state tax liabilities. Income is then projected over the expected retirement of each household. Federal and state taxes, are estimated with TAXSIM, for each household on its reported and projected income. %B Center for Retirement Research at Boston College Working Papers %I Center for Retirement Research at Boston College %C Boston %G eng %U https://crr.bc.edu/working-papers/how-much-taxes-will-retirees-owe-on-their-retirement-income/ %0 Report %D 2020 %T Income Security and Financial Wellbeing of Older Workers Transitioning into Retirement %A Robert Clark %A Liu, Siyan %K income changes %K pension benefits %K Retirement %X This report begins with a discussion of the literature on income replacement and income security as older workers transition into retirement. In addition, literature on the financial distress and financial literacy of elderly households is reviewed. Section III describes our data sources and dataset construction. Section IV presents descriptive statistics on income replacement of recent retirees while Section V examines the characteristics of subgroups experiencing large income changes. Finally, Section VI shows regression analysis of the factors associated with income changes and studies the link between income changes and financial distress. Appendix A and Appendix B offers description of our samples of North Carolina public workers and HRS respondents in greater detail. Appendix C includes tables on sample characteristics and regression analysis of additional outcomes. Appendix D records the survey questions we use to create key variables for our North Carolina dataset. %I North Carolina State University %C Raleigh, NC %G eng %U https://siyanliu.wordpress.ncsu.edu/files/2020/11/Liu_Siyan_ICMM_Report.pdf %0 Journal Article %J Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco %D 2020 %T Longitudinal and Reciprocal Relationships Between Psychological Well-Being and Smoking %A Lappan, S. %A Thorne, C.B. %A Long, D. %A Hendricks, P.S. %K Adult %K Aged %K Article %K Education %K Female %K human %K Life Satisfaction %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Optimism %K people by smoking status %K psychological well-being %K Retirement %K Smoking cessation %K structural equation modeling %X INTRODUCTION: Smoking cessation treatments currently succeed at a rate of approximately 20%-30%, underscoring the importance of exploring factors that might increase intervention effectiveness. Although negative affect has been studied extensively in relation to smoking cessation, psychological well-being (PWB; eg, life satisfaction, optimism, positive affect, purpose in life) has received little attention. This study tested longitudinal and reciprocal relationships between PWB and smoking status in older adults. METHODS: Panel data were obtained from the biennial, longitudinal Health and Retirement Study. Using structural equation modeling, we developed cross-lagged models to examine the relationships of PWB in 2006 with smoking status in 2010 and of smoking status in 2006 with PWB in 2010 while controlling for covariates (Ns = 2939-4230, 55% women, 89% white, mean age = 64 years, mean years of education = 13, 25% smokers in 2006 and 21% smokers in 2010). Separate cross-lagged models were developed for each of the PWB variables: life satisfaction, optimism, positive affect, and purpose in life. RESULTS: Greater life satisfaction (standardized path coefficient = -0.04), optimism (standardized path coefficient = -0.07), and positive affect (standardized path coefficient = -0.08) in 2006 predicted a reduced likelihood of smoking in 2010. Being a smoker in 2006 predicted lower life satisfaction (standardized path coefficient = -0.25), optimism (standardized path coefficient = -0.10), positive affect (standardized path coefficient = -0.10), and purpose in life (standardized path coefficient = -0.13) in 2010. CONCLUSIONS: Findings warrant further exploration of the relationships between PWB and smoking, and support the incorporation of PWB-boosting components into existing treatments. IMPLICATIONS: Given the relatively low success rate of current smoking cessation treatments, the present results suggest that increasing PWB might promote abstinence and therefore warrant consideration as a focus of future cessation treatment research. Moreover, these results suggest that smoking might inhibit PWB, illuminating a negative consequence of smoking not previously identified. Helping smokers increase their PWB may benefit them beyond promoting cessation and contribute to a flourishing society. These results warrant further investigation of PWB and smoking, and support the continued evaluation of PWB-boosting components in smoking cessation treatments. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. %B Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco %V 22 %P 18-23 %G eng %R 10.1093/ntr/nty185 %0 Journal Article %J Psychology and Aging %D 2020 %T Novel information processing at work across time is associated with cognitive change in later life: A 14-year longitudinal study. %A Ursula M. Staudinger %A Yu, Yan-Liang %A Cheng, Bin %K Cognitive Ability %K cognitive aging %K Cognitive Processes %K health %K Job characteristics %K job complexity %K novelty processing %K Retirement %K Stimulus Novelty %K Test Construction %X This study examined whether the degree of novel information processing at work (NPW) attenuates cognitive aging across 14 years for adults 50+ in the United States and how NPW links with job complexity. To answer these questions, we used data (N = 4,252) from the Health and Retirement Study. Detailed information on occupational characteristics from ONet between 2000 and 2014 was used to assess NPW and matched with participants’ occupational codes across time. Multilevel transition models were employed to estimate the relationship between NPW and cognitive functioning across time and to explore the moderating effect of cognitive level. Our results showed that exposure to more NPW across time attenuates cognitive decline as indicated by immediate word recall and serial 7s performance, while adjusting for baseline age, leisure, volunteering activities, cognition at previous wave, and other covariates. This buffering effect of NPW is reduced but sustained when controlling for change in jo %B Psychology and Aging %V 35 %P 793–805 %G eng %U http://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=psyh&AN=2020-27251-001&site=ehost-live&scope=site %N 6 %9 Journal %R 10.1037/pag0000468 %0 Report %D 2020 %T Occupations and Work at Older Ages: Varied Responses to Policy %A Lindsay Jacobs %K health %K Labor Supply %K OASDI %K Older workers %K Retirement %X There are a number of differences between individuals in “blue-collar” and “white-collar” occupations in the timing of retirement, savings, Social Security OASI claiming ages, and SSDI applications. This paper presents descriptive evidence of these differences and develops and estimates the parameters of a model of later-life labor supply, savings, and Social Security OASDI behavior. The model accounts for a number of differences across blue- and white-collar workers in particular and is then used to predict behavior and measure welfare under the counterfactual policy scenarios of increases in the Early Retirement and Full Retirement Ages for claiming Social Security benefits. I find that increasing the Early Retirement Age has large labor supply and disutility effects for blue-collar workers, and results in greater SSDI application for this group. This is driven primarily by those in blue-collar occupations experiencing more steeply declining productivity with age and less margin on which to respond to policy changes. Increasing the Full Retirement Age affects the labor supply of white-collar but not blue-collar workers. It does, however, increase the savings somewhat for the latter group. %B The Center for Financial Security's Working Papers %I University of Wisconsin-Madison %C Madison %G eng %U https://cfsrdrc.wisc.edu/files/research-briefs/WI19_02_Jacobs_FinalPaper_11.22.19.pdf %0 Report %D 2020 %T Older Women Report Facing a Financially Uncertain Future %K Financial security %K Retirement %K women %X In all 14 focus groups GAO held with older women, women described some level of anxiety about financial security in retirement. Many expressed concerns about the future of Social Security and Medicare benefits, and the costs of health care and housing. Women in the groups also cited a range of experiences that hindered their retirement security, such as divorce or leaving the workforce before they planned to (see fig.). Women in all 14 focus groups said their lack of personal finance education negatively affected their ability to plan for retirement. Many shared ideas about personal finance education including the view that it should be incorporated into school curriculum starting in kindergarten and continuing through college, and should be available through all phases of life. %B Retirement Security %I United States Government Accountability Office %C Washington, D.C. %G eng %U https://www.gao.gov/assets/710/708121.pdf %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Pension Economics and Finance %D 2020 %T Pathways to retirement through self-employment %A Ramnath, Shanthi %A John B. Shoven %A Sita Nataraj Slavov %K Retirement %K Self-employment %K Social Security %X We examine the role of self-employment in retirement transitions using a panel of administrative tax data. We find that the hazard of self-employment increases at popular retirement ages associated with Social Security eligibility, particularly for those with greater retirement wealth. Late-career transitions to self-employment are associated with a larger drop in income than similar mid-career transitions. Data from the Health and Retirement Study suggest that hours worked also fall upon switching to self-employment. These results suggest that self-employment at older ages may serve as a ‘bridge job,’ allowing workers to gradually reduce hours and earnings along the pathway to retirement. %B Journal of Pension Economics and Finance %G eng %9 Journal %R 10.1017/S1474747220000062 %0 Journal Article %D 2020 %T Personality, health, wealth, and subjective well-being: Testing a integrative model with retired and working older adults %A Gilberto, Jacqueline M. %A Davenport, Meghan K. %A Beier, Margaret E. %K Lifespan development %K Personal resource %K Personality %K Retirement %K Subjective well-being %X The current study tests an integrative model based on resource theories of retirement examining the relationships among personal resources (i.e., health and wealth), the Big Five, and subjective well-being in late life. We used a subsample (N = 2,518) of participants across two cohorts from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). All participants were working at Time 1 and a subsample retired between Time 1 and Time 2. A multi-group structural equation model compared the relationships among personality, health, wealth, and well-being between those who continued working and those who retired. Results suggest that wealth and health are related to personality traits (i.e., conscientiousness, neuroticism, and agreeableness), but provide no evidence that the relationships are different for retired and working adults. %V 87 %G eng %R 10.1016/j.jrp.2020.103959 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Aging and Health %D 2020 %T Personality, Retirement, and Cognitive Impairment: Moderating and Mediating Associations. %A Jason E Strickhouser %A Angelina R Sutin %K cognitive impairment %K Dementia %K longitudinal %K Personality %K Retirement %X

Five-factor model (FFM) personality traits, including higher conscientiousness and lower neuroticism, are associated with lower risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. In this research, we test whether retirement status moderates and/or mediates the relation between personality and cognitive impairment. We used data from the Health and Retirement Study ( = 9899), a longitudinal study of Americans over the age of 50 years, to examine moderating and mediating associations between personality traits and retirement status on risk of dementia and cognitive impairment not dementia (CIND) over an 8-10 year follow-up. Personality and retirement each had strong, independent associations with risk of dementia and CIND. There were not, however, strong or consistent, moderating or mediating associations between personality and retirement predicting impairment risk. Overall, these results indicate that personality and retirement are independent risk factors for incident cognitive impairment. Mechanisms other than retirement are likely to explain this association.

%B Journal of Aging and Health %G eng %R 10.1177/0898264320969080 %0 Thesis %B Philosophy %D 2020 %T Personality Traits and Financial Risks Among Older Americans: Living Too Long, Dying Too Early, and Living Too Sick. %A Cherry, Preston D. %K Long-term Care %K longevity risk %K Retirement %X Individuals are susceptible to financial uncertainty across the financial life cycle. The financial life cycle consists of three stages, which are (a) borrow to build human capital (b) accumulate wealth during the working life, and (c) distribute the accumulated wealth to fund retirement. Individuals maximize utility by smoothing consumption utility over the life cycle while managing uncertainty events. Such life cycle events are (a) the untimely loss of human capital, (b) longevity risk (risk of outliving one’s savings), and (c) the potential need for long-term care support and services (the severe financial loss due to the high costs of formal LTCSS). Pre-cautionary savings are transferred from low marginal utility periods to high marginal utility periods, which is accomplished through the exchange of low-cost insurance premiums for the coverage of high cost uncertainty events. Despite the theoretical need for uncertainty protection, consumer demand for insurance that mitigates or eliminates risk exposure to uncertainty events is historically low. This conundrum is commonly referred to as uncertainty “puzzles.” The empirical and descriptive literature examines many potential factors for these protection gaps that range from financial, health, social insurance, substitute and complimentary assets, sociodemographic factors, and individual preferences, which this current paper controls for a majority. Researchers suggest that further analysis beyond economic and social factors is necessary to investigate the potential behavioral and psychosocial factors that could partially explain the uncertainty puzzles. Research is growing yet limited when considering individuals personality traits as potential explanations for personal finance behaviors. This study investigates and provides results that suggests that, after controlling for factors mentioned in the previous literature, personality traits could partially explain the low demand for financial uncertainty insurance. %B Philosophy %I Texas Tech University %C Lubbock %V Doctor of Philosophy %G eng %U https://ttu-ir.tdl.org/bitstream/handle/2346/85730/CHERRY-DISSERTATION-2020.pdf?sequence=1 %0 Journal Article %J Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences %D 2020 %T Postretirement life satisfaction and financial vulnerability: The moderating role of control %A Dawn C Carr %A Moen, P. %A Perry Jenkins, M. %A Smyer, M. %K Personal control %K Retirement %K Successful aging %X Objectives: This article examines changes in life satisfaction around retirement exits for those with varying preretirement incomes, testing whether constraints on personal control and control over finances moderate the relationship between retiring and preretirement income. Method: This longitudinal study draws data from the 2004-2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study to examine changes in life satisfaction pre- versus postretirement for three groups (the poor/near poor, financially vulnerable, and financially stable) of full-time workers aged 51-87 years (N = 970), and a subset (N = 334) who fully retire over a 4-year period. Results: Controlling for baseline life satisfaction, health, job/demographic characteristics, and social engagement, ordinary least squares regression results show financially stable retirees report higher levels of postretirement life satisfaction relative to their full-time working counterparts, whereas the poor/near poor and the financially vulnerable report similar life satisfaction to those who continue working full time. Constraints on personal control and control over finances moderate postretirement life satisfaction for the financially vulnerable. Discussion: Results suggest full retirement predicts improved life satisfaction only for those most advantaged financially. Financially vulnerable older workers may adjust more effectively to retirement if they have access to resources that facilitate greater control over their lives. © 2018 The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com. %B Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences %V 75 %P 849-860 %G eng %U https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85081528537&doi=10.1093%2fgeronb%2fgby105&partnerID=40&md5=6dbfe386a5b903c47e3a8926acb571fd %N 4 %9 Journal %R 10.1093/geronb/gby105 %0 Report %D 2020 %T Post-Retirement Savings and Reduction of Consumer Debt %A Olafsson, Arna %A Pagel, Michaela %K consumer debt %K Retirement %K Savings %X Using comprehensive transaction-level panel data on personal finances, we document that individuals repay their consumer debt and save more after they retire. These findings are puzzling because standard economic theory predicts that people should save before, rather than after, the expected drop in income upon retirement. We consider a number of potential explanations for our findings, including a drop in work-related expenses and an increase in medical health risks around retirement, which are the leading explanations of the so-called retirement-consumption and retirement-savings puzzles. Our findings suggest these explanations are not empirically relevant and thereby inform the larger question of whether individuals save enough for retirement. Additionally, we rationalize our findings in a model with non-standard preferences %B Working Paper %I New York University %C New York %G eng %U https://wp.nyu.edu/sloan_nomis_project/wp-content/uploads/sites/7631/2020/08/RetirementCredit.pdf %0 Report %D 2020 %T Retirement Security: Older Women Report Facing a Financially Uncertain Future %A Charles Jeszeck %K gender %K Gender Differences %K gender issues %K Retirement %K retirement security %K women %X In all 14 focus groups GAO held with older women, women described some level of anxiety about financial security in retirement. Many expressed concerns about the future of Social Security and Medicare benefits, and the costs of health care and housing. Women in the groups also cited a range of experiences that hindered their retirement security, such as divorce or leaving the workforce before they planned to (see fig.). Women in all 14 focus groups said their lack of personal finance education negatively affected their ability to plan for retirement. Many shared ideas about personal finance education including the view that it should be incorporated into school curriculum starting in kindergarten and continuing through college, and should be available through all phases of life. %I U.S. Government Accountability Office %G eng %U https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-20-435 %0 Report %D 2020 %T Right-Sizing Retirement: Exploring the Retirement Consumption Gap in Early Retirement %A Cormier, Warran %A David Blanchett %K Retirement %K retirement consumption gap %K Underconsumption %X The research described in this paper estimates the pervasiveness of underconsumption. Specifically, this paper explores the retirement consumption gap and considers both the wealth available to fund retirement—defined as either financial assets, such as a taxable account or an IRA, or guaranteed income, such as Social Security retirement benefits, a private pension, or annuity—and spending (i.e., consumption), both before and after retirement. Considering both the assets and pre-retirement spending provides a richer context around spending decisions during retirement. The analysis uses data from the RAND Health and Retirement Study and focused specifically on changes in spending during the first 10 years of retirement. %B DCIIA Retirement Research Center %I Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association %C Washington, D.C. %G eng %U https://cdn.ymaws.com/dciia.org/resource/resmgr/resource_library/DCIIA-RRC_RightSizing_091020.pdf %0 Thesis %B Sociology %D 2020 %T Social Relationships as Resources in Later Life: The Dynamics of Structural and Functional Support %A Brittany M. King %K loss of driving %K Retirement %K Widowhood %X The field of sociology has long acknowledged the importance of social relationships. Some of the most well-known research in sociology on relationships stems from the foundational work of Durkheim (1951), who found those who were socially integrated were less likely to commit suicide than those who were socially isolated. Durkheim’s was among the first sociological studies to argue that social relationships are critical to health and wellbeing. Over the last several decades, scholars have begun to parse out casual explanations regarding social relationships and health (House, 1987; House, Landis, & Umberson, 1988; Siebert, Mutran, & Reitzes, 1999). Social support emerged as a key social resource protective of health, shown to be associated with adaptive behaviors, and a buffer to negative health outcomes (Cassel, 1976; Cobb, 1976). More recent sociological research has explored the relevance of social support at different phases of the life course, with a specific focus on later life (Krause, 2006; Pearlin et al., 2005) establishing older adults as proactive in managing their social network to fit their social needs (Carstensen, 1992; Rook, 2009; Streeter et al., 2019). This work acknowledges the contextual forces shaping social support (Elder et al., 2003; Moen & Hernandez, 2009) and shows that social support changes over the life course (Antonucci & Akiyama, 1987). Despite growing attention to social support in sociological research, there are several key gaps in current scholarship that can be addressed by looking to theories and research grounded in other disciplines. Although social support is typically treated as a stable resource (Norris & Kaniasty, 1996; Sarason et al., 1986), much like other resources, growing evidence suggests that social support changes throughout the life course and is likely to be influenced by important role losses and life transitions (Rook, 2009). Understanding the dynamic nature of social support is a necessary step for exploring how it serves as a resource for health. When individuals experience role losses or social losses in later life, the composition of one’s social network and frequency of interactions with others are likely to change (Antonucci et al., 2014; Antonucci & Akiyama, 1987; Carstensen, 1992; Pearlin, 2010; Rook, 2009). Sociology alongside scholarship in fields such as psychology, social work, public health, and economics collectively show that role losses related to driving cessation, retirement, widowhood in later life, and life are particularly likely to influence the composition, quality, and frequency of our social interactions and relationships (Chihuri et al., 2016; C. D. Lee & Bakk, 2001; Powers et al., 2014; Wrzus et al., 2013). Understanding the ways these kinds of life course changes relate to changes in our social relationships are critical to understanding how our health is subsequently affected. This dissertation aims to fill gaps in sociological scholarship about changes in dynamic social resources that occur during later life. Specifically, I examine changes to structural and functional support in association with three role losses that have been shown to have important health consequences in later life – the loss of driving (Study #1), retirement (Study #2), and widowhood (Study #3) – and whether the associations between these three role losses in later life and changes in social resources vary by race, class, gender, or marital status. The findings from this dissertation show that social relationships are both stable and dynamic resources in later life. Later life is associated with multiple stressful role losses, which each have the potential to impact our social relationships with children, relatives, and friends in unique ways. Evidence suggests that certain social locations are especially important in shaping whether functional and structural support changes in association with a role loss, particularly race (retirement and widowhood), class (widowhood), and marital status/household composition (driving cessation and retirement). %B Sociology %I Florida State University %C Tallahassee, FL %V Doctor of Philosophy %G eng %0 Journal Article %J Journals of Gerontology Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences %D 2020 %T Structural Social Support and Changes in Depression during the Retirement Transition: "I Get by With a Little Help from My Friends". %A Ben Lennox Kail %A Dawn C Carr %K depression %K Retirement %K Social Support %X

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated whether (a) retirement was associated with increased depressive symptoms, (b) four sources social support were associated with decreased depressive symptoms, and (c) whether the relationship between retirement and depressive symptoms varied across four sources social support.

METHOD: Health and Retirement Study data were used to assess whether four measures of structural support moderated the association between transitioning to full retirement (relative to remaining in full time work) and symptoms of depression.

RESULTS: Results from two stage mixed-effects multilevel models indicated (a) on average retirement was associated with a small but significant increase in depressive symptoms after adjusting for pre-retirement social support, (b) on average, social support not associated with changes in symptoms of depression, but (c) social support from friends moderates the association between retirement and symptoms of depression such that at low levels of social support, retirement was associated with a sizeable increase in depressive symptoms, but this association decreased as level of social support from friends increased.

DISCUSSION: Results suggest people with low levels of social support may benefit from actively cultivating friendships in retirement to help mitigate some of deleterious effects of retirement.

%B Journals of Gerontology Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences %V 75 %P 2040-2049 %G eng %N 9 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbz126 %0 Thesis %B Department of Economics %D 2020 %T Three Essays in Health Econometrics %A Mohamed Ebeid %K cognitive functioning %K Retirement %X This thesis consists of three essays that address questions in health economics using different datasets and econometric approaches. In the first essay, I apply novel non-parametric econometric techniques to estimate the causal effect of retirement on health using the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS) survey. I use a non-parametric Fuzzy Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD) technique for my analysis to avoid restrictive assumptions on a particular functional form and to capture the potential reverse causality from health to retirement (endogeneity issue) by exploiting the exogenous variation in retirement decisions induced by U.S. pension eligibility ages at 62 and 65. The results show that retirement is associated with an 8% decline in the cognitive functioning score of retirees, and 0.42 points increase in the CESD depression scale. Retirees also are 13 percentage points less likely to report good general health status, 8.8 percentage points less likely to be drinkers, and they are 4 percentage points less likely to consume alcohol more than three times per week. In the second essay, I use an administrative database to investigate the impact of the timing of first exposure to maternal depression on a comprehensive measure of children’s school readiness that incorporates multidimensional developmental domains that underlie school class adaptation and later success. I find that exposure to maternal depression is associated with developmental vulnerability in emotional, physical, social, and cognitive domains. The strongest adverse effects on development are from exposure to depression during pregnancy, followed by exposure during the preschool period. In the third essay, I examine the impact of Type I Diabetes Mellitus (TIDM) during childhood on educational attainment and labor market outcomes in adulthood using the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The results show that individuals who developed Type I diabetes early in life are 7 to 17 percentage points less likely to be employed, work fewer hours (3 to 11 hours less per week) and are 5 to 10 percentage points more likely to receive social welfare assistance than non-diabetics. In addition, Type I diabetics experience less educational attainment than non-diabetics. %B Department of Economics %I University of Manitoba %C Manitoba, Canada %V Doctor of Philosophy %G eng %U https://mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/jspui_org/bitstream/1993/34583/1/Ebeid_Mohamed.pdf %0 Journal Article %J Aging & Mental HealthAging & Mental Health %D 2020 %T Types of multidimensional vulnerability and well-being among the retired in the U.S %A Shin, Oejin %A Sojung Park %A Kang, Ji Young %A Kwak, Minyoung %K Latent Class Analysis (LCA) %K Retirement %K Vulnerability %K Well-being %X Background: An extensive study investigated the risk factors for low well-being in post-retirement. Most previous studies have taken a unidimensional perspective, focusing on single factors such as financial status, physical health, and mental health.Objective: Drawing on the vulnerability framework, we first identify and describe the empirical subgroups of vulnerability among retirees in the United States across four major domains of later life: material, physical, social, and mental vulnerability. Then, we investigate the association between vulnerability profiles and well-being.Method: The sample included 3,158 retirees aged 65+ who participated in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Latent class analysis was utilized to identify the heterogeneous subgroups of vulnerability, and then a series of OLS regression analyses was conducted to examine the relationship between patterns of vulnerability and well-being.Results: Five vulnerability patterns were identified: material vulnerable (12%), health & social vulnerable (14%), material, health & social vulnerable (6%), least vulnerable (34%), and social vulnerable (35%). The health & social vulnerable group had the strongest negative influence on well-being among all subgroups. As the largest subgroup, the social vulnerable group?s negative influence on well-being stood out, with a stronger effect than that of material privation experienced by those in the material vulnerable group.Conclusion: By empirically identifying subgroups of differential vulnerability patterns among retirees, this study showed that post-retirement vulnerability reflects complex interactions among multiple disadvantages. Findings of this study enhance understanding of the disparities in well-being within the retired population, pointing to the possibility of targeted policy and program development. %B Aging & Mental HealthAging & Mental Health %@ 1360-7863 %G eng %! Aging & Mental Health %R 10.1080/13607863.2020.1768212 %0 Report %D 2020 %T Understanding Debt in the Older Population %A Annamaria Lusardi %A Olivia S. Mitchell %A Oggero, Noemi %K Debt %K financial fragility %K Financial literacy %K Mortgages %K Retirement %K student loans %X Poor financial capability can have important consequences for well-being in later life. To explore aspects of financial management related to debt, we have designed and analyzed a new module in the 2018 Health and Retirement Study along with information from the 2018 National Financial Capability Study to evaluate the factors associated with debt and debt management in later life. We show that, even for older Americans, student loans and unpaid medical bills represent a large proportion of their debt, and having children also contributes to their indebtedness. By contrast, the more financially literate have more positive financial perceptions and behaviors. Specifically, being able to answer one additional financial literacy question correctly is associated with a higher probability (3-6 percentage points) of reporting an above average credit record and planning for retirement. Clearly, financial knowledge can help limit debt exposure at older ages. %B Pension Research Council Working Paper %I University of Pennsylvania %C Philadelphia %G eng %U https://repository.upenn.edu/prc_papers/575/ %9 Report %0 Magazine Article %D 2020 %T Women Have Less Secure Retirement, Following Lives Filled With Discrimination And Risks %A Christian Weller %K Caregiving %K Retirement %K women %X Women face a vastly more insecure retirement than men, a new report co-authored by Joelle Saad-Lessler, Tyler Bond and myself shows. They have fewer opportunities to save for retirement during their careers. They earn lower wages in part because of discrimination, structural barriers and more economic risks, especially from divorce and caregiving, during their working lives. They then enter retirement with fewer savings, while still facing added economic risks such as longer life expectancies. %B Forbes %G eng %U https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianweller/2020/05/20/women-have-less-secure-retirement-following-lives-filled-with-discrimination-and-risks/#5ac9312160c5 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Labor Research %D 2020 %T Work-Life Balance and Labor Force Attachment at Older Ages %A Marco Angrisani %A Maria Casanova %A Erik Meijer %K Gender difference %K health shock %K Job characteristic %K Retirement %X We use data from the Health and Retirement Study to examine the role of work-life balance as a non-monetary determinant of retirement transitions, conditional on job attributes such as hours of work, compensation, and benefits. We rely on self-reported measures of work-life conflict to proxy for low levels of work-life balance. We show that high levels of work-life conflict are significantly associated with subsequent reductions in labor supply for workers aged 51 to 79, and document heterogeneity by gender and employment status. Moreover, work-life conflict moderates labor supply responses to spousal health shocks. Workers who report higher levels of work-life conflict are significantly more likely to reduce their labor supply in the two years following a spouse's health shock, and this effect is once more heterogeneous. The moderating effect of work-life conflict is stronger for women than men and, among female workers, stronger for those employed part-time at baseline. %B Journal of Labor Research %V 41 %P 34-68 %G eng %N 1-2 %R 10.1007/s12122-020-09301-8 %0 Journal Article %J International journal of epidemiology %D 2019 %T Are younger cohorts in the USA and England ageing better? %A de la Fuente, J. %A Francisco Félix Caballero %A Verdes, E. %A Rodríguez-Artalejo, F. %A Cabello, M. %A de la Torre-Luque, A. %A Albert Sánchez-Niubó %A María Haro, J. %A Ayuso-Mateos, J.L. %A Chatterji, S. %K Aged %K Aging %K Article %K Cohort Analysis %K cultural factor %K Education %K England %K Englishman %K Female %K Health Status %K Household %K human %K human experiment %K human tissue %K longitudinal study %K major clinical study %K Male %K mental capacity %K Retirement %K theoretical study %X BACKGROUND: Whether worldwide increases in life expectancy are accompanied by a better health status is still a debate. People age differently, and there is a need to disentangle whether healthy-ageing pathways can be shaped by cohort effects. This study aims to analyse trends in health status in two large nationally representative samples of older adults from England and the USA. METHODS: The sample comprised 55 684 participants from the first seven waves of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), and the first 11 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). A common latent health score based on Bayesian multilevel item response theory was used. Two Bayesian mixed-effects multilevel models were used to assess cohort effects on health in ELSA and HRS separately, controlling for the effect of household wealth and educational attainment. RESULTS: Similar ageing trends were found in ELSA (β = -0.311; p < 0.001) and HRS (β = -0.393; p < 0.001). The level of education moderated the life-course effect on health in both ELSA (β = -0.082; p < 0.05) and HRS (β = -0.084; p < 0.05). A birth-year effect was found for those belonging to the highest quintiles of household wealth in both ELSA (β = 0.125; p < 0.001) and HRS (β = 0.170; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Health inequalities have increased in recent cohorts, with the wealthiest participants presenting a better health status in both the USA and English populations. Actions to promote health in the ageing population should consider the increasing inequality scenario, not only by applying highly effective interventions, but also by making them accessible to all members of society. © The Author(s) 2019; all rights reserved. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association. %B International journal of epidemiology %V 48 %P 1906-1913 %G eng %R 10.1093/ije/dyz126 %0 Journal Article %J Innovation in Aging %D 2019 %T ASSESSING THE ADEQUACY OF SOCIAL SECURITY RETIREMENT BENEFITS ACROSS RACE-ETHNICITY, GENDER, AND AGE OF RETIREMENT %A Jin H. Kim %K gender %K race-ethnicity %K Retirement %K Social Security %K Social Security Benefits %X This research assessed the adequacy of Social Security retirement benefits across race-ethnicity, gender, and age of retirement, and in turn, whether the differing levels of benefit adequacy have any relation to mortality risk. Prior studies generally find that a replacement rate of between 70 to 80 percent of prior earnings would likely allow a worker to maintain his or her standard of living in retirement since various work-related expenses are reduced or eliminated at the point of transition. As such, the current study used panel data from the 1996 - 2016 waves of the Rand version of the Health and Retirement Study to 1) determine earnings replacement rates for non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic males and females in the first period of retirement, and 2) to examine whether earnings replacement rates are associated with mortality risk in a Cox regression model. The findings revealed that for those retiring at age 65 or later, Hispanic females and White males had the lowest earnings replacement rates at 39.3\% and 40.7\%, respectively. For those retiring before age 65, Hispanic males and White males had the lowest earnings replacement rates at 30.3\% and 26.7\%. Although replacement rates should indeed be lower for high earners due to Social Security’s progressive benefit formula, the low replacement rates determined for Hispanic males and females were unexpected. Moreover, mortality risk was found to be significantly associated with earnings replacement rates in the final model, but the combination of race-ethnicity and gender still showed a stronger relation. %B Innovation in Aging %V 3 %P S890-S890 %G eng %N Suppl 1 %R 10.1093/geroni/igz038.3257 %0 Journal Article %J Health Economics (United Kingdom) %D 2019 %T Closing down the shop: Optimal health and wealth dynamics near the end of life %A Hugonnier, J. %A Pelgrin, F. %A St-Amour, P. %K Aged %K Aging %K Article %K dis-savings %K end of life %K endogenous mortality risk %K human %K life cycle %K long term care %K Medically Uninsured %K mortality risk %K Retirement %X Near the end of life, health declines, mortality risk increases, and curative care is replaced by uninsured long-term care, accelerating the fall in wealth. Whereas standard explanations emphasize inevitable aging processes, we propose a complementary closing down the shop justification where agents' decisions affect their health and the timing of death. Despite preferring to live, individuals optimally deplete their health and wealth towards levels associated with high death risk and gradual indifference between life and death. Reinstating exogenous aging processes reinforces the relevance of closing down. Using Health and Retirement Study–Consumption and Activities Mail Survey data for elders, a structural estimation of the closed-form decisions identifies, tests, and confirms the relevance of closing down. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. %B Health Economics (United Kingdom) %8 2019 %@ 10579230 (ISSN) %G eng %U https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hec.3960 %! Health Econ. %0 Thesis %B Human Ecology %D 2019 %T Does Gray Divorce Delay Retirement? %A Berkowicz,Sara S. %K 0508:Finance %K 0510:Labor economics %K 0628:Individual & family studies %K Baby Boomers %K Divorce %K Finance %K Gray divorce %K Individual & family studies %K Labor economics %K Retirement %K Social Security %X Baby Boomers are the only demographic cohort whose divorce rate increased from 1990 to 2010. All other age groups experienced lower rates of both marriage and divorce. Divorce tends to reduce wealth at the time it occurs, but longer-term effects differ by gender. Divorcing after or just before retiring may have devastating financial consequences for hundreds of thousands of older adults. Baby Boomers are the largest cohort to face retirement to date. In 2018, 70 million Boomers are age 54 – 72 years old. Yet, most of them have not saved enough to sustain decades- long retirement periods. The short- and long-term economic effects of a massive drop in workforce participation and application for government-paid retirement benefits could be enormous. This study used the 2014 wave of a large, national representative dataset to look at Baby Boomers in their 60s. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted on a unique outcome variable that combined being retired or not with receiving Social Security benefits or not. A focused selection of predictor variables included demographic, marital status, and other lifecycle-related variables. The “Yes/No” gray divorce variable was merged with the variable measuring divorce recency to unify the context of economic shocks at different lifecycle stages. The regression models were run separately by gender. Gray divorce was not a significant predictor for any combination of retiring and receiving Social Security benefits. Later-life marital dissolution did not play a role in respondents’ retirement behavior. A significant effect was found for divorces that had occurred 13 – 24 years earlier, when respondents were in their 40s. The study has implications for future research, policy, and practitioners. %B Human Ecology %I State University of New York at Binghamton %V PhD %P 246 %@ 9781085576499 %G eng %U https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/handle/2097/39513 %9 phd %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2019 %T How Does Employment-Based Insurance Coverage Relate to Health After Early Retirement? %A Ben Lennox Kail %K Activities of Daily Living %K Age Factors %K Aged %K depression %K Employment %K Female %K Health Benefit Plans, Employee %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K United States %B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %V 74 %P 1211-1212 %8 2019 Sep 15 %G eng %U http://psychsocgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/03/17/geronb.gbw020.short %N 7 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26988867?dopt=Abstract %4 retirement planning/public policy/transitions/insurance Coverage/employee benefits %$ 999999 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbw020 %0 Journal Article %J J Aging Health %D 2019 %T Impact of Diabetes and Disease Duration on Work Status Among U.S. Older Adults. %A Mutambudzi, Miriam %A César González-González %A Rebeca Wong %K Aging Workforce %K Diabetes %K Disability %K Retirement %X

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of diabetes and disease duration on work status over a 9-year period.

METHOD: Multinomial logistic regression models examined the probability of retirement and disability impeding work, using data from the Health and Retirement Study ( n = 5,576).

RESULTS: Among participants who had retired in 2012, almost 14% had incident diabetes (4.91 mean years with diabetes, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [4.67, 5.15]). Approximately 22% of participants who reported a disability impeded labor force participation had prevalent diabetes (17.1 mean years with diabetes, 95%CI = [16.41, 17.71]). Only prevalent diabetes that indicated longer disease duration was associated with disability (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 1.83, 95% CI = [1.30, 2.57]). There was evidence of effect modification among Hispanics only ( p = .02).

DISCUSSION: Diabetes increased risk of exiting the workforce due to disability, and mean disease duration was associated with changes. Disease management and workplace interventions may enable older adults to continue being productive should they choose to remain in the workforce.

%B J Aging Health %V 32 %G eng %U https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30767603/ %N 5-6 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30767603?dopt=Abstract %& 432-440 %R 10.1177/0898264318822897 %0 Thesis %B Social Work %D 2019 %T The impact of productive and leisure activities on cognitive health in later life %A Lee, Yeonjung %K Cognition %K Cognitive health %K Leisure %K Retirement %X BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cognitive decline in old age brings challenges such as economic and caregiving burden, loss of independence, and other health consequences (Alzheimer’s Association, 2018). The productive aging literature has advanced a number of ideas about how to stay healthy in later life (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2018; Morrow-Howell, Gonzales, Matz-Costa, & Greenfield, 2015). However, existing literature has: tended to focus on productive and leisure activities during limited spans of time; not explored how the productive/leisure activity–cognitive health relationship differs by the social determinants of health such as gender or race/ethnicity; and has not considered how these activities are collectively associated with cognition among older adults in the United States. Thus, using longitudinal data from a national cohort of older adults, this dissertation focuses on the following research questions: (1) Are the previous and ongoing cognitive, physical, and social complexities of work associated with cognitive health in later life? (2-a) Are the ongoing cognitive, physical, and social complexities of work and volunteering associated with cognitive health in later life? (2-b) Are the ongoing cognitive, physical, and social complexities of work, volunteering, and leisure activities associated with cognitive health in later life? For each question, the dissertation will explore whether associations vary by key social determinants of health. RESEARCH DESIGN: Using a nationally representative sample of older adults (51+) in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; 2004–2014), growth curve modeling is applied. The samples for research questions 1, 2-a, and 2-b include the following respondents, respectively: the Early Baby Boomer cohort, the HRS core survey respondents, and the HRS core respondents who provided information on leisure activity in the HRS Consumption and Activities Mail Survey (CAMS). CONTRIBUTIONS: Consistent with the Social Work Grand Challenge of advancing long and productive lives by focusing on cognitive aging, this study provides insight into cognitive aging research, interventions, and policy from a behavioral and social science perspective. Overall, this study adds to the discussion about policies and services to support older adults in maintaining active lifestyles and to promote healthy cognitive aging among older adults in the United States. %B Social Work %I Boston University %C Boston, MA %V Doctor of Philosophy %P 147 %8 2019 %G eng %U https://open.bu.edu/handle/2144/36153 %0 Thesis %B Public Policy & Policy Management %D 2019 %T The Impact of Retirement Savings Methods on Retiree Satisfaction %A Albanese,Joseph J., Jr. %K 0630:Public policy %K Defined-benefit %K Defined-contribution %K Pension %K Public Policy %K Retirement %K Satisfaction %K Savings %K Social Sciences %X This paper examines the relationship between sources of retirement income and self-reported retirement satisfaction, as well as the role of financial behavior in retirement savings decisions. The changing landscape of private retirement savings, especially the shift from defined-benefit pensions to defined-contribution plans and IRAs, raises the question of which savings method is associated with the best outcomes. Data from the Health and Retirement Survey show retirees who rely on income from employer-sponsored retirement plans report higher retirement satisfaction than those who depend on Social Security benefits, who in turn report higher satisfaction than those who rely on IRAs. Meanwhile, satisfaction among retirees who participate in defined-benefit pensions exceeds that of those who own defined-contribution plans. Data from the Survey of Consumer Finance additionally indicate that those with worse saving habits and greater aversion to financial risk tend to be less likely to participate in defined-contribution plans and tend to have lower retirement incomes. %B Public Policy & Policy Management %I Georgetown University %V Master of Public Policy %P 51 %@ 9781392076569 %G eng %U https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/handle/10822/1055075 %9 phd %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Applied Gerontology %D 2019 %T Nature of Retirement and Loneliness: The Moderating Roles of Social Support %A Shin, O. %A So Jung Park %A Amano, T. %A Kwon, E. %A BoRin Kim %K Loneliness %K Retirement %K Social Support %X Drawing from the social convoy model, this study investigates whether the nature of retirement (voluntary or involuntary) influences loneliness among retirees, and how different social support types may affect this association. Data come from the 2014 Health and Retirement Study (N = 2,055). Five social support types were identified: weak, ambivalent, strong positive, children strain, and family strain. Involuntary retirement was associated with a higher level of loneliness; however, involuntarily retired individuals with strong positive social support had a relatively lower level of loneliness. Findings from this study suggest that social support may alleviate the negative impacts of involuntary retirement. Our research provides a theoretical basis for developing a practical program to reduce the negative impacts of involuntary retirement on well-being. © The Author(s) 2019. %B Journal of Applied Gerontology %G eng %R 10.1177/0733464819886262 %0 Journal Article %J Aggression and Violent Behavior %D 2019 %T The propensity for aggressive behavior and lifetime incarceration risk: A test for gene-environment interaction (G × E) using whole-genome data %A Barnes, J.C. %A Hexuan Liu %A Motz, R.T. %A Tanksley, P.T. %A Kail, R. %A Beckley, A.L. %A Daniel W. Belsky %A Benjamin W Domingue %A Terrie E Moffitt %A Pratt, T.C. %A Wertz, J. %K Adult %K aggression %K controlled study %K criminology %K Female %K genetic association %K genetic risk score %K genetic susceptibility %K genotype environment interaction %K high school %K human %K major clinical study %K Male %K mental capacity %K Retirement %K review %X Incarceration is a disruptive event that is experienced by a considerable proportion of the United States population. Research has identified social factors that predict incarceration risk, but scholars have called for a focus on the ways that individual differences combine with social factors to affect incarceration risk. Our study is an initial attempt to heed this call using whole-genome data. We use data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) (N = 6716) to construct a genome-wide measure of genetic propensity for aggressive behavior and use it to predict lifetime incarceration risk. We find that participants with a higher genetic propensity for aggression are more likely to experience incarceration, but the effect is stronger for males than females. Importantly, we identify a gene-environment interaction (G × E)—genetic propensity is reduced, substantively and statistically, to a non-significant predictor for males raised in homes where at least one parent graduated high school. We close by placing these findings in the broader context of concerns that have been raised about genetics research in criminology. © 2019 %B Aggression and Violent Behavior %V 49 %G eng %U https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359178919300631 %R 10.1016/j.avb.2019.07.002 %0 Journal Article %J Psychology and Aging %D 2019 %T The psychology of portfolio withdrawal rates. %A Asebedo, Sarah D. %A Chris Browning %K agreeableness %K Conscientiousness %K extraversion %K Finance %K Negative Emotions %K Neuroticism %K Openness to Experience %K Personality %K Personality Traits %K portfolio withdrawal rates %K Positive Emotions %K psychological characteristics %K Retirement %K Self-efficacy %X This study investigates how personality and psychological characteristics shape portfolio withdrawal rates (PWR) within a sample of 3,678 U.S. individuals age 50 and over from the Health and Retirement Study. Structural equation model results revealed that those with greater conscientiousness, extraversion, positive affect, and financial self-efficacy have lower PWR; whereas those with greater openness, agreeableness, neuroticism, and negative affect have higher PWR. Findings from this study break new ground by establishing a link between psychological characteristics and PWR. Moreover, results provide insight to financial planning practitioners as they explore retirement income planning beyond its technical aspects and seek to maximize their clients’ satisfaction from the consumption of their retirement portfolios. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved) %B Psychology and Aging %G eng %U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31738071 %0 Journal Article %J Alzheimer's and Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions %D 2019 %T Racial disparities and temporal trends in dementia misdiagnosis risk in the United States %A Kan Z Gianattasio %A Prather, C. %A M. Maria Glymour %A Ciarleglio, A. %A Melinda C Power %K Aged %K algorithm %K ancestry group %K Article %K Black person %K Caucasian %K Dementia %K diagnostic error %K ethnic group %K Female %K health disparity %K human %K ICD-9-CM %K major clinical study %K Male %K Medicare %K priority journal %K Retirement %K risk factor %K sensitivity analysis %K Sensitivity and Specificity %K United States %X Introduction: Systematic disparities in misdiagnosis of dementia across racial/ethnic groups have implications for health disparities. We compared the risk of dementia under- and overdiagnosis in clinical settings across racial/ethnic groups from 2000 to 2010. Methods: We linked fee-for-service Medicare claims to participants aged ≥70 from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study. We classified dementia status using an algorithm with similar sensitivity and specificity across racial/ethnic groups and assigned clinical dementia diagnosis status using ICD-9-CM codes from Medicare claims. Multinomial logit models were used to estimate relative risks of clinical under- and overdiagnosis between groups and over time. Results: Non-Hispanic blacks had roughly double the risk of underdiagnosis as non-Hispanic whites. While primary analyses suggested a shrinking disparity over time, this was not robust to sensitivity analyses or adjustment for covariates. Risk of overdiagnosis increased over time in both groups. Discussion: Our results suggest that efforts to reduce racial disparities in underdiagnosis are warranted. © 2019 The Authors %B Alzheimer's and Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions %V 5 %P 891-898 %G eng %R 10.1016/j.trci.2019.11.008 %0 Web Page %D 2019 %T Retiree Households Lose $111,000 to This Social Security Misstep %A Kissell, Chris %K Retirement %K Social Security Benefits %I MoneyTalksNews %G eng %U https://www.moneytalksnews.com/96-of-retirees-will-make-this-costly-social-security-mistake/ %0 Report %D 2019 %T Retirement and Health Investment Behaviors: An International Comparison %A Motegi, Hiroyuki %A Nishimura, Yoshinori %A Oikawa, Masato %K aging population %K global aging data %K health investment behaviors %K health outcomes %K Heterogeneity %K Retirement %X This study aims to better understand the effects of retirement on health outcomes, which is of great interest worldwide, by examining the effects of retirement on health investment behaviors. To this end, we conducted a large-scale international comparison of the changes in health investment behaviors after retirement among the populations of seven developed countries using Global Aging Data, exploiting differences in the financial incentives in the pension systems of each country as our identification strategy. The results show that while elderly change their health investment behaviors in some way after retirement, the patterns of the changes in many health investment behaviors differ across each country. Further, a review of the literature and our results suggest that health investment behaviors are not necessarily determinants of the effects of retirement on health. %I Munich Personal RePEc Archive Paper %C Munich, Germany %8 09/2019 %G eng %U https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/96133/ %0 Report %D 2019 %T The retirement solution hiding in plain sight %A Fellows, Matt %A Fichtner, Jason %A Plews, Lincoln %A Whitman, Kevin %K Decision making %K Retirement %K Social Security %X Social Security now accounts for about one-third of all income annually received by U.S. retirees, amounting to $1 trillion in annual benefits. While impactful, research consistently finds that the financial effect of Social Security could be even greater if more people waited to enroll, since monthly benefits can increase in value if retirees delay claiming. But, we don’t know how much is annually lost from households making the sub-optimal decision about when to claim Social Security, how many are making mistakes, or who is making those wrong decisions. To explore these questions, we utilize new technology invented by United Income and data sponsored by the Social Security Administration, finding: Retirees will collectively lose $3.4 trillion in potential income that they could spend during their retirement because they claimed Social Security at a financially sub-optimal time, or an average of $111,000 per household. The average Social Security recipient would receive 9 percent more income in retirement if they made the financially optimal decision about when to claim this retirement benefit. Current retirees will collectively lose an estimated $2.1 trillion in wealth because they made the sub-optimal decision about when to claim Social Security, or an average of $68,000 per household. Most retirees will lose wealth in their 60s and early 70s if they choose to optimize Social Security, but will be wealthier in their late 70s through the rest of their lives. Only 4 percent of retirees make the financially optimal decision about when to claim Social Security. About 57 percent of retirees would build more wealth through their life if they waited to claim until they were 70 years old (when only 4 percent of retirees currently claim), while only 6.5 percent of retirees would have more wealth if they claimed prior to turning 64 (when over 70 percent of retirees currently claim benefits). About 21 percent of those at risk of not affording retirement (or having enough income to cover their expected cost of living) would see an improvement in their chances if they claimed Social Security at the optimal time. Among those retirees at risk that start with a greater than 10 percent chance of affording retirement, 95 percent see their chances of affording retirement improve by an average of 28 percent. Elderly poverty could be cut by nearly 50 percent if all retirees claimed Social Security at the financially optimal time. In particular, about 13 percent of people over the age of 70 are expected to live in poverty at some point, which is estimated to fall to 7 percent if retirees had claimed Social Security at the optimal time –a rate that could potentially fall even further if they earned additional income while they waited to claim Social Security. This report finds that nearly no retirees are making the financially optimal decision about Social Security, and that the costs of those mistakes are high for retiring households, particularly those at risk of not being able to afford retirement. In addition, since making the optimal decision means sacrificing wealth in the near-term, we think it is unlikely more people will make the right decision without a policy intervention. There are numerous difficulties associated with solving this problem, though, which will require a thorough and diverse process for addressing. Among the topics for consideration should be the eligibility age range rules, which were last materially modified in 1983. Since 92 percent of retirees are expected to be better off waiting to claim until at least their 65th birthday, claiming before should ideally be an exception for those who demonstrably need to claim benefits before the full retirement age. Means-testing rules may be one way to address this, though an easier place to start would be to change how the Social Security Administration frames claiming age options to the public. Instead of portraying age 62 as the “early eligibility age,” for instance, claiming at age 62 could instead be labeled as the “minimum benefit age” while age 70 could be labeled as the “maximum benefit age.” The Social Security Administration could also be provided with resources to improve utilization of the policy it administers, perhaps in partnership with third-party fiduciaries. With the potential to put $2.1 trillion wealth and $3.4 trillion in income in the pockets of retirees, policymakers should be focused on improving this program. %B United Income White Papers %I Capital One %C Washington, D.C. %G eng %U https://unitedincome.capitalone.com/library/the-retirement-solution-hiding-in-plain-sight %0 Journal Article %J National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series %D 2019 %T SeaTE: Subjective ex ante Treatment Effect of Health on Retirement %A Giustinelli, Pamela %A Matthew D. Shapiro %K health %K Retirement %K SeaTE %X The Subjective ex ante Treatment Effect is the difference between the probabilities of an outcome conditional on a treatment. The SeaTE yields ex ante causal effects at the individual level. The paper gives an interpretation in two workhorse econometric frameworks: potential outcomes and dynamic programming. It finds large effect heterogeneity of health on work in two surveys of older workers, the VRI and the HRS. It shows how reduced-form estimates of health on work are biased when there is unobserved heterogeneity in taste for work. Using the VRI’s panel structure, it validates the elicited conditional probabilities of work given health. %B National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series %V No. 26087 %8 2019 %G eng %U http://www.nber.org/papers/w26087 %R 10.3386/w26087 %0 Thesis %B Public Affairs %D 2019 %T Topics on Retirement Saving, Retirement and Health in the Era of Population Aging %A Ngoc Dao %K 0573:Public health %K 0630:Public policy %K Long-term Care %K Public Health %K Public Policy %K Retirement %K Retirement saving %X Aging population is a worldwide phenomenon. In the United States, as in 2015 about 48 million Americans are over 65 or older, which accounts for 14.9 percent of the total population. And by 2030, one of every five Americans will be over the age of 65. The ramifications of an aging population are serious and potentially large because it challenges the fiscal and macroeconomic stability tasks through increase in government spending on pension, health care and social benefits programs for the elderly such as Social Security and Medicare programs. This dissertation composes of three essays that aim at examining the relationship between government policies and the preparedness for retirement and healthcare aspects of the aging population. In Chapter 1, I examined the effect of federal tax policy in encouraging working classes to save more for their retirement, especially among those who are approaching to be retired. One of the big questions that center the empirical research on retirement and saving is whether the American save enough for their consumption in the post-retirement period. Although the answer is still unsolved due to disagreement over what constitutes adequate saving for retirement. It is of great importance to see how government policies help promote saving for retirement. The second and third Chapters examined the effects of the federal minimum wage expansion to home care workers on employment, and on the utilization and the cost of home care services that become increasingly important for senior and disabled people in the country. In sum, the dissertation provides important evidence on how public policies influenced economic behaviors among the older workers and families, and have critical policy implications in bolstering the financial and healthy well-being of the older Americans. %B Public Affairs %I Indiana University %V PhD %P 194 %@ 9781687905055 %G eng %9 phd %0 Conference Paper %B 2019 18th IEEE International Conference On Machine Learning And Applications (ICMLA) %D 2019 %T Unsupervised Learning on the Health and Retirement Study using Geometric Data Analysis %A R. Sanchez-Arias %A R. W. Batista %K Aging, Sociology %K Data analysis %K dimensionality reduction %K Economics %K Education %K hierarchical clustering %K multiple correspondence analysis %K Retirement %K Statistics %X A geometric data analysis that builds a lower dimensional representation of both individuals and measured variables is used to detect and represent underlying structures in the US Health and Retirement Study, a longitudinal survey of a representative sample of Americans over age 50 that captures information on how changing health interacts with social, economic, and psychological factors and retirement decisions. Multiple correspondence analysis is performed on a subset of the survey responses, creating a lower dimensional representation of the respondents and their response patterns, and a hierarchical clustering method is applied to test and validate specific structures in this population study. %B 2019 18th IEEE International Conference On Machine Learning And Applications (ICMLA) %I IEEE %C Boca Raton, FL, USA %8 12/2019 %G eng %U https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8999159 %R 10.1109/ICMLA.2019.00063 %0 Journal Article %J Health promotion international %D 2019 %T Wealth and the health of older Black women in the United States %A Sharma, A. %K Adult %K Article %K Education %K Female %K human %K human experiment %K human tissue %K major clinical study %K panel study %K Policy %K Population Health %K Retirement %K Social determinants of health %K United States %K Wellbeing %K Women's Health %X Public health scholars and policy-makers are concerned that the United States continues to experience unmanageable health care costs while struggling with issues surrounding access and equity. To addresses these and other key issues, the National Academy of Medicine held a public symposium, Vital Directions for Health and Health Care: A National Conversation during September 2016, with the goal of identifying clear priorities for high-value health care and improved well-being. One important area was addressing social determinants of health. This article contributes to this objective by investigating the impact of wealth on older Black women's health. Employing the 2008/2010 waves of the RAND Health and Retirement Study on a sample of 906 older Black women, this panel study examined self-assessed health ratings of very good/good/fair/poor within a relaxed random effects framework, thereby controlling for both (i) observed and (ii) unobserved individual-level heterogeneity. This analysis did not find a statistically significant association with wealth despite a difference of approximately $75 000 in its valuation from very good to poor health. This also occurred after wealth was (i) readjusted for outliers and (ii) reformulated as negative, no change or positive change from 2008. This finding suggests that wealth may not play as integral a role. However, the outcome was significant for earnings and education, particularly higher levels of education. Scholars should further this inquiry to better understand how earnings/education/wealth operate as social determinants of health for minority populations. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com. %B Health promotion international %V 34 %P 1055-1068 %G eng %R 10.1093/heapro/day053 %0 Report %D 2018 %T Is the Affordable Care Act Affecting Retirement Yet? %A Helen G Levy %A Thomas Buchmueller %A Sayeh Nikpay %K Affordable Care Act %K Insurance %K Public Assistance %K Retirement %X We analyze whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has affected labor supply of older Americans using data that span more than four years after the policy’s implementation in 2014. We find no changes in labor supply of older Americans either in response to subsidized marketplace coverage, which became available nationally in 2014, or in response to the expansion of Medicaid eligibility in some states but not others. We analyze multiple dimensions of labor supply — labor force participation; employment; full-time work conditional on employment — as well as several measures of retirement including self-reported retirement and the receipt of retirement income. We fail to find labor supply effects even for subgroups with less than a high school education or those with fair or poor health, who might have been expected to have a greater labor supply response. The lack of a labor supply response stands in contrast to the large gains in coverage observed in 2014. These results suggest that for Americans approaching retirement the Affordable Care Act achieved its primary goal of increasing coverage without the unintended consequence of reducing labor supply. %I University of Michigan %G eng %U https://ideas.repec.org/p/mrr/papers/wp393.html %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2018 %T Antecedents of Gray Divorce: A Life Course Perspective. %A Lin, I-Fen %A Susan L. Brown %A Matthew R Wright %A Anna M Hammersmith %K Age Factors %K Divorce %K Female %K Humans %K Interviews as Topic %K Male %K Marriage %K Middle Aged %K Prospective Studies %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Socioeconomic factors %K Spouses %K United States %X

Objectives: Increasingly, older adults are experiencing divorce, yet little is known about the risk factors associated with divorce after age 50 (termed "gray divorce"). Guided by a life course perspective, our study examined whether key later life turning points are related to gray divorce.

Method: We used data from the 1998-2012 Health and Retirement Study to conduct a prospective, couple-level discrete-time event history analysis of the antecedents of gray divorce. Our models incorporated key turning points (empty nest, retirement, and poor health) as well as demographic characteristics and economic resources.

Results: Contrary to our expectations, the onset of an empty nest, the wife's or husband's retirement, and the wife's or husband's chronic conditions were unrelated to the likelihood of gray divorce. Rather, factors traditionally associated with divorce among younger adults were also salient for older adults. Marital duration, marital quality, home ownership, and wealth were negatively related to the risk of gray divorce.

Discussion: Gray divorce is especially likely to occur among couples who are socially and economically disadvantaged, raising new questions about the consequences of gray divorce for individual health and well-being.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %V 73 %P 1022-1031 %8 2018 08 14 %G eng %U http://psychsocgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/lookup/doi/10.1093/geronb/gbw164 %N 6 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27986850?dopt=Abstract %! GERONB %R 10.1093/geronb/gbw164 %0 Report %D 2018 %T Delayed Retirement and the Growth in Income Inequality at Older Ages %A Richard W. Johnson %K Income inequality %K Retirement %X As concerns about retirement savings have intensified, many older adults have begun working beyond traditional retirement age. By working longer, they can improve their retirement security by increasing their future monthly Social Security payments and shortening the time they must rely on their savings. But does delaying retirement deepen income inequality for older adults by leaving those with health problems behind? Delayed retirement can boost financial security but excludes workers with health problems Employment and income for 62-to-64-year-olds has increased substantially over the past two decades for people in good health. But employment and income have stagnated for older Americans with health problems, who face lower income than their healthier counterparts for the rest of their lives. To assess how later retirement affects income inequality at older ages, we examined how the relationship between health status, employment, and income has shifted for people eligible for early Social Security retirement benefits but too young to receive full retirement benefits. %I The Urban Institute %8 02/2018 %G eng %U https://www.urban.org/research/publication/delayed-retirement-and-growth-income-inequality-older-ages %0 Journal Article %J Postepy Psychiatrii i Neurologii %D 2018 %T Depression and depressive symptoms as risk factors of labour deactivation and early or disability retirement in economically active adults in different age groups %A Konopko, M. %A Antosik-Wojcinska, A. %A Swiecicki, L. %A Wojnar, M. %A Bienkowski, P. %A Sienkiewicz-Jarosz, H. %K Depressive symptoms %K Disabilities %K Retirement %K SHARE %X Purpose: Over the recent years, the number of people over 54 years of age, who decide to make use of early retirement, has systematically increased. Economic inactivation is also an emerging problem in the group of younger adults. Depression or depressive symptoms should be taken into consideration in analysing variables that may play a role in the decisional process regarding occupational activities. The aim of the present work is to summarise the role of depression or depressive symptoms in the process of decision-making to continue occupational activities or to quit them. Review: The authors listed and discussed the most recent and representative surveys and studies regarding causes of retirement, concentrating especially on depression and depressive symptoms. The studies summarised here include the Health and Retirement Study, English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe and WHO's Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health. It has been shown, that prevalence of depressive symptoms of different severity in professionally active people may range from 6% to 32%. Depressive symptoms significantly increase the chance for retirement. Conclusions: Depressive disorders can affect people in all age categories and are one of the main cause of early disability retirement or early retirement tendencies. It is important to consider depressive disorders in policies supporting labour force participation. © 2018 Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology. Production and hosting by Termedia sp. z o.o. %B Postepy Psychiatrii i Neurologii %V 27 %G eng %N 1 %& 59-63 %0 Journal Article %J J Aging Health %D 2018 %T Educational and Gender Differences in Health Behavior Changes After a Gateway Diagnosis. %A Elaine M Hernandez %A Rachel Margolis %A Robert A Hummer %K Aged %K Attitude to Health %K Educational Status %K Exercise %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Humans %K Hypertension %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Sex Factors %K Smoking cessation %K United States %X

OBJECTIVE: Hypertension represents a gateway diagnosis to more serious health problems that occur as people age. We examine educational differences in three health behavior changes people often make after receiving this diagnosis in middle or older age, and test whether these educational differences depend on (a) the complexity of the health behavior change and (b) gender.

METHOD: We use data from the Health and Retirement Study and conduct logistic regression analysis to examine the likelihood of modifying health behaviors post diagnosis.

RESULTS: We find educational differences in three behavior changes-antihypertensive medication use, smoking cessation, and physical activity initiation-after a hypertension diagnosis. These educational differences in health behaviors were stronger among women compared with men.

DISCUSSION: Upon receiving a hypertension diagnosis, education is a more important predictor of behavior changes for women compared with men, which may help explain gender differences in the socioeconomic gradient in health in the United States.

%B J Aging Health %V 30 %P 342-364 %8 2018 03 %G eng %U http://jah.sagepub.com/cgi/doi/10.1177/0898264316678756 %N 3 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27940641?dopt=Abstract %! Journal of Aging and Health %R 10.1177/0898264316678756 %0 Journal Article %J Regional Science and Urban Economics %D 2018 %T The effect of housing wealth shocks on work and retirement decisions %A Jaclene Begley %A Sewin Chan %K Housing wealth %K Retirement %K Retirement reversals %K Social Security %K Unanticipated shocks %X Using panel data from 2000 to 2012, we show that unanticipated zip code-level shocks to home values affect retirement, retirement reversals, and Social Security claims. Among older men, homeowners experiencing moderately negative housing price shocks are less likely to retire, more likely to reverse retirement in some cases, and more likely to delay claiming Social Security relative to those experiencing positive shocks. We find similar responses among specific subgroups of older women, though not in general. Overall, our results imply that adverse housing shocks have substantial influence on labor market participation for older individuals. %B Regional Science and Urban Economics %V 73 %P 180 - 195 %G eng %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166046217302211 %R https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2018.10.001 %0 Thesis %B Psychology %D 2018 %T The Effect of Life Satisfaction on Health Care Utilization in Retirement Age Americans: A Latent Transition Analysis %A Kouchi,Kathryn %K 0621:Psychology %K Health care utilization %K Latent transition analysis %K Life Satisfaction %K Psychology %K Retirement %X Retirement is often celebrated as an important milestone in life. It is also a time when health concerns may increase as retirees enter the early stages of old age. The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is evidence for distinct patterns of excessive health care use and life satisfaction in the immediate post-retirement period. The role theory of retirement states that individuals may experience psychological distress during the retirement transition due to the loss of a work identity (Wang, 2007). This psychological vacuum created by the loss of work identity may manifest itself as low life satisfaction. The vacuum may be filled by increased health care utilization among older adults post-retirement. While high life satisfaction has been linked to less health care utilization, there has been no systematic search for subgroups of retirees who show more health care use. (E.S. Kim, Park, Sun, Smith & Peterson, 2014; Gorry, 2015). The present study used a large longitudinal database of older adults, the Health and Retirement Study, to analyze membership in different life satisfaction and health care use trajectories from the pre- to post-retirement measurement waves. A latent transition analysis was utilized to identify classes of retirees that show differences in self-reported life satisfaction and health care use over time and found three distinct trajectories (low down-tick, moderate up-tick, high stable) of life satisfaction and four distinct trajectories (as distinguished by low, moderate, high levels of illness and HCU) of health care use. There was a significant, albeit weak association between one’s membership in a given life satisfaction trajectory and health care use trajectory. %B Psychology %I University of Alabama %V Master of Arts %P 48 %@ 9780438888531 %G eng %U https://ir.ua.edu/bitstream/handle/123456789/5372/file_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y %9 phd %0 Thesis %B Public Health %D 2018 %T Effect of Retirement on Health and Mortality. %A Saxena, Akshar %K health %K Mortality %K Retirement %X Retirement involves a reduction in work hours, and is usually associated with a reduction in household income, and both these factors can affect health. This dissertation comprises of three studies that, together, explore the (1) effect of own and spousal statutory pension eligibility on health outcomes; (2) effect of retirement and change in household income on self-reported and objectives measures of general health, mental health, and functional health; and (3) effect of retirement and change in household income on mortality. The first study analyzes the effect of pension eligibility on health using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). It finds that own pension eligibility is associated with better health for both sexes. The results also suggest intra-household spillovers as spousal pension eligibility reduces the odds of poor health outcomes for men and raises the odds of depression for women. The second study estimates the effect of retirement and reduction in household income on health, controlling for the potential reverse causality from health, using pension eligibility and payment amounts as instruments that affect both retirement decisions and income in retirement. It uses longitudinal data on men and women from HRS and SHARE on retirement, income, and health, combined with data on statutory pension eligibility and payment amounts in each country. It finds that both being retired, and higher household income, are significantly associated with better health outcomes, such as lower risks of poor self-rated health, depression, or difficulty with activities of daily living. Overall, the results suggest that taken together these two effects combine to give a small improvement in health on average when people stop working and replace labor income with a lower pension. The third study analyzes the impact of retirement and household income on the mortality of men in the United States using data from the HRS. It undertakes a survival analysis using a control function approach to allow for the fact that retirement and income may reflect unobserved health conditions that affect mortality. It identifies the model using early, and normal, statutory pension eligibility as instruments that affect retirement decisions and household income but do not directly affect mortality. The study finds that retirement and higher household income both substantially lower the hazard of mortality. Pension eligibility increases the likelihood of retirement, but reduces household income, but we estimate the net effect through both mechanisms to be a small reduction in mortality hazard. %B Public Health %I Harvard University %C Cambridge, MA %V Master of Science %P 231 %8 05/2018 %G eng %U https://dash.harvard.edu/handle/1/37945628 %0 Thesis %B Sociology %D 2018 %T The Effects of Paid Work on Health in Later Life: Variation by Socioeconomic Status. %A Gumber, Clayton Michael %K Cognitive health %K Employment %K Physical Health %K Psychological Health %K Retirement %K SES %X Studies examining the link between older adults’ labor force participation and health frequently report that later life employment is health enhancing. However, few studies consider how these benefits could vary by socioeconomic status (SES). In this dissertation I seek to address this oversight using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). By exploring the relationship between older adults’ employment, SES, and health in three key areas (i.e., depressive symptoms, total recall, and physical impairment), I provide a more in-depth account of the health implications of later life employment. To accomplish this goal, I conduct three sets of analyses. In the first set of analyses I assess cross-sectional associations between employment status and health. My findings indicate that both part-time employment and full-time employment are significantly linked to fewer depressive symptoms, better recall, and fewer functional limitations. Contrary to my expectations, I find no evidence that full-time employment is especially beneficial compared with part-time employment. In the second set of analyses, I use longitudinal data to evaluate associations between employment stability and change and health. The longitudinal results are generally consistent with cross-sectional findings and indicate a positive relationship between older adults’ employment and health. In the third set of analyses, I examine whether the relationship between older adults’ labor force involvement and health varies by SES using cross-sectional and longitudinal data. A review of the interaction terms from the cross-sectional analyses suggests that SES does not significantly condition such a relationship. However, longitudinal findings do offer some evidence that higher educational attainment and wealth may weaken the association between employment change and cognitive and physical health. %B Sociology %I Florida State University %C Tallahassee, FL %V Doctor of Philosophy %P 101 %8 07/2018 %G eng %U http://fsu.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fsu%3A647232 %0 Thesis %B Economics %D 2018 %T Essays on Retirement Behavior during the Housing Boom and Bust %A Fu,Wancong %K 0501:Economics %K 0510:Labor economics %K Economics %K Housing wealth %K Labor economics %K Mortgage foreclosure %K Retirement %K Saving behaivor %K Social Sciences %X This study contains two chapters. The first uses the Prentice-Gloeckler-Meyer proportional hazard model with individual heterogeneity to investigate the effects of loss aversion concerning the housing market and the local foreclosure rate on retirement during the housing bust periods. The second chapter creates a dynamic programming life-cycle model with the housing wealth and uses the Method of Simulated Moments to systematically study the retirement and saving behavior during the housing boom and bust (the years 2000–2014). Housing wealth is one of the biggest savings for elderly. It relates to the financial security of elderly after retirement. After the incredible growth of housing prices in the early 2000s, the housing market melted down at the end of the year 2007. A tremendous decline in property value caused a high uncertainty about the housing market. Even though elderly were not sure how severe the housing bust would be, they knew the highest value of home equity before the Great Recession. In the first chapter, we use this highest value at the year 2006 to measure the loss aversion concerning housing wealth. Higher housing equity at the year 2006 might experience more loss in the Great Recession. When there was a loss of housing wealth, it increased the uncertainty of financial resources in the future. Delaying retirement and working more years to increase savings are a reasonable plan to improve resources. For the same amount of housing wealth loss, the effect is not the same if elderly live in a different area and a different housing market. The expectation of housing market performance is also not the same. We have high-quality data on local foreclosure rates from Equifax. It provides the number of foreclosures starting in the first week of July from year 2005 to 2012 on the zip-code level. We use the local foreclosure rate to approximate the expectation of the local housing market. Coefficients of both home equity at the year 2006 and local foreclosure rate (except the year 2009) are significant and negative, meaning elderly with higher home equity at the year 2006 and elderly who live in an area with a higher foreclosure rate significantly delay their retirement. In the second chapter, we create a dynamic programming life-cycle model based on French and Jones (2011). We still take into account the risks of wage, health status, mortality and medical cost in our models. Because we study the elderly after the year 2000, the ‘Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act of 2000’ that eliminates the Social Security earnings test after normal retirement age is applied. We use the re-entry state variable to control the labor force participation when there is no Social Security earnings test. New models separate the housing wealth from total wealth in the original model and consider the housing wealth through two constraints: the baseline model has an unknown proportional housing wealth in the asset accumulation equation; the modified model has a home equity borrowing constraint. New models also take into account housing wealth change in the bequest motive component. Both the baseline and modified models match the labor-force participation well and capture the high exit rate at the Medicare age. The coefficient of unknown proportional housing wealth in the baseline model indicates that elderly takes into account approximately 25 percent of their housing wealth in the asset accumulation, which, coincidently, is close to the average ratio of loan to value in the data. The modified model matches better than the baseline model in the asset quantile moments (saving behavior). Robust checks show the bequest coefficients significantly change if we do not separate housing wealth from total wealth. Surprisingly, change of bequest curvature is close to the mean of the housing wealth. Three experiments are conducted in the second chapter. We experiment with two different housing wealth projections and one tighter borrowing constraint. The results indicate that loss of housing wealth and tight borrowing constraints delay retirement. Even though we use the long-term growth rate and obtain a similar mean of labor-force participation rate, the curves significantly shift to adjust the new expectation of housing wealth change. %B Economics %I Syracuse University %V PhD %P 112 %@ 9780438102330 %G eng %U https://surface.syr.edu/etd/846/ %9 phd %0 Report %D 2018 %T The Hidden Risk of Retirement: The Impact of Retirement on Mental Health %A Christopher Crouch %K Mental and Physical Health %K Mental Disorders %K Mental Health %K Retirement %X Early retirement is a popular goal for many Americans but little research has been conducted to investigate the impact of this decision. This paper estimates the effects of retirement on several mental health outcomes using an ordered-probit model. Results suggest that retirement is negatively related to mental health in four of the tested categories: cognitive skills, mental status, memory, and Alzheimer’s symptoms. This implies that early retirement may have hidden costs and that working longer may help to preserve mental health. %I SSRN %G eng %U https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3254547 %0 Journal Article %J The Journal of the Economics of Ageing %D 2018 %T Lifetime job demands and later life disability %A Lauren Hersch Nicholas %A Nicolae Done %A Micah Y. Baum %K Aging workers %K disability insurance %K health %K Retirement %K Working conditions %X Occupational characteristics may improve or harm health later in life. Previous research, largely based on limited exposure periods, reached mixed conclusions. We use Health and Retirement Study data linked to the Department of Labor’s O*Net job classification system to examine the relationship between lifetime exposure to occupational demands and disability later in life. We consistently find an association between non-routine cognitive demands and lower rates of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) receipt and work-limiting health conditions. Routine manual demands are associated with moderately worse health and increased SSDI receipt in most lifetime specifications. These results are robust to various specifications of occupational demand measures and controlling for transitions between jobs of different levels of occupational intensity. We show that failure to account for job characteristic exposure early in a worker’s tenure obscures the relationship between physical job demands and disability later in life. While characteristics of jobs worked at ages 30 and 55 are both predictive of later-life health outcomes, early-life job characteristics frequently dominate in models containing early and late exposures. %B The Journal of the Economics of Ageing %P 100184 %G eng %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212828X18300276 %R https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeoa.2018.12.003 %0 Journal Article %J Aging Ment Health %D 2018 %T Loneliness and depressive symptoms: the moderating role of the transition into retirement. %A Dikla Segel-Karpas %A Liat Ayalon %A Margie E Lachman %K Aged %K depression %K Female %K Humans %K Loneliness %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %X

OBJECTIVES: The transition to retirement implies significant changes in daily routine and in the social environment. More specifically, it requires more self-directed efforts in order to stay socially engaged. Hence, for those who suffer from loneliness, the transition to retirement could result in increased depressive symptoms due to the lack of structured daily routine.

METHODS: We used two waves of the Health and Retirement Study, and tested whether the transition to retirement between the two waves moderates the effects of loneliness on depressive symptoms.

RESULTS: The transition to retirement moderated the effect of loneliness in wave 1 on depressive symptoms in wave 2, such that for those who retired, the effect was stronger in comparison to those who stayed employed.

CONCLUSIONS: Although many manage to easily transition into retirement, lonely older workers are at increased risk for maladjustment and the experience of depressive symptoms following retirement. This group could perhaps benefit from interventions aimed at increasing daily social interactions and establishing a socially satisfying routine.

%B Aging Ment Health %V 22 %P 135-140 %8 2018 Jan %G eng %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27624519?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1080/13607863.2016.1226770 %0 Report %D 2018 %T Occupational Retirement and Social Security Reform: the Roles of Physical and Cognitive Health %A Jiayi Wen %K Cognition %K Retirement %K Social Security %X Under skill-biased technical change, jobs are becoming less physically demanding whereas require increasing cognitive abilities. However, existing research does not pay sufficient attention on the role of cognitive health in older people's labor supply, nor to the occupation-dependent labor supply effects of physical and cognitive health. This paper reveals several facts about the heterogeneity of physical and cognitive health, as well as their relationship with older people's labor supply across occupations. Based on these facts, this paper proposes and estimates a dynamic programming structural model of individual retirement and saving decisions. The model allows labor supply effects of physical and cognitive health to differ across occupations via four channels respectively: disutility of working, wage, medical expenditure and life expectancy . I estimate the model with the U.S. Health and Retirement Study data by Indirect Inference. The counterfactual experiments suggest cognitive health has little retirement effect for manual workers. However, for clerical workers, the effect is almost as large as the one of physical health. The counterfactual experiment also reveals the mechanisms through which physical and cognitive health affects labor supply respectively. Finally, this paper quantifies the distributional effects of proposed Social Security changes on retirement, benefits and welfare across occupations. %G eng %U https://ideas.repec.org/p/wyi/wpaper/002390.html %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Disability Policy Studies %D 2018 %T The Postretirement Well-Being of Workers With Disabilities %A April Yanyuan Wu %A Jody Schimmel Hyde %K Disabilities %K Disability %K Retirement %K Well-being %X Older workers who develop significant limitations in health or functioning face declines in income and consumption and an increased likelihood of poverty in the years prior to retirement. We assess the extent to which those differences persist after reaching retirement age. We use the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) linked to Social Security Administration (SSA) records to compare the postretirement financial well-being of workers who experienced disability onset during their working years with those who did not, based on their claiming behavior for Social Security disability and retirement benefits. We find that even after full retirement age, gaps that emerged prior to retirement persist; those who experienced disability prior to retirement had lower incomes, were more likely to be in poverty, and had significantly lower wealth. Workers with disabilities who claimed Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) fared better than those who were rejected for such benefits, yet both groups were worse off than those who delayed claiming benefits until they were eligible for Social Security Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) benefits. Our findings indicate that any changes to the Social Security benefit structure must be mindful of the short- and longer term implications for already-vulnerable groups of workers. %B Journal of Disability Policy Studies %V 30 %P 46 - 55 %8 2019/06/01 %@ 1044-2073 %G eng %U https://doi.org/10.1177/1044207318793161 %N 1 %! Journal of Disability Policy Studies %0 Thesis %B Economics %D 2018 %T Three Essays on Retirement: The Patterns and Consequences of Job Insecurity and Employer Risk-Shifting %A Bridges,Thomas P. %K 0511:Economic theory %K Economic theory %K Job loss %K Pensions %K Retiree health insurance %K Retirement %K Social Sciences %X This dissertation investigates how retirement behavior is affected by job insecurity and the shift of economic risk from employers to employees. Chapter I, “Household Responses to a Late-Career Job Loss,” demonstrates that spousal earnings affect an individual's decision to retire. I find that husbands with high-earning spouses are more likely to retire following an involuntary job loss. I augment earlier studies by considering how spousal earnings and household assets affect a worker's post-displacement labor supply. By developing a stylized two-period model, I illustrate how labor supply responds to spousal earnings and household assets in an uncertain environment. I test my theoretical model's predictions using data from the Household Retirement Survey (HRS) and a reduced-form empirical specification. Husbands with high-earning wives are more likely to exit the labor force following displacement than those married to low-earners, but this does not hold for older women. In both populations, a displaced worker with higher household assets is less likely to return to the labor force. For both sexes, job loss has a profound impact on retirement well-being. At a broader level, a reduction in the labor supply of older workers has negative fiscal consequences. Chapter II, “Trends in Retiree Health Insurance: New Evidence from Household Surveys” deviates from past studies of individuals’ trends in access to employer-sponsored, early-retiree health insurance (ESERHI) that largely relied on employer-provided data. Because of this, direct estimates of levels and trends in access to ESERHI have been unavailable. Using data from seven waves of the HRS, I provide precise population estimates of levels and trends in the availability of ESERHI for individuals aged 55-64 between 2002 and 2014. I find that (1) declines in access measured at the individual level mirror offer rates at the employer level; (2) the diminishing probability of early-retiring individuals having health insurance coverage is less affected by their own employers withdrawing this coverage, and more affected by declines in the number of employers ever offering such coverage; and, (3) access to ESERHI declines more for some population groups, e.g., men, than others. I discuss the possible effects of declining access on individuals making the choice to opt for early retirement. Chapter III, “Retirement Savings Responses to Liquidity Change and Consumption Needs” studies factors that lead households to contribute to their retirement savings or withdraw money from these plans (viz. defined contribution 401(k) and 403(b) plans, traditional and Roth individual retirement accounts (IRA), and annuities) prior to age 65. Households could be using these retirement accounts as another form of financial net worth accessible as a buffer stock to a range of cash flow and expenditure outlays prior to retirement. I find that the overall economic climate, household-level events, e.g. large unexpected out-of-pocket medical expenses, and household cash flow changes influence the decision to add or withdraw funds from defined contribution (DC) pensions. The ability to take pre-retirement withdrawals from these plans and reduce contributions raises the important question of how plan liquidity and discretionary participation affects retirement security. %B Economics %I University of Michigan %C Ann Arbor, MI %V PhD %P 154 %@ 9780438593671 %G eng %U https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/145916 %9 phd %0 Journal Article %J National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series %D 2018 %T Understanding Joint Retirement %A Pierre-Carl Michaud %A Arthur H.O. vanSoest %A Luc Bissonnette %K Joint Retirement %K Retirement %X Evidence from different sources shows that spouses' retirement decisions are correlated. Retirement policies affecting individuals in couples are therefore also likely to affect behavior of their spouses. It is therefore important to account for joint features in modeling retirement. This paper studies a structural collective model of labor supply and retirement of both partners in a couple with interdependent preferences, imperfect knowledge of preferences of the spouse, and subjective expectations about the future. We propose a novel method to estimate preferences and the intra-household bargaining process, which relies on stated preferences data collected in the Health and Retirement Study. Respondents were asked to choose between hypothetical retirement trajectories describing the retirement ages and replacement rates of both spouses from three perspectives: considering their own preferences only, the preferences of their spouse only, or the most likely decision for the household. With these data, all model parameters are identified and potential sources of joint retirement can be disentangled. We find that males misperceive their wives' preferences, overestimating their disutility of work. Our estimates correct for this bias. They suggest that correlation in unobserved heterogeneity components of the partners' marginal utility of leisure explains a large share of joint retirement decisions. We also find significant positive complementarities in leisure, but this explains a much smaller part of joint retirement. %B National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series %V No. 25030 %8 09/2018 %G eng %U http://www.nber.org/papers/w25030 %R 10.3386/w25030 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Gerontological Social Work %D 2018 %T Understanding work enjoyment among older workers: The significance of flexible work options and age discrimination in the workplace %A Choi, Eunhee %A Ospina, Javier %A Steger, Michael F. %A Orsi, Rebecca %K Ageism %K Retirement %K Work %K Work-life balance %K Working conditions %X Although the number of older workers in the U.S. is increasing, there is a gap in knowledge on whether or not they actually enjoy working. This study, based on a conceptual framework focusing on job resources and demands, explored likely workplace determinants of work enjoyment among older workers aged 50 or over. Using the 2012 wave of the Health and Retirement Study, a partial proportional odds model was used to detect determinants of work enjoyment. Results showed that higher levels of work enjoyment were significantly and negatively associated with the level of perceived retirement pressure and promotion preference for younger workers, and positively associated with moving to less demanding positions. Self-employment showed a noticeable enhancement of work enjoyment. This study highlights the significance of flexible work options and age discrimination in the workplace in understanding work enjoyment later in life. © 2018, © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. %B Journal of Gerontological Social Work %P 1 - 20 %8 Feb-09-2019 %G eng %U https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01634372.2018.1515140https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01634372.2018.1515140 %! Journal of Gerontological Social Work %R 10.1080/01634372.2018.1515140 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine %D 2018 %T Work Ability Trajectories and Retirement Pathways A Longitudinal Analysis of Older American Workers %A Boissonneault, Michael %A de Beer, Joop %K Disabilities %K Retirement %K Retirement Age %K Unemployment %K Working Longer %X Objective: To determine whether older workers who follow different work ability (WA) trajectories tend to follow different retirement pathways. Methods: Nationally representative data on Americans born between 1943 and 1948. Latent class growth modeling to estimate trajectories of work ability between ages 53-54 and 65-66. Multinomial log-linear models to assess the association between WA trajectories and retirement pathways. Results: Three WA trajectories were identified: high (74%), declining (17%), and low (9%). Low WA leads more often to an early-gradual retirement. Declining WA leads to both early-gradual and early-crisp retirements. Conclusions: Workers with low and declining WA are more at risk of unemployment, disability, and inactivity prior to retirement; workers with declining WA are also likely to make a direct transition to early retirement. Future changes to social security should consider inter-individual variation over time in WA. %B Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine %V 60 %P 7 %8 07/2018 %G eng %U apps.webofknowledge.com/InboundService.do?product=WOS&Func=Frame&DestFail=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webofknowledge.com%3FDestParams%3DUT%253DWOS%25253A000446201600005%2526customersID%253DAlerting%2526smartRedirect%253Dyes%2526action%253Dretrieve%2526mode%253DFullR %N 7 %& E343-E348 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci %D 2017 %T Associations Between Arthritis and Change in Physical Function in U.S. Retirees. %A Nancy A. Baker %A Kamil E Barbour %A Charles G Helmick %A Matthew M. Zack %A Soham Al Snih %K Activities of Daily Living %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Arthritis %K Case-Control Studies %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Muscle Strength %K Retirement %K United States %X

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to determine among retirees: the associations of arthritis with limitations in physical functions, and whether these associations changed differently with age for those with arthritis versus without arthritis.

METHODS: We identified retirees from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative longitudinal panel study of U.S. adults ≥51 years old. We calculated incidence density ratios (IDRs) using Poisson regression modeling with generalized estimating equations to estimate the associations between arthritis and limitations in four physical function measures (large muscle tasks, mobility, activities of daily living, and instrumental activities of daily living) adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, total household income, depression, obesity, smoking, chronic conditions, physical activity, and cohort status. We examined interaction effects between arthritis and age to determine if the rate of change in physical function differed by arthritis status across age.

RESULTS: Over 8 years (2004-2012), significantly more retirees with arthritis had limitations with large muscle tasks (IDR 2.1: 95% confidence interval 1.6, 2.8), mobility (IDR 1.6: 1.2, 2.2), activities of daily living (IDR 2.2: 1.0, 4.7), and instrumental activities of daily living (IDR 3.7: 1.9, 7.4) than retirees without arthritis. Retirees with arthritis did not develop limitations in mobility, activities of daily living, and instrumental activities of daily living at a different rate as they aged compared to those without arthritis.

CONCLUSIONS: Arthritis was associated with a greater prevalence of physical function limitations. Preventing limitations caused by arthritis is a key strategy to prevent disability in retirees.

%B J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci %V 72 %P 127-133 %8 2017 Jan %G eng %U http://biomedgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/04/26/gerona.glw075.abstract %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27121962?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1093/gerona/glw075 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Gerontology, Series B %D 2017 %T Back to Work? Not Everyone. Examining the Longitudinal Relationships Between Informal Caregiving and Paid Work After Formal Retirement. %A Gonzales, Ernest %A Lee, Yeonjung %A Brown, Celeste %K Activities of Daily Living %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Caregivers %K Employment %K Family %K Female %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K return to work %X

Objectives: Research on unretirement (retirees who re-enter the workforce) is burgeoning. However, no longitudinal study has examined how informal care relates to unretirement. Utilizing role theory, this study aims to explore the heterogeneity of informal care responsibilities in retirement and to examine how informal care informs re-entering the workforce in later life.

Method: Data were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study of fully retired individuals aged 62 years and older in 1998 (n = 8,334) and followed to 2008. Informal care responsibilities included helping a spouse/partner with activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs); helping parent(s) or parent-in-law(s) with ADLs or IADLs; and single or co-occurrence of care roles. Covariates included economic and social factors. Cox proportional hazard models were utilized.

Results: When compared with noncaregivers, helping a spouse with ADLs or IADLs reduced the odds of returning-to-work in the subsequent wave by 78% and 55%, respectively (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.22, confidence interval [CI]: 0.06-0.87; HR: 0.45, CI: 0.21-0.97). There was no statistical difference to returning-to-work between noncaregivers and helping parents with ADLs/IADLs or multiple caregiving responsibilities.

Discussion: Role theory provided a useful framework to understand the relationships of informal care and unretirement. Aspects of role strain emerged, where, spousal caregivers were less likely to come out of retirement. Spousal caregivers may face challenges to working longer, and subsequently, opportunities to bolster their retirement security are diminished. Research and policy implications are discussed.

%B Journal of Gerontology, Series B %V 72 %P 532-539 %G eng %N 3 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbv095 %0 Journal Article %J J Women Aging %D 2017 %T Effects of receipt of Social Security retirement benefits on older women's employment. %A Gillen, Martie %A Claudia J Heath %K Aged %K Employment %K Female %K Humans %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Social Security %K United States %K Women's Health %K Women, Working %X

Labor force participation of women has declined since 1999; however, labor force participation of women 62+ has increased. The 2000-2006 waves of Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data, the initial years of the continuing upward trajectory, were used to test the effects of receipt of Social Security retirement benefits on older women's employment. The models tested: (a) the effect of receipt of Social Security retirement benefits on whether employed; and (b) for women receiving Social Security retirement benefits, the effect of age elected receipt of benefits on whether employed. Both models included the effects of human capital characteristics and income sources. Receipt of Social Security benefits, pension income, and current age reduced the likelihood of employment; while educational level, good to excellent health, and nonmarried marital status increased the likelihood of employment. The older the woman was when she elected Social Security benefits, the more likely she was to be employed.

%B J Women Aging %V 29 %P 448-459 %8 2017 %G eng %N 5 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27629359?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1080/08952841.2016.1214035 %0 Journal Article %J Disaster Med Public Health Prep %D 2017 %T Emergency Preparedness of Persons Over 50 Years Old: Further Results From the Health and Retirement Study. %A Timothy S Killian %A Zola K Moon %A McNeill, Charleen %A Garrison, Betsy %A Moxley, Shari %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Attitude to Health %K Civil Defense %K Equipment and Supplies %K Female %K Help-Seeking Behavior %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K United States %K Vulnerable Populations %X

OBJECTIVE: This article conceptualized emergency preparedness as a complex, multidimensional construct and empirically examined an array of sociodemographic, motivation, and barrier variables as predictors of levels of emergency preparedness.

METHODS: The authors used the 2010 wave of the Health and Retirement Study's emergency preparedness module to focus on persons 50 years old and older in the United States by use of logistic regression models and reconsidered a previous analysis.

RESULTS: The models demonstrated 3 key findings: (1) a lack of preparedness is widespread across virtually all sociodemographic variables and regions of the country; (2) an authoritative voice, in the role of health care personnel, was a strong predictor of preparedness; and (3) previous experience in helping others in a disaster predisposes individuals to be better prepared. Analyses also suggest the need for caution in creating simple summative indexes and the need for further research into appropriate measures of preparedness.

CONCLUSION: This population of older persons was generally not well prepared for emergencies, and this lack of preparedness was widespread across social, demographic, and economic groups in the United States. Findings with implications for policy and outreach include the importance of health care providers discussing preparedness and the use of experienced peers for outreach. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:80-89).

%B Disaster Med Public Health Prep %V 11 %P 80-89 %8 2017 02 %G eng %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28065175?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1017/dmp.2016.162 %0 Report %D 2017 %T The Financial Vulnerability of Former Disability Beneficiaries in Retirement %A Jody Schimmel Hyde %A April Yanyuan Wu %K Disabilities %K Disability %K disability discrimination %K disability finance %K Finance %K Retirement %X By their early 60s, one in four workers has experienced the onset of a work-limiting health condition (Johnson et al. 2007), and nearly four in five adults in this age group have experienced the onset of a chronic health condition (Smith 2003). Older workers who develop significant medical conditions or impairments face declines in earnings, income, and consumption and an increase in poverty (Schimmel and Stapleton 2012; Meyer and Mok 2014). In addition to these effects, leaving the labor force during peak earning years may have a lasting impact on financial security after retirement. In this brief, we consider the post-retirement financial well-being of workers based on whether they received Social Security Disability Insurance (DI). We compare their experiences to other workers who did not receive DI but claimed Old Age and Survivors’ Insurance (OASI) program. %I Mathematica Policy Research %G eng %U https://mathematica.org/publications/the-financial-vulnerability-of-former-disability-beneficiaries-in-retirement %0 Journal Article %J J Occup Environ Med %D 2017 %T Honest Labor Bears a Lovely Face: Will Late-Life Unemployment Impact Health and Satisfaction in Retirement? %A Maren W Voss %A Wendy Church Birmingham %A Lori Wadsworth %A Wei Chen %A Bounsanga, Jerry %A Gu, Yushan %A Hung, Man %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Chronic disease %K depression %K Female %K Health Status %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Male %K Mental Health %K Middle Aged %K Personal Satisfaction %K Retirement %K Unemployment %K United States %K Work %X

OBJECTIVE: Unemployment among older adults during recessionary cycles has been tied to early retirement decisions and negative health outcomes. This study explored episodes of unemployment experienced between age 50 and retirement as predictors of retirement age and health outcomes.

METHODS: A total of 1540 participants from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study aged 50 years and older who transitioned from workforce to retirement were analyzed with descriptive statistics and multiple regression controlling for unemployment, demographics, and health status.

RESULTS: Late-life unemployment significantly related to earlier retirement age and lowered life satisfaction, independent of income effects. We found no main effect for late-life unemployment on physical health status.

CONCLUSIONS: Potential improvements in future life satisfaction might be gained if job search obstacles are removed for older unemployed adults, reducing reliance on involuntary early retirement as an income source.

%B J Occup Environ Med %V 59 %P 184-190 %8 2017 02 %G eng %U http://content.wkhealth.com/linkback/openurl?sid=WKPTLP:landingpage&an=00043764-900000000-98945 %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28002355?dopt=Abstract %! Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine %R 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000933 %0 Report %D 2017 %T How job changes affect retirement timing by socioeconomic status %A Geoffrey T. Sanzenbacher %A Sass, Steven A. %A Gillis, Christopher M. %K job changes %K Retirement %K socioeconomic status %X The brief’s key findings are: Workers in their 50s today, compared to previous generations, are more likely to switch jobs voluntarily. The question is whether such job changes lengthen or shorten a worker’s career. The results suggest that job changes lengthen careers: those who switch jobs are much more likely to still be in the labor force at age 65 than those who stay put. This effect is somewhat larger for better-educated workers than for less-educated workers. %B Center for Retirement Research at Boston College Briefs %I Center for Retirement Research at Boston College %C Boston %G eng %U https://crr.bc.edu/briefs/how-job-changes-affect-retirement-timing-by-socioeconomic-status/ %0 Journal Article %J Disabil Health J %D 2017 %T Identifying adults aging with disability using existing data: The case of the Health and Retirement Study. %A Caitlin E. Coyle %A Putnam, Michelle %K Activities of Daily Living %K Adolescent %K Age of Onset %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Aging %K Child %K Child Health %K Chronic disease %K Disabled Persons %K Female %K health %K Health Status %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Self Report %K Work %X

BACKGROUND: The population of persons aging with disabilities is growing. Being able to segment aging with disability sub-populations within national data sets is becoming increasingly important in order to understand the relationship of aging with disability to a range of outcomes in later life including health and wellness, economic security, and health and long-term service and support need and use.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify viable sub-samples of adults aging with disabilities within the Health and Retirement Study, one of the most used secondary data sets to study aging and older adults.

METHOD: Samples used in this research are drawn from wave 11 (2012) of the HRS. Five operationalizations of disability were used: childhood disability (n = 719), childhood chronic condition (n = 3070), adult chronic condition (n = 13,723), functional limitation in adulthood (n = 4448) and work disability (n = 5632).

RESULTS: These subsamples are not mutually exclusive. Among respondents that reported having a childhood disability, 87% also report having at least one chronic disease in adulthood, 50% report having functional limitations in adulthood and 38% report interruption in their ability to work due to a disability. Compared to the childhood disability samples, rates of reporting fair/poor health are nearly double among adults with functional limitations or those with work disruptions because of disability.

CONCLUSION: Work disability and functional limitation appeared to be the most viable sub-sample options to consider when using the HRS to study experiences of adults aging with disability. Overall, age at onset is unclear.

%B Disabil Health J %V 10 %P 611-615 %8 2017 Oct %G eng %U https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1936-6574(16)30191-1 %N 4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28082002?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.dhjo.2016.12.016 %0 Journal Article %J J Aging Health %D 2017 %T Social Activities, Incident Cardiovascular Disease, and Mortality. %A Sae Hwang Han %A Jane Tavares %A Evans, Molly %A Jane S Saczynski %A Jeffrey A Burr %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Cardiovascular Diseases %K Female %K Humans %K Incidence %K Leisure activities %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K United States %X

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationships between social activities, incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), and non-CVD mortality among older adults in the United States.

METHOD: Data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2010) were employed. Two measures of social engagement, volunteering and informal helping, along with two measures of social participation, attendance at religious services and social group meetings, were included. Mediation models for health behaviors were estimated.

RESULTS: Multinomial logistic regression models demonstrated that volunteering provided the most consistent results in terms of a lower risk of incident CVD and mortality. Furthermore, volunteering at higher time commitments is related to lower CVD incidence and death; informally helping others at a modest time commitment is related to lower risk of death only. Health behaviors mediated the relationships. Social participation was not related to either CVD or mortality.

DISCUSSION: Social activity is a modifiable behavior that may be considered a potential health intervention.

%B J Aging Health %V 29 %P 268-288 %8 2017 Mar %G eng %U http://jah.sagepub.com/content/early/2016/03/03/0898264316635565.abstract %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26944804?dopt=Abstract %4 volunteering/heart disease/informal help/social groups/smoking/physical activity %$ 999999 %R 10.1177/0898264316635565 %0 Journal Article %J Res Aging %D 2017 %T Social Capital and Unretirement: Exploring the Bonding, Bridging, and Linking Aspects of Social Relationships. %A Guillermo Ernest Gonzales %A Nowell, William Benjamin %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Analysis of Variance %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Employment %K Female %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Social capital %K United States %X

Working longer is an important area of research given extended life expectancy, shortfalls of retirement income, desires to remain socially engaged, and solvency concerns of social insurance programs. The purpose of this longitudinal population-based study of older adults is to examine how different types of social resources (social bonding, bridging, and linking) relate to returning to work after retirement. Data were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study of fully retired older adults aged 62+ in 1998 ( N = 8,334) and followed to 2008. After controlling for a comprehensive set of fixed and time-varying covariates, findings suggest that social bridging (informal volunteering) and social linking (formal volunteering, partnered with an employed spouse) were strongly and positively related to returning to work (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 1.49, p < .001; HR: 1.58, p < .0001; and HR: 1.75, p < .0001, respectively). Social bonding resources were not significantly associated with returning to work. Implications for social policy are discussed.

%B Res Aging %V 39 %P 1100-1117 %8 2017 12 %G eng %U http://roa.sagepub.com/cgi/doi/10.1177/0164027516664569 %N 10 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27555547?dopt=Abstract %! Research on Aging %R 10.1177/0164027516664569 %0 Journal Article %J Aging Ment Health %D 2016 %T Accelerated increase and decrease in subjective age as a function of changes in loneliness and objective social indicators over a four-year period: results from the health and retirement study. %A Liat Ayalon %A Yuval Palgi %A Sharon Avidor %A Ehud Bodner %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Aging %K depression %K Female %K Humans %K Loneliness %K Male %K Retirement %K Social Change %X

OBJECTIVES: The study examined the role of changes in loneliness and objective social indicators in the formation of changes in subjective age over a four-year period.

METHODS: The Health and Retirement Study is a US nationally representative study of older adults over 50 and their spouse of any age. We restricted the sample to individuals, 65 years of age and older (n = 2591). An accelerated increase in subjective age was defined as an increase in subjective age over the two waves greater than five years. An accelerated decrease in subjective age was defined as a difference that was lower than three years. These were examined against a change in subjective age in the range of three to five years (i.e., change consistent with the passage of time).

RESULTS: For 23.4% of the sample, changes in subjective age were consistent with the passage of time. A total of 38.3% had an accelerated decrease in subjective age, whereas 38.3% had an accelerated increase. A decrease in loneliness over the two waves resulted in an accelerated decrease in subjective age, whereas an increase in depressive symptoms resulted in an accelerated increase in subjective age. Changes in objective social indicators, physical difficulties or medical comorbidity did not predict changes in subjective age.

CONCLUSIONS: This is one of very few studies that examined changes in subjective age over time. Changes in subjective age represent an important construct that corresponding to other changes in subjective experiences.

%B Aging Ment Health %I 20 %V 20 %P 743-51 %8 2016 07 %G eng %U http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84928654923andpartnerID=40andmd5=dc249d3a4a7b131281c68dbbc5ac5bb7 %N 7 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25925282?dopt=Abstract %4 aloneness/epidemiology/loneliness/social relations/subjective %$ 999999 %R 10.1080/13607863.2015.1035696 %0 Journal Article %J J Epidemiol Community Health %D 2016 %T Association of retirement age with mortality: a population-based longitudinal study among older adults in the USA. %A Wu, Chenkai %A Michelle C Odden %A Gwenith G Fisher %A Stawski, Robert S %K Adult %K Aged %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Life Expectancy %K Life Style %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Mortality, Premature %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K United States %X

BACKGROUND: Retirement is an important transitional process in later life. Despite a large body of research examining the impacts of health on retirement, questions still remain regarding the association of retirement age with survival. We aimed to examine the association between retirement age and mortality among healthy and unhealthy retirees and to investigate whether sociodemographic factors modified this association.

METHODS: On the basis of the Health and Retirement Study, 2956 participants who were working at baseline (1992) and completely retired during the follow-up period from 1992 to 2010 were included. Healthy retirees (n=1934) were defined as individuals who self-reported health was not an important reason to retire. The association of retirement age with all-cause mortality was analysed using the Cox model. Sociodemographic effect modifiers of the relation were examined.

RESULTS: Over the study period, 234 healthy and 262 unhealthy retirees died. Among healthy retirees, a 1-year older age at retirement was associated with an 11% lower risk of all-cause mortality (95% CI 8% to 15%), independent of a wide range of sociodemographic, lifestyle and health confounders. Similarly, unhealthy retirees (n=1022) had a lower all-cause mortality risk when retiring later (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.94). None of the sociodemographic factors were found to modify the association of retirement age with all-cause mortality.

CONCLUSIONS: Early retirement may be a risk factor for mortality and prolonged working life may provide survival benefits among US adults.

%B J Epidemiol Community Health %V 70 %P 917-23 %8 2016 Sep %G eng %U http://jech.bmj.com/content/early/2016/03/21/jech-2015-207097.abstract %N 9 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27001669?dopt=Abstract %$ 999999 %R 10.1136/jech-2015-207097 %0 Journal Article %J BMC Public Health %D 2016 %T Associations between health literacy and preventive health behaviors among older adults: findings from the health and retirement study. %A Dena M. Fernandez %A Janet L. Larson %A Brian J Zikmund-Fisher %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice %K Health Literacy %K Health Promotion %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Odds Ratio %K Preventive Health Services %K Regression Analysis %K Retirement %K United States %X

BACKGROUND: While the association between inadequate health literacy and adverse health outcomes has been well documented, less is known about the impact of health literacy on health perceptions, such as perceptions of control over health, and preventive health behaviors.

METHODS: We identified a subsample of participants (N = 707) from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative sample of older adults, who participated in health literacy testing. Self-reported health literacy was measured with a literacy screening question, and objective health literacy with a summed score of items from the Test of Functional Health Literacy. We compared answers on these items to those related to participation in health behaviors such as cancer screening, exercise, and tobacco use, as well as self-referencing health beliefs.

RESULTS: In logistic regression models adjusted for gender, education, race, and age, participants with adequate self-reported health literacy (compared to poorer levels of health literacy) had greater odds of participation in mammography within the last 2 years (Odds ratio [OR] = 2.215, p = 0.01) and participation in moderate exercise two or more times per week (OR = 1.512, p = 0.03). Participants with adequate objective health literacy had reduced odds of participation in monthly breast self-exams (OR = 0.369, p = 0.004) and reduced odds of current tobacco use (OR = 0.456, p = 0.03). In adjusted linear regression analyses, self-reported health literacy made a small but significant contribution to explaining perceived control of health (β 0.151, p = <0.001) and perceived social standing (β 0.112, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION: In a subsample of older adult participants of the HRS, measures of health literacy were positively related to several health promoting behaviors and health-related beliefs and non-use of breast self-exams, a screening behavior of questionable benefit. These relationships varied however, between self-reported and objectively-measured health literacy. Further investigation into the specific mechanisms that lead higher literacy people to pursue health promoting actions appears clearly warranted.

%B BMC Public Health %V 16 %P 596 %8 2016 07 19 %G eng %U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27430477 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27430477?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1186/s12889-016-3267-7 %0 Journal Article %J Labour Economics %D 2016 %T Commitment in the household: Evidence from the effect of inheritances on the labor supply of older married couples %A David M. Blau %A Ryan M. Goodstein %K Commitment %K Household bargaining %K Inheritance %K Labor force participation %K Retirement %X We study the effect of receiving an inheritance on the labor force participation (LFP) of both the recipient and the recipient's spouse in a population of older married couples. An inheritance is not subject to laws in the U.S. governing division of marital property at divorce, because it is not acquired with income earned during marriage. Hence it plays the role of a “distribution factor” in the intrahousehold allocation of resources, increasing bargaining power of the recipient. Controlling for inheritance expectations, we interpret the receipt of an inheritance as a shock to wealth. Our results indicate that receiving an inheritance reduces LFP of the recipient by four percentage points, comparable in magnitude to the effect of a self-reported decline in health. However, an inheritance has little or no effect on LFP of the spouse. These estimates are inconsistent with a dynamic, collective model of the household in which spouses have the ability to commit to an ex ante efficient allocation. The results are consistent with a model of limited commitment in which a shock to household resources can alter bargaining power. We discuss the implications for reform of Social Security spouse and survivor benefits. %B Labour Economics %V 42 %P 123 - 137 %G eng %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0927537116300859 %R https://doi.org/10.1016/j.labeco.2016.08.003 %0 Journal Article %J J Aging Health %D 2016 %T A Comparison of Educational Differences on Physical Health, Mortality, and Healthy Life Expectancy in Japan and the United States. %A Chi-Tsun Chiu %A Mark D Hayward %A Saito, Yasuhiko %K Activities of Daily Living %K Age Distribution %K Aged %K Cause of Death %K Cross-Cultural Comparison %K Educational Status %K Employment %K Family Characteristics %K Female %K Health Status %K Health Surveys %K Healthy Lifestyle %K Humans %K Japan %K Life Expectancy %K Life Tables %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Regression Analysis %K Retirement %K Sex Distribution %K United States %X

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the educational gradient of health and mortality between two long-lived populations: Japan and the United States.

METHOD: This analysis is based on the Nihon University Japanese Longitudinal Study of Aging and the Health and Retirement Study to compare educational gradients in multiple aspects of population health-life expectancy with/without disability, functional limitations, or chronic diseases, using prevalence-based Sullivan life tables.

RESULTS: Our results show that education coefficients from physical health and mortality models are similar for both Japan and American populations, and older Japanese have better mortality and health profiles.

DISCUSSION: Japan's compulsory national health service system since April 1961 and living arrangements with adult children may play an important role for its superior health profile compared with that of the United States.

%B J Aging Health %V 28 %P 1256-78 %8 2016 10 %G eng %N 7 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27590801?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1177/0898264316656505 %0 Journal Article %J Stat Med %D 2016 %T Correlated probit analysis of repeatedly measured ordinal and continuous outcomes with application to the Health and Retirement Study. %A Dimitris Georgarakos %A Ralitza Gueorguieva %K Aged %K Algorithms %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Monte Carlo Method %K Probability %K Retirement %K Smoking %X

The Health and Retirement Study was designed to evaluate changes in health and labor force participation during and after the transition from working to retirement. Every 2 years, participants provided information about their self-rated health (SRH), body mass index (BMI), smoking status, and other characteristics. Our goal was to assess the effects of smoking and gender on trajectories of change in BMI and SRH over time. Joint longitudinal analysis of outcome measures is preferable to separate analyses because it allows to account for the correlation between the measures, to test the effects of predictors while controlling type I error, and potentially to improve efficiency. However, because SRH is an ordinal measure while BMI is continuous, formulating a joint model and parameter estimation is challenging. A joint correlated probit model allowed us to seamlessly account for the correlations between the measures over time. Established estimating procedures for such models are based on quasi-likelihood or numerical approximations that may be biased or fail to converge. Therefore, we proposed a novel expectation-maximization algorithm for parameter estimation and a Monte Carlo bootstrap approach for standard errors approximation. Expectation-maximization algorithms have been previously considered for combinations of binary and/or continuous repeated measures; however, modifications were needed to handle combinations of ordinal and continuous responses. A simulation study demonstrated that the algorithm converged and provided approximately unbiased estimates with sufficiently large sample sizes. In the Health and Retirement Study, male gender and smoking were independently associated with steeper deterioration in self-rated health and with lower average BMI. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

%B Stat Med %V 35 %P 4202-25 %8 2016 10 15 %G eng %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27222058 %N 23 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27222058?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1002/sim.6982 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 2016 %T Do Higher Levels of Resilience Buffer the Deleterious Impact of Chronic Illness on Disability in Later Life? %A Lydia K Manning %A Dawn C Carr %A Ben Lennox Kail %K Activities of Daily Living %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Aging %K Chronic disease %K Disability Evaluation %K Disabled Persons %K Female %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Resilience, Psychological %K Retirement %K Surveys and Questionnaires %X

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: In examining the ability of resilience, or the ability to navigate adversity in a manner that protects well-being, to buffer the impact of chronic disease onset on disability in later life, the authors tested 2 hypotheses: (a) People with greater levels of resilience will have lower levels of disability and (b) resilience will moderate the association between the onset of a new chronic condition and subsequent disability.

DESIGN AND METHODS: This study used a sample of 10,753 Americans between the ages of 51 and 98, derived from 3 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2010). Ordinary least squares regression was used to estimate the impact of resilience on changes in disability (measured as difficulty with activities of daily living [ADLs] and instrumental activities of daily living [IADLs]) over a 2-year period using a simplified resilience score.

RESULTS: Resilience protects against increases in ADL and IADL limitations that are often associated with aging. Resilience mitigates a considerable amount of the deleterious consequences related to the onset of chronic illness and subsequent disability.

IMPLICATIONS: Our results support our hypotheses and are consistent with claims that high levels of resilience can protect against the negative impact of disability in later life.

%B Gerontologist %V 56 %P 514-24 %8 2016 06 %G eng %U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25063353 %N 3 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25063353?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1093/geront/gnu068 %0 Journal Article %J J Health Econ %D 2016 %T Do working conditions at older ages shape the health gradient? %A Lauren L Schmitz %K Aged %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Income %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Occupations %K Retirement %K Workplace %X

This study examines whether working conditions at the end of workers' careers impact health and contribute to health disparities across occupations. A dynamic panel correlated random effects model is used in conjunction with a rich data set that combines information from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), expert ratings of job demands from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET), and mid-career earnings records from the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Master Earnings File (MEF). Results reveal a strong relationship between positive aspects of the psychosocial work environment and improved self-reported health status, blood pressure, and cognitive function. However, there is little evidence to suggest that working conditions shape observed health disparities between occupations in the years leading up to retirement.

%B J Health Econ %V 50 %P 183-197 %8 2016 12 %G eng %U http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S016762961630337Xhttp://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S016762961630337X?httpAccept=text/xmlhttp://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S016762961630337X?httpAccept=text/plain %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27814483?dopt=Abstract %! Journal of Health Economics %R 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2016.10.002 %0 Report %D 2016 %T Does Socioeconomic Status Lead People to Retire Too Soon? %A Alicia H. Munnell %A Anthony Webb %A Anqi Chen %K Retirement %K socioeconomic status %X Working longer is a powerful lever to enhance retirement security. Individuals, on average, are healthier, live longer, and face less physically demanding jobs, so they should be able to extend the number of years worked. But averages are misleading when differences in health, job prospects, and life expectancy have widened between individuals with low and high socioeconomic status (SES). Thus, a single prescription for all no longer seems appropriate. Rather, it is important to know: 1) how long individuals in different SES groups have to work to maintain their preretirement standard of living; 2) how long they plan to work; and 3) what explains any gap between the two. %I Center for Retirement Research at Boston College %G eng %U https://crr.bc.edu/briefs/does-socioeconomic-status-lead-people-to-retire-too-soon/ %0 Journal Article %J Soc Sci Med %D 2016 %T Functional health decline before and after retirement: A longitudinal analysis of the Health and Retirement Study. %A Sander K. R. van Zon %A Bültmann, Ute %A Reijneveld, Sijmen A %A Carlos F. Mendes de Leon %K Aged %K Aging %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Regression Analysis %K Retirement %K Social Class %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study are to examine the pattern of pre- and post-retirement changes in functional health and to examine the degree to which socioeconomic position (SEP) modifies pre- and post-retirement changes in functional health.

METHOD: This longitudinal study was conducted using data from the Health and Retirement Study from 1992 to 2012. Piecewise linear regression analyses with generalised estimating equations were used to calculate trajectories of limitations in mobility and large muscle functions before and after retirement spanning a time period of 16 years. Interaction terms of three indicators of SEP with time before and after retirement were examined to investigate the modifying effect of SEP on changes in functional health before and after retirement.

RESULTS: Average levels of limitations in mobility and large muscle functions increased significantly in the years prior to retirement. This increase slowed down after retirement, most prominently for limitations in large muscle functions. Higher SEP was associated with a slower increase of functional limitations prior to retirement. After retirement, a less clear pattern was found as only wealth modified the increase of limitations in mobility functions.

DISCUSSION: Prevention of functional decline in older working adults may be essential in achieving longer and healthier working lives. Such strategies may have to give special consideration to lower SEP adults, as they tend to experience functional health declines prior to retirement at a greater rate than higher SEP adults.

%B Soc Sci Med %V 170 %P 26-34 %8 2016 12 %G eng %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953616305615 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27741444?dopt=Abstract %& 26-34 %R 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.10.002 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 2016 %T A Global View on the Effects of Work on Health in Later Life. %A Ursula M. Staudinger %A Finkelstein, Ruth %A Calvo, Esteban %A Sivaramakrishnan, Kavita %K Aged %K Aging %K Employment %K Humans %K Public Policy %K Retirement %K Socioeconomic factors %X

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Work is an important environment shaping the aging processes during the adult years. Therefore, the cumulative and acute effects of work characteristics on late-life health deserve great attention. Given that population aging has become a global trend with ensuing changes in labor markets around the world, increased attention is paid to investigating the effects of the timing of retirement around the world and the macroeconomic benefits often associated with delaying retirement. It will be essential for societies with aging populations to maintain productivity given an aging workforce and for individuals it will be crucial to add healthy and meaningful years rather than just years to their lives.

DESIGN AND METHODS: We first describe the available evidence about participation of older workers (65+) in the labor force in high, middle, and low-income countries. Second, we discuss the individual-level and societal influences that might govern labor-force participation of older adults. Thirdly, we review evidence on the association between work on the one and physical, mental, and cognitive health in later life on the other.

RESULTS AND IMPLICATIONS: Globally, both is true: work supports healthy aging and jeopordizes it. We draw implications for policymaking in terms of social protection, HR policies, and older employee employability.

%B Gerontologist %V 56 Suppl 2 %P S281-92 %8 2016 Apr %G eng %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26994267 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26994267?dopt=Abstract %4 Work Late-life work Retirement Aging Labor markets %R 10.1093/geront/gnw032 %0 Journal Article %J PLoS One %D 2016 %T Lagged Associations of Metropolitan Statistical Area- and State-Level Income Inequality with Cognitive Function: The Health and Retirement Study. %A Kim, Daniel %A Griffin, Beth Ann %A Mohammed U Kabeto %A José J Escarce %A Kenneth M. Langa %A Regina A Shih %E M. Maria Glymour %K Cities %K Cognition %K Female %K health %K Humans %K Income %K Interviews as Topic %K Linear Models %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Multivariate Analysis %K Residence Characteristics %K Retirement %K Socioeconomic factors %K Statistics as Topic %K Telephone %K United States %X

PURPOSE: Much variation in individual-level cognitive function in late life remains unexplained, with little exploration of area-level/contextual factors to date. Income inequality is a contextual factor that may plausibly influence cognitive function.

METHODS: In a nationally-representative cohort of older Americans from the Health and Retirement Study, we examined state- and metropolitan statistical area (MSA)-level income inequality as predictors of individual-level cognitive function measured by the 27-point Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-m) scale. We modeled latency periods of 8-20 years, and controlled for state-/metropolitan statistical area (MSA)-level and individual-level factors.

RESULTS: Higher MSA-level income inequality predicted lower cognitive function 16-18 years later. Using a 16-year lag, living in a MSA in the highest income inequality quartile predicted a 0.9-point lower TICS-m score (β = -0.86; 95% CI = -1.41, -0.31), roughly equivalent to the magnitude associated with five years of aging. We observed no associations for state-level income inequality. The findings were robust to sensitivity analyses using propensity score methods.

CONCLUSIONS: Among older Americans, MSA-level income inequality appears to influence cognitive function nearly two decades later. Policies reducing income inequality levels within cities may help address the growing burden of declining cognitive function among older populations within the United States.

%B PLoS One %V 11 %P e0157327 %8 2016 %G eng %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157327 %N 6 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27332986?dopt=Abstract %! PLoS ONE %R 10.1371/journal.pone.0157327 %0 Journal Article %J Soc Sci Med %D 2016 %T Marital quality, marital dissolution, and mortality risk during the later life course. %A Jennifer R. Bulanda %A J Scott Brown %A Takashi Yamashita %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Female %K Humans %K Male %K Marital Status %K Marriage %K Middle Aged %K Mortality %K Retirement %K Sex Factors %X

This study examines the relationship between later-life marital quality, marital dissolution, and mortality using discrete-time event history models with data from nine waves (1992-2008) of the Health and Retirement Study (n = 7388). Results show marital status is more important for men's mortality risk than women's, whereas marital quality is more important for women's survival than men's. Being widowed or divorced more than two years raises mortality risk for men, but later-life marital dissolution is not significantly associated with women's mortality risk, regardless of the type of dissolution or length of time since it occurred. Low-quality marital interaction is negatively related to women's odds of death, but none of the marital quality measures are significantly associated with mortality for men. Marital satisfaction moderates the relationship between widowhood and mortality for women, but the relationship between marital dissolution and mortality is similar for men regardless of marital quality prior to divorce/widowhood. Results suggest the importance of accounting for both marital status and marital quality when examining older individuals' mortality risk.

%B Soc Sci Med %V 165 %P 119-127 %8 2016 09 %G eng %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953616303860 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27509579?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.025 %0 Journal Article %J Int J Geriatr Psychiatry %D 2016 %T Multimorbidity is associated with anxiety in older adults in the Health and Retirement Study. %A Christine E Gould %A Ruth O'Hara %A Mary K. Goldstein %A Sherry A. Beaudreau %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Anxiety Disorders %K Chronic disease %K Depressive Disorder %K Female %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Male %K multimorbidity %K Retirement %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: The present study determined whether the number of medical conditions was associated with increased occurrence of anxiety and whether triads of medical conditions were associated with anxiety in a nationally representative sample of older Americans. We determined whether multimorbidity findings were unique to anxiety as compared with depressive symptoms.

METHODS: A sample of 4219 participants (65 years or older) completed anxiety and depression measures in the Health and Retirement Study 2006 wave. The logistic regression models' outcome was elevated anxiety (≥12 on five-item Beck Anxiety Inventory) or depressive symptoms (≥12 on eight-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale). The predictor variable was a tally of seven self-report of doctor-diagnosed conditions: arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart conditions, high blood pressure, lung disease, and stroke. Analyses were adjusted for age, gender, and depressive or anxiety symptoms. Associations among elevated anxiety or depressive symptoms and 35 triads of medical conditions were examined using Bonferroni corrected chi-square analyses.

RESULTS: Three or more medical conditions conferred a 2.30-fold increase in elevated anxiety (95% confidence interval: 1.44-4.01). Twenty triads were associated with elevated anxiety as compared with 13 associated with depressive symptoms. Six of seven medical conditions, with the exception being stroke, were present in the majority of triads.

CONCLUSION: Number of medical conditions and specific conditions are associated with increased occurrence of elevated anxiety. Compared with elevated depressive symptoms, anxiety is associated with greater multimorbidity. As anxiety and depression cause significant morbidity, it may be beneficial to consider these mental health symptoms when evaluating older adults with multimorbidity. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

%B Int J Geriatr Psychiatry %V 31 %P 1105-15 %8 2016 10 %G eng %U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27441851 %N 10 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27441851?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1002/gps.4532 %0 Generic %D 2016 %T New Methods for Measuring Retirement wealth in the HRS %A Caplin, Andrew %K Retirement %K Wealth %I National Institute on Aging %C Bethesda, MD %0 Report %D 2016 %T Occupational Choice, Retirement, and the Effects of Disability Insurance %A Lindsay Jacobs %K disability insurance %K Occupational choice %K Retirement %X There is much variation in the physical requirements across occupations, giving rise to great differences in later-life productivity, disability risk, and the value of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). In this paper, I look at how such differences across occupations affect initial career choice as well as the extent to which SSDI, which insures shocks to productivity due to disability, prompts more people to choose physically intense occupations. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the Current Population Survey (CPS), I estimate a dynamic model of occupational choice and retirement with heterogeneous agents and equilibrium effects on earnings across occupations. I document the differences between blue-collar and white-collar occupations in the effects of declining health and disability on productivity, which affects labor supply in later life and, in the context of a life-cycle model, influences the occupation decision. Through counterfactual exercises, I show that the additional disability risk in blue-collar jobs relative to white-collar jobs is equivalent to an additional six percentage point reduction in lifetime consumption and that the absence of SSDI, which insures some of this risk, would be equivalent to, respectively, a twelve and seven percent reduction in consumption for those in blue- and white- collar jobs. Furthermore, I find that the presence of SSDI results in three percent more individuals choosing blue-collar occupations, which is comparable to the effect on occupation selection resulting from an eight-percent increase in blue-collar earnings. This overall effect, however, masks the importance of the selection of less risk-averse individuals into blue-collar jobs and the equilibrium effects on wages; earnings for the most risk-averse type would have to be nearly fifteen percent greater to choose blue-collar{{p}}occupations in the absence of SSDI. %B Finance and Economics Discussion Series %I Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System %G eng %R 10.17016/FEDS.2016.051 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2016 %T The Paradox of Leisure in Later Life. %A Nimrod, Galit %A Amit Shrira %K Adaptation, Psychological %K Aged %K Aging %K Cognition %K Europe %K Female %K Health Status Disparities %K Humans %K Leisure activities %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Quality of Life %K Resilience, Psychological %K Retirement %K Socioeconomic factors %K Surveys and Questionnaires %X

OBJECTIVE: Numerous studies have shown that involvement in leisure activity has a significant impact on older adults' physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being. This study explores whether the association between leisure involvement and well-being in later life changes over time.

METHOD: Data were drawn from the first 4 waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Growth curve models were applied to examine whether leisure moderated change in quality of life (QoL) over time among 7,875 retirees aged 60 and older.

RESULTS: Findings indicated that the association between leisure and QoL increased with time, as nonactive respondents displayed a decline in QoL over time, whereas those with high levels of leisure involvement showed an increase. Findings remained significant after controlling for sociodemographics, health, and cognitive functioning.

DISCUSSION: Results indicated that the significance of leisure to well-being increases throughout the later life course, and that leisure may act as a resource for resilience in old age. They also pointed out a paradoxical situation in which the older seniors, who may benefit from leisure involvement more than their younger peers, are precisely the ones who face the greater number of constraints to beneficial use of leisure.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %V 71 %P 106-11 %8 2016 Jan %G eng %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25315158 %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25315158?dopt=Abstract %4 Adaptation, Psychological Aged *Aging/physiology/psychology *Cognition Europe Female *Health Status Disparities Humans Leisure Activities/*psychology Male Middle Aged Quality of Life/*psychology *Resilience, Psychological Retirement/*psychology Socioeconomic Factors Surveys and Questionnaires %R 10.1093/geronb/gbu143 %0 Journal Article %J Quantitative Economics %D 2016 %T Pensions, household saving, and welfare: A dynamic analysis of crowd out %A David M. Blau %K J26 %K Pensions %K Retirement %K Savings %X This paper specifies a life cycle model of saving and employment and uses it to analyze crowd out of private household saving by public and private pensions. Some parameters of the model are estimated and others are calibrated to match life cycle employment and asset profiles, and Social Security claiming decisions. Simulation results indicate that defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) pensions on average crowd out household wealth by \$0.09 and \$0.37 per dollar of pension wealth, respectively, while crowd out by Social Security is \$0.56. The magnitude of crowd out is sensitive to model specification, with more restrictive versions of the model (e.g., no employment decision, no bequest motive, no uncertainty) generally resulting in larger simulated crowd out. A welfare analysis implies that DB pensions and Social Security are not valued by households. The longevity insurance provided by such plans is offset by a high degree of impatience and, for Social Security, low benefits relative to taxes paid. A typical DC pension is valued at about one quarter of its expected present discounted value. %B Quantitative Economics %V 7 %P 193-224 %G eng %U https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.3982/QE349 %R 10.3982/QE349 %0 Journal Article %J Int J Health Econ Manag %D 2016 %T Prescription drug coverage and chronic pain. %A Padmaja Ayyagari %K Analgesics %K Chronic pain %K Humans %K Insurance Coverage %K Medicare Part D %K prescription drugs %K Retirement %K United States %X

Chronic pain is one of the most common chronic conditions affecting more than 50 % of older adults. While pain management can be quite complex, prescription drugs are the most commonly used treatment modality. In this study, I examine whether increased access to prescription drugs due to the introduction of the Medicare Part D program in 2006 led to better management of pain among the elderly. While prior work has identified increases in the utilization of analgesics due to the introduction of Medicare Part D, the extent to which this increase in drug use actually improved the well-being of older adults is not known. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, I employ a difference-in-differences strategy that compares pre versus post 2006 changes in pain related outcomes between Medicare eligible persons and a younger ineligible group. I find that Medicare Part D significantly reduced pain related activity limitations among a sample of older adults who report being troubled by pain.

%B Int J Health Econ Manag %V 16 %P 189-200 %8 2016 Jun %G eng %U http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10754-016-9185-5 %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27878715?dopt=Abstract %! Int J Health Econ Manag. %R 10.1007/s10754-016-9185-5 %0 Journal Article %J Eur J Clin Nutr %D 2016 %T Prevalence of weakness and its relationship with limitations based on the Foundations for the National Institutes for Health project: data from the Health and Retirement Study. %A John A. Batsis %A Cassandra M Germain %A Elizabeth Vasquez %A Bartels, S. J. %K Activities of Daily Living %K Aged %K Aging %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Databases, Factual %K Female %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Muscle Weakness %K National Institutes of Health (U.S.) %K Retirement %K sarcopenia %K Surveys and Questionnaires %K United States %X

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of muscle weakness using the two 2014 Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Sarcopenia Project criteria and its relationship with physical limitations, basic activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL.

SUBJECTS/METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of community-dwelling adults from the Health and Retirement Study 2006-2008 and identified a subsample of 5092 adults aged ⩾60 years with grip strength (GS) data. Self-reported physical limitations, basic ADL and instrumental ADL were assessed. Criteria for GS (men<26 kg; women <16 kg) and GS adjusted for body mass index (GS/BMI; men <1.0; women <0.56) were applied to the sample. We determined the prevalence of muscle weakness in each sex. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate the association of physical limitations, basic ADL and instrument ADL with weakness definitions in each sex.

RESULTS: Mean age was 72.1 years (54.9% female). Mean GS was 38.3 and 22.9 kg and mean BMI was 29 kg/m, respectively, in men and women. Weakness prevalence using GS and GS:BMI definitions were 7.8 and 15.2 (P<0.001), respectively, in men and 11.4 and 13.3% (P=0.04) in women. Overall prevalence of physical limitations, basic ADL limitations and instrumental ADL limitations was 52.9, 28.1 and 35.9%, respectively. In those with weakness, prevalence of physical limitations, basic ADL and instrumental ADL was 78.5, 42.3 and 65.3%, respectively, using the GS definition, and 79.7, 40.7 and 58.8%, respectively, using the GS/BMI definition. GS and the GS/BMI definitions of weakness were strongly associated with physical limitations (odds ratio (OR) 2.19 (95% confidence interval (CI): (1.67-2.87)) and 2.52 (2.01-3.17)), basic ADL (OR 1.59 (1.22-2.07) and 1.66 (1.32-2.07)) and instrumental ADLs (OR 1.98 (1.28-2.54) and 1.78 (1.44-2.20)).

CONCLUSIONS: The new FNIH guidelines for weakness are associated with higher prevalence of physical limitations, basic ADL impairments and instrumental ADL impairments as compared with individuals without weakness.

%B Eur J Clin Nutr %V 70 %P 1168-1173 %8 2016 10 %G eng %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27245209 %N 10 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27245209?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1038/ejcn.2016.90 %0 Journal Article %J Ann Epidemiol %D 2016 %T Self-reported herpes zoster, pain, and health care seeking in the Health and Retirement Study: implications for interpretation of health care-based studies. %A Hales, Craig M %A Harpaz, Rafael %A Bialek, Stephanie R %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Female %K Health Surveys %K Herpes Zoster %K Humans %K Independent Living %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Outcome Assessment, Health Care %K pain %K Pain Measurement %K Patient Acceptance of Health Care %K Reproducibility of Results %K Retirement %K Risk Assessment %K Self Report %K Severity of Illness Index %K Sex Factors %K Treatment Outcome %K United States %X

PURPOSE: To describe self-reported herpes zoster (HZ) and explore factors that could impact interpretation of results from health care-based HZ studies.

METHODS: We performed logistic regression using data from the 2008 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to evaluate risk factors for having a history of HZ and experiencing severe HZ pain, and predictors for seeking health care for HZ.

RESULTS: Among 14,564 respondents aged ≥55 years, women were more likely than men to report a history of HZ (15.7% vs. 11.6%, P < .01). Blacks (6.4% vs. 14.7% in whites, P < .01) and respondents with less than a high school diploma (12.2% vs.14.2% in respondents with at least a high school diploma, P = .01) were less likely to report a history of HZ. Women, blacks, Hispanics, and those with less than a high school diploma were more likely to report severe HZ pain. Most (91.1%) respondents sought health care for HZ; Hispanics (64.2% vs. 92.1% in whites, P < .001) and those with recurrent HZ were less likely to seek health care for HZ, whereas those with severe pain were more likely (95.4% vs. 87.9% in those without severe pain, P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS: HRS provides a new platform for studies of HZ, one which allowed us to uncover issues that warrant particular attention when interpreting results of health care-based studies.

%B Ann Epidemiol %V 26 %P 441-446.e3 %8 2016 06 %G eng %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27180114 %N 6 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27180114?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1016/j.annepidem.2016.04.006 %0 Journal Article %J Obesity (Silver Spring) %D 2016 %T Trajectories of body mass indices and development of frailty: Evidence from the health and retirement study. %A Briana Mezuk %A Matthew C. Lohman %A Rock, Andrew K %A Payne, Martha E %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Body Mass Index %K Body Weight %K Female %K Frail Elderly %K Geriatric Assessment %K Health Status %K Humans %K Incidence %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Obesity %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Weight Gain %X

OBJECTIVE: To estimate trajectories of body mass index (BMI) and determine their association with incident frailty in later life.

METHODS: Data come from the 2004 to 2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, a longitudinal survey of older adults. Analysis was restricted to respondents who were not frail at baseline (n = 10,827). BMI (kg/m(2) ) was calculated from self-reported weight and height. Incident frailty was assessed using the Frailty Index. Longitudinal growth mixture modeling was used to estimate the relationship between BMI trajectories and incident frailty over a 10-year period.

RESULTS: Four trajectory classes were identified: weight gain (n = 162 [1.4%], mean final BMI = 42 kg/m(2) ), weight loss (n = 171 [1.7%], mean final BMI = 25.0 kg/m(2) ), consistent obesity (n = 640 [6.8%], mean final BMI = 34.7 kg/m(2) ), and consistent overweight (n = 9,864 [90.1%] mean final BMI = 26.0 kg/m(2) ). Cumulative incidence of frailty was 19.9%. Relative to the consistent overweight class, the weight gain class had the highest likelihood of incident frailty (odds ratio, OR: 3.61, 95% confidence interval, CI: 2.39-5.46). The consistent obesity (OR: 2.72, 95% CI: 2.06-3.58) and weight loss (OR: 2.81, 95% CI: 1.84-4.30) classes had similarly elevated risk of frailty.

CONCLUSIONS: Weight change and obesity are associated with risk of frailty.

%B Obesity (Silver Spring) %V 24 %P 1643-7 %8 2016 08 %G eng %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27355440 %N 8 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27355440?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1002/oby.21572 %0 Conference Paper %D 2016 %T The Unintended Consequences of Informal Childcare Subsidies for Older Women ’ s Retirement Security %A Yulya Truskinovsky %K Childcare %K gender %K Gender Differences %K Retirement %K subsidies %X Grandmothers provide a significant amount of childcare in the US, but little is known about how this informal, and often uncompensated, time transfer impacts their economic and health outcomes. This project addresses the impact of federally funded, state-level means-tested programs that compensate grandparent-provided childcare on the retirement security of older women, an economically vulnerable group of considerable policy interest. Childcare assistance can be used to compensate grandparent-provided childcare and/or to substitute market care for grandparent care. I use the variation in the availability and generosity of childcare subsidies to model the effect of government payments for grandchild care on grandmothers’ time use, income, earnings, interfamily transfers, and health outcomes. After establishing that more generous government payments induce grandmothers to provide more hours of childcare, I find that grandmothers adjust their behavior by reducing their formal labor supply and earnings. Grandmothers make up for lost earnings by claiming Social Security earlier, increasing their reliance on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and reducing financial transfers to their children. While the policy does not appear to negatively impact grandmothers’ immediate economic well-being, there are significant costs to the state, in terms of both up-front costs for care payments and long-term costs as a result of grandmothers’ increased reliance on social insurance. %G eng %U https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Unintended-Consequences-of-Informal-Childcare-%E2%80%99-Truskinovsky/41d55b106e1418a87eb13633d4acbeb3b5b0e62a %0 Journal Article %J PLoS One %D 2015 %T Anchoring vignettes in the Health and Retirement Study: how do medical professionals and disability recipients characterize the severity of work limitations? %A Frank Heiland %A Yin, Na %K Aged %K Cardiovascular Diseases %K depression %K Disabled Persons %K Female %K Health Personnel %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K pain %K Retirement %K Self Report %X

PURPOSE: Recent studies report systematic differences in how individuals categorize the severity of identical health and work limitation vignettes. We investigate how health professionals and disability recipients characterize the severity of work limitations and whether their reporting patterns are robust to demographic, education, and health characteristics. We use the results to illustrate the potential impact of reporting heterogeneity on the distribution of work disability estimated from self-reported categorical health and disability data.

METHOD: Nationally representative data on anchoring disability vignettes from the 2004 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) are used to investigate how respondents with an occupation background in health and Social Security disability beneficiaries categorize work limitation vignettes. Using pain, cardiovascular health, and depression vignettes, we estimate generalized ordered probit models (N = 2,660 individuals or 39,681 person-vignette observations) that allow the severity thresholds to vary by respondent characteristics.

RESULTS: We find that health professionals (excluding nurses) and disability recipients tend to classify identical work limitations as more severe compared to non-health professional non-disabled respondents. For disability recipients, the differences are most pronounced and particularly visible in the tails of the work limitations distribution. For health professionals, we observe smaller differences, affecting primarily the classification of mildly and moderately severe work limitations. The patterns for health professionals (excluding nurses) are robust to demographics, education, and health conditions. The greater likelihood of viewing the vignette person as more severely work limited observed among disability recipients is mostly explained by the fact that these respondents also tend to be in poorer health which itself predicts a more inclusive scale.

CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of reporting scales from health professionals and disabled individuals can benefit researchers in a broad range of applications in health and disability research. They may be useful as reference scales to evaluate disability survey data. Such knowledge may be beneficial when studying disability programs. Given the increasing availability of anchoring vignette data in surveys, this is a promising area for future evaluation research.

%B PLoS One %I 10 %V 10 %P e0126218 %8 2015 %G eng %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1371 2Fjournal.pone.0126218 %N 5 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25966316?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC4428751 %4 Disabilities/Nurses/Health education and awareness/Demography/Educational attainment/Welfare (social security)/Behavioral and social aspects of health/Professions %$ 999999 %R 10.1371/journal.pone.0126218 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci %D 2015 %T Comorbidity and functional trajectories from midlife to old age: the Health and Retirement Study. %A Stenholm, Sari %A Westerlund, Hugo %A Head, Jenny %A Hyde, Martin %A Ichiro Kawachi %A Pentti, Jaana %A Mika Kivimäki %A Vahtera, Jussi %K Activities of Daily Living %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Chronic disease %K Comorbidity %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %X

BACKGROUND: The number of diseases and physical functioning difficulties tend to increase with age. The aim of this study was to examine the trajectories of physical functioning across age groups and whether the trajectories differ according to disease status in different population subgroups.

METHODS: Repeat data from a nationally representative population sample, the Health and Retirement Study, was used. Participants were 10,709 men and 13,477 women aged 60-107 years at baseline with biennial surveys from 1992 to 2010. Average length of follow-up was 10.3 years ranging from 0 to 18 years. Disease status and physical functioning was asked about at all study phases and 10 items were summed to obtain a physical functioning score (0-10).

RESULTS: Age modified the relationship between number of chronic diseases and physical functioning with older participants having more physical functioning difficulties with increasing number of diseases. An average 70-year-old participant with no diseases had 0.89 (95% CI: 0.85-0.93) physical functioning difficulties, with one disease 1.72 (95% CI: 1.69-1.76) difficulties, with two diseases 2.57 (95% CI: 2.52-2.62) difficulties, and with three or more diseases 3.82 (95% CI: 3.76-3.88) difficulties. Of the individual diseases memory-related diseases, stroke, pulmonary diseases, and arthritis were associated with significantly higher physical functioning difficulties compared with other diseases.

CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidity is associated with greater burden of physical functioning difficulties. Of the studied diseases, memory-related diseases, stroke, pulmonary diseases, and arthritis alone or in combination limit most physical functioning.

%B J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci %I 70 %V 70 %P 332-8 %8 2015 Mar %G eng %U http://biomedgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/07/23/gerona.glu113.abstract %N 3 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25060316?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC4336333 %4 Aging/Comorbidity/Physical functioning/Disability/Disability %$ 999999 %R 10.1093/gerona/glu113 %0 Journal Article %J J Gen Intern Med %D 2015 %T Discrimination in Healthcare Settings is Associated with Disability in Older Adults: Health and Retirement Study, 2008-2012. %A Stephanie E Rogers %A Angela D Thrasher %A Yinghui Miao %A W John Boscardin %K Activities of Daily Living %K Aged %K Ageism %K Aging %K Disabled Persons %K Female %K Follow-Up Studies %K Health Status %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Surveys and Questionnaires %X

BACKGROUND: As our society ages, improving medical care for an older population will be crucial. Discrimination in healthcare may contribute to substandard experiences with the healthcare system, increasing the burden of poor health in older adults. Few studies have focused on the presence of healthcare discrimination and its effects on older adults.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the relationship between healthcare discrimination and new or worsened disability.

DESIGN: This was a longitudinal analysis of data from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study administered in 2008 with follow-up through 2012.

PARTICIPANTS: Six thousand and seventeen adults over the age of 50 years (mean age 67 years, 56.3 % female, 83.1 % white) were included in this study.

MAIN MEASURES: Healthcare discrimination assessed by a 2008 report of receiving poorer service or treatment than other people by doctors or hospitals (never, less than a year=infrequent; more than once a year=frequent). Outcome was self-report of new or worsened disability by 2012 (difficulty or dependence in any of six activities of daily living). We used a Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, gender, net worth, education, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, lung disease, heart disease, stroke, and healthcare utilization in the past 2 years.

KEY RESULTS: In all, 12.6 % experienced discrimination infrequently and 5.9 % frequently. Almost one-third of participants (29 %) reporting frequent healthcare discrimination developed new or worsened disability over 4 years, compared to 16.8 % of those who infrequently and 14.7 % of those who never experienced healthcare discrimination (p < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, compared to no discrimination, frequent healthcare discrimination was associated with new or worsened disability over 4 years (aHR = 1.63, 95 % CI 1.16-2.27).

CONCLUSIONS: One out of five adults over the age of 50 years experiences discrimination in healthcare settings. One in 17 experience frequent healthcare discrimination, and this is associated with new or worsened disability by 4 years. Future research should focus on the mechanisms by which healthcare discrimination influences disability in older adults to promote better health outcomes for an aging population.

%B J Gen Intern Med %I 30 %V 30 %P 1413-20 %8 2015 Oct %G eng %U http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84924662760andpartnerID=40andmd5=4aaf0227e962a58fb0e6670d3d3c6bff %N 10 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25773918?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC4579241 %4 health Care Use/discrimination/health outcomes/health care discrimination/Cox proportional hazards model %$ 999999 %R 10.1007/s11606-015-3233-6 %0 Journal Article %J Psychol Aging %D 2015 %T The effects of constraints and mastery on mental and physical health: Conceptual and methodological considerations. %A Frank J Infurna %A Axel Mayer %K Aged %K Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Factor Analysis, Statistical %K Female %K Health Status %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Mental Health %K Middle Aged %K Motor Activity %K Retirement %K Self-control %X

Perceived control and health are closely interrelated in adulthood and old age. However, less is known regarding the differential implications of 2 facets of perceived control, constraints and mastery, for mental and physical health. Furthermore, a limitation of previous research testing the pathways linking perceived control to mental and physical health is that mediation was tested with cross-sectional designs and not in a longitudinal mediation design that accounts for temporal ordering and prior confounds. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; n = 7,612, M age = 68, SD = 10.66; 59% women) we examined the effect of constraints and mastery on 4-year changes in mental and physical health and whether physical activity mediated such effects in a longitudinal mediation design. Using confirmatory factor analysis, we modeled the 2-factor structure of perceived control that consisted of constraints and mastery. In our longitudinal mediation model, where we accounted for possible confounders (e.g., age, gender, education, neuroticism, conscientiousness, memory, and health conditions), constraints showed a stronger total effect on mental and physical health, than mastery, such that more constraints were associated with 4-year declines in mental and physical health. Physical activity did not mediate the effect of constraints and mastery on mental and physical health (indirect effect). To demonstrate the importance of a longitudinal mediation model that accounts for confounders, we also estimated the mediated effect using 2 models commonly used in the literature: cross-sectional mediation model and longitudinal mediation model without accounting for confounders. These mediation models indicated a spurious indirect effect that cannot be causally interpreted. Our results showcase that constraints and mastery have differential implications for mental and physical health, as well as how a longitudinal mediation design can illustrate (or not) pathways in developmental processes. Our discussion focuses on the conceptual and methodological implications of a 2 facet model of perceived control and the strengths of longitudinal mediation designs for testing conceptual models of human development.

%B Psychol Aging %I 30 %V 30 %P 432-448 %8 2015 Jun %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25938243?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC4451433 %4 Adulthood and old age/Confirmatory factor analysis/Mediation/Sense of control/Perceived controls %$ 999999 %R 10.1037/a0039050 %0 Journal Article %J J Ment Health Policy Econ %D 2015 %T The effects of income on mental health: evidence from the social security notch. %A Ezra Golberstein %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Female %K Humans %K Income %K Male %K Mental Health %K Models, Econometric %K Retirement %K Sex Factors %K Social Security %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %X

BACKGROUND: Mental health is a key component of overall wellbeing and mental disorders are relatively common, including among older adults. Yet the causal effect of income on mental health status among older adults is poorly understood.

AIMS: This paper considers the effects of a major source of transfer income, Social Security retirement benefits, on the mental health of older adults.

METHODS: The Social Security benefit "Notch" is as a large, permanent, and exogenous shock to Social Security income in retirement. The "Notch" is used to identify the causal effect of Social Security income on mental health among older ages using data from the AHEAD cohort of the Health and Retirement Study.

RESULTS: We find that increases in Social Security income significantly improve mental health status and the likelihood of a psychiatric diagnosis for women, but not for men.

DISCUSSION: The effects of income on mental health for older women are statistically significant and meaningful in magnitude. While this is one of the only studies to use plausibly exogenous variation in household income to identify the effect of income on mental health, a limitation of this work is that the results only directly pertain to lower-education households.

IMPLICATIONS: Public policy proposals that alter retirement benefits for the elderly may have important effects on the mental health of older adults.

%B J Ment Health Policy Econ %I 18 %V 18 %P 27-37 %8 2015 Mar %G eng %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25862202?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC4494112 %4 mental Health/social Security/older adults/psychiatric diagnosis/household income %$ 999999 %0 Journal Article %J The Journal of the Economics of Ageing %D 2015 %T The long reach of education: Early retirement %A Steven F Venti %A David A Wise %K disability insurance %K Education %K Retirement %K Social Security %X The goal of this paper is to draw attention to the long lasting effect of education on economic outcomes. We use the relationship between education and two routes to early retirement – the receipt of Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) and the early claiming of Social Security retirement benefits – to illustrate the long-lasting influence of education. We find that for both men and women with less than a high school degree the median DI participation rate is 6.6 times the participation rate for those with a college degree or more. Similarly, men and women with less than a high school education are over 25 percentage points more likely to claim Social Security benefits early than those with a college degree or more. We focus on four critical “pathways” through which education may indirectly influence early retirement – health, employment, earnings, and the accumulation of assets. We find that for women health is the dominant pathway through which education influences DI participation. For men, the health, earnings, and wealth pathways are of roughly equal magnitude. For both men and women the principal channel through which education influences early Social Security claiming decisions is the earnings pathway. We also consider the direct effect of education that does not operate through these pathways. The direct effect of education is much greater for early claiming of Social Security benefits than for DI participation, accounting for 72% of the effect of education for men and 67% for women. For women the direct effect of education on DI participation is not statistically significant, suggesting that the total effect may be through the four pathways. %B The Journal of the Economics of Ageing %V 6 %P 133 - 148 %G eng %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212828X15000201 %R https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeoa.2015.08.001 %0 Journal Article %J Prev Chronic Dis %D 2015 %T Multimorbidity redefined: prospective health outcomes and the cumulative effect of co-occurring conditions. %A Siran M Koroukian %A David F Warner %A Owusu, Cynthia %A Charles W Given %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Alcohol Drinking %K Body Mass Index %K Chronic disease %K Cognition Disorders %K Comorbidity %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Data Interpretation, Statistical %K ethnicity %K Female %K Health Status Indicators %K Humans %K Interviews as Topic %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Mobility Limitation %K Outcome Assessment, Health Care %K Prospective Studies %K Recurrence %K Retirement %K Self Report %K Smoking %K Social Class %K Syndrome %K United States %K Vulnerable Populations %X

INTRODUCTION: Multimorbidity is common among middle-aged and older adults; however the prospective effects of multimorbidity on health outcomes (health status, major health decline, and mortality) have not been fully explored. This study addresses this gap in the literature.

METHODS: We used self-reported data from the 2008 and 2010 Health and Retirement Study. Our study population included 13,232 adults aged 50 or older. Our measure of baseline multimorbidity in 2008 was based on the occurrence or co-occurrence of chronic conditions, functional limitations, and/or geriatric syndromes, as follows: MM0, no chronic conditions, functional limitations, or geriatric syndromes; MM1, occurrence (but no co-occurrence) of chronic conditions, functional limitations, or geriatric syndromes; MM2, co-occurrence of any 2 of chronic conditions, functional limitations, or geriatric syndromes; and MM3, co-occurrence of all 3 of chronic conditions, functional limitations, and geriatric syndromes. Outcomes in 2010 included fair or poor health status, major health decline, and mortality.

RESULTS: All 3 outcomes were significantly associated with multimorbidity. Compared with MM0 (respectively for fair or poor health and major health decline), the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals were as follows: 2.61 (1.79-3.78) and 2.20 (1.42-3.41) for MM1; 7.49 (5.20-10.77) and 3.70 (2.40-5.71) for MM2; and 22.66 (15.64-32.83) and 4.72 (3.03-7.37) for MM3. Multimorbidity was also associated with mortality: an adult classified as MM3 was nearly 12 times (AOR, 11.87 [5.72-24.62]) as likely as an adult classified as MM0 to die within 2 years.

CONCLUSION: Given the strong and significant association between multimorbidity and prospective health status, major health decline, and mortality, multimorbidity may be used - both in clinical practice and in research - to identify older adults with heightened vulnerability for adverse outcomes.

%B Prev Chronic Dis %I 12 %V 12 %P E55 %8 2015 Apr 23 %G eng %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25906436?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC4415428 %4 MORBIDITY/health status/health decline/mortality/baseline multimorbidity/health status %$ 999999 %R 10.5888/pcd12.140478 %0 Journal Article %J Prev Chronic Dis %D 2015 %T Prostate Cancer Screening Among American Indians and Alaska Natives: The Health and Retirement Survey, 1996-2008. %A R. Turner Goins %A Marc B Schure %A Carolyn Noonan %A Dedra S. Buchwald %K Aged %K Alaska %K Analysis of Variance %K Black or African American %K Health Behavior %K Health Surveys %K Healthcare Disparities %K Humans %K Indians, North American %K Male %K Mass Screening %K Middle Aged %K Prevalence %K Prostatic Neoplasms %K Regression Analysis %K Retirement %K Self Report %K Surveys and Questionnaires %K United States %K White People %X

INTRODUCTION: Among US men, prostate cancer is the leading malignancy diagnosed and the second leading cause of cancer death. Disparities in cancer screening rates exist between American Indians/Alaska Natives and other racial/ethnic groups. Our study objectives were to examine prostate screening at 5 time points over a 12-year period among American Indian/Alaska Native men aged 50 to 75 years, and to compare their screening rates to African American men and white men in the same age group.

METHODS: We analyzed Health and Retirement Study data for 1996, 1998, 2000, 2004, and 2008. Prostate screening was measured by self-report of receipt of a prostate examination within the previous 2 years. Age-adjusted prevalence was estimated for each year. We used regression with generalized estimating equations to compare prostate screening prevalence by year and race.

RESULTS: Our analytic sample included 119 American Indian/Alaska Native men (n = 333 observations), 1,359 African American men (n = 3,704 observations), and 8,226 white men (n = 24,292 observations). From 1996 to 2008, prostate screening rates changed for each group: from 57.0% to 55.7% among American Indians/Alaska Natives, from 62.0% to 71.2% among African Americans, and from 68.6% to 71.3% among whites. Although the disparity between whites and African Americans shrank over time, it was virtually unchanged between whites and American Indians/Alaska Natives.

CONCLUSION: As of 2008, American Indians/Alaska Natives were less likely than African Americans and whites to report a prostate examination within the previous 2 years. Prevalence trends indicated a modest increase in prostate cancer screening among African Americans and whites, while rates remained substantially lower for American Indians/Alaska Natives.

%B Prev Chronic Dis %I 12 %V 12 %P E123 %8 2015 Aug 06 %G eng %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26247423?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC4552140 %4 prostate cancer/Screening/native Americans/african Americans/minorities %$ 999999 %R 10.5888/pcd12.150088 %0 Report %D 2015 %T To What Extent Does SES Status Lead People to Retire Too Soon? %A Alicia H. Munnell %A Anqi Chen %A Anthony Webb %K Retirement %K socioeconomic status %X Working longer is a powerful lever to enhance retirement security. Individuals should be able to extend the number of years they work because, on average, they are healthier, live longer, and face less physically demanding jobs. But averages are misleading when discrepancies in health, job prospects, and life expectancy have widened between individuals with low and high socioeconomic status (SES). To understand the extent of disparities across SES groups, this paper uses data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to identify the retirement gap – the difference between how much longer each household would need to work to maintain their pre-retirement standard of living and their planned retirement age. The analysis shows that households in lower-SES quartiles have larger retirement gaps than their higher-SES counterparts, even after controlling for household characteristics and late-career shocks. This same group has seen little improvement in health and life expectancy and faces poor job prospects. In short, retirement shortfalls for the most vulnerable may not be able to be bridged by working longer, and other solutions will be needed. %I Center for Retirement Research at Boston College %G eng %U https://crr.bc.edu/working-papers/how-much-longer-do-people-need-to-work/ %0 Journal Article %J BMC Public Health %D 2015 %T Variation in the effects of family background and birth region on adult obesity: results of a prospective cohort study of a Great Depression-era American cohort. %A Hui Zheng %A Dmitry Tumin %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Body Weight %K Cohort Studies %K ethnicity %K Family Characteristics %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Humans %K Interviews as Topic %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Obesity %K Prospective Studies %K Qualitative Research %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %X

BACKGROUND: Studies have identified prenatal and early childhood conditions as important contributors to weight status in later life. To date, however, few studies have considered how weight status in adulthood is shaped by regional variation in early-life conditions, rather than the characteristics of the individual or their family. Furthermore, gender and life course differences in the salience of early life conditions to weight status remain unclear. This study investigates whether the effect of family background and birth region on adult obesity status varies by gender and over the life course.

METHODS: We used data from a population-based cohort of 6,453 adults from the Health and Retirement Study, 1992-2008. Early life conditions were measured retrospectively at and after the baseline. Obesity was calculated from self-reported height and weight. Logistic models were used to estimate the net effects of family background and birth region on adulthood obesity risk after adjusting for socioeconomic factors and health behaviors measured in adulthood. Four economic and demographic data sets were used to further test the birthplace effect.

RESULTS: At ages 50-61, mother's education and birth region were associated with women's obesity risk, but not men's. Each year's increase in mother's education significantly reduces the odds of being obese by 6% (OR = 0.94; 95% CI: 0.92, 0.97) among women, and this pattern persisted at ages 66-77. Women born in the Mountain region were least likely to be obese in late-middle age and late-life. Measures of per capita income and infant mortality rate in the birth region were also associated with the odds of obesity among women.

CONCLUSIONS: Women's obesity status in adulthood is influenced by early childhood conditions, including regional conditions, while adulthood health risk factors may be more important for men's obesity risk. Biological and social mechanisms may account for the gender difference.

%B BMC Public Health %I 15 %V 15 %P 535 %8 2015 Jun 05 %G eng %U http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84934903370andpartnerID=40andmd5=b19c15d412d4437881f0111906f49570 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26088317?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC4474348 %4 Birth place/Early-life conditions/Gender/Life course/Mothers education/Obesity %$ 999999 %R 10.1186/s12889-015-1870-7 %0 Journal Article %J Int J Epidemiol %D 2014 %T Cohort Profile: the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). %A Amanda Sonnega %A Jessica Faul %A Mary Beth Ofstedal %A Kenneth M. Langa %A John W R Phillips %A David R Weir %K Aged %K Female %K Genetic Predisposition to Disease %K Health Status %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Mental Health %K Middle Aged %K Physical Fitness %K Retirement %K United States %X

The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) is a nationally representative longitudinal survey of more than 37 000 individuals over age 50 in 23 000 households in the USA. The survey, which has been fielded every 2 years since 1992, was established to provide a national resource for data on the changing health and economic circumstances associated with ageing at both individual and population levels. Its multidisciplinary approach is focused on four broad topics-income and wealth; health, cognition and use of healthcare services; work and retirement; and family connections. HRS data are also linked at the individual level to administrative records from Social Security and Medicare, Veteran's Administration, the National Death Index and employer-provided pension plan information. Since 2006, data collection has expanded to include biomarkers and genetics as well as much greater depth in psychology and social context. This blend of economic, health and psychosocial information provides unprecedented potential to study increasingly complex questions about ageing and retirement. The HRS has been a leading force for rapid release of data while simultaneously protecting the confidentiality of respondents. Three categories of data-public, sensitive and restricted-can be accessed through procedures described on the HRS website (hrsonline.isr.umich.edu).

%B Int J Epidemiol %I 43 %V 43 %P 576-85 %8 2014 Apr %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24671021?dopt=Abstract %4 administrative data/Restricted data %$ 999999 %R 10.1093/ije/dyu067 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Geriatr Psychiatry %D 2014 %T Does duration of spousal caregiving affect risk of depression onset? Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study. %A Benjamin D Capistrant %A Lisa F Berkman %A M. Maria Glymour %K Aged %K Caregivers %K depression %K Female %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Spouses %K Time Factors %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association of current and long-term spousal caregiving with risk of depression in a nationally (U.S.) representative sample of older adults.

METHODS: We studied married and depression-free Health and Retirement Study respondents aged 50 years and older (n = 9,420) at baseline from 2000 to 2010. Current (≥14 hours per week of help with instrumental/activities of daily living for a spouse in the most recent biennial survey) and long-term caregiving (care at two consecutive surveys) were used to predict onset of elevated depressive symptoms (≥3 on a modified Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale) with discrete-time hazards models and time-updated exposure and covariate information.

RESULTS: Current caregiving was associated with significant elevations in risk of depression onset (hazard ratio: 1.64; Wald χ(2), 1 df: 28.34; p <0.0001). Effect estimates for long-term caregiving were similar (hazard ratio: 1.52, Wald χ(2), 1 df: 3.63; p = 0.06).

CONCLUSIONS: Current spousal caregiving significantly predicted onset of depression; the association was not exacerbated by longer duration of caregiving.

%B Am J Geriatr Psychiatry %I 22 %V 22 %P 766-70 %8 2014 Aug %G eng %N 8 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23791537?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3785551 %4 Caregiving/depression/depressive symptoms/older adults/spouses/spousal caregiving %$ 999999 %R 10.1016/j.jagp.2013.01.073 %0 Report %D 2014 %T Does Retirement Make You Happy? A Simultaneous Equations Approach %A Raquel Fonseca %A Arie Kapteyn %A Jinkook Lee %A Gema Zamarro %K Depressive symptoms %K Income %K Life Satisfaction %K Retirement %X Continued improvements in life expectancy and fiscal insolvency of public pensions have led to increased pension entitlement ages in several countries, but its consequences for subjective well-being are largely unknown. Financial consequences of retirement complicate the estimation of effects of retirement on well-being as financial circumstances may influence well-being, so the effects of retirement may be confounded by income changes. Also, unobservable determinants of income are probably related with unobservable determinants of well-being, making income possibly endogenous if used as control in well-being regressions. To address these issues, we estimate a simultaneous model of retirement, income, and subjective well-being while accounting for time effects and unobserved individual effects. Public pension arrangements (replacement rates, eligibility rules for early and full retirement) serve as instrumental variables. We use data from HRS and SHARE from 2004 to 2010. We find that depressive symptoms are negatively related to retirement while life satisfaction is positively related. Remarkably, income does not seem to affect depression or life satisfaction. This contrasts with correlations in the raw data showing significant relations between income and depression and life satisfaction. This suggests that accounting for the endogeneity of income in equations explaining depression or life satisfaction is important. %B MRRC Working Paper %I Michigan Retirement Research Center, University of Michigan %C Ann Arbor %G eng %U https://mrdrc.isr.umich.edu/publications/papers/pdf/wp310.pdf %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Human Resources %D 2014 %T The Health Consequences of Retirement %A Insler, Michael %K health %K Retirement %X This paper examines the impact of retirement on individuals’ health. Declines in health commonly compel workers to retire, so the challenge is to disentangle the simultaneous causal effects. The estimation strategy employs an instrumental variables specification. The instrument is based on workers’ self-reported probabilities of working past ages 62 and 65, taken from the first period in which they are observed. Results indicate that the retirement effect on health is beneficial and significant. Investigation into behavioral data, such as smoking and exercise, suggests that retirement may affect health through such channels. With additional leisure time, many retirees practice healthier habits. %B Journal of Human Resources %V 49 %P 195-233 %G eng %N 1 %R doi: 10.3368/jhr.49.1.195 %0 Journal Article %J J Palliat Med %D 2014 %T Leveraging the health and retirement study to advance palliative care research. %A Amy Kelley %A Kenneth M. Langa %A John G. Cagle %A Katherine A Ornstein %A Maria J Silveira %A Lauren Hersch Nicholas %A Kenneth E Covinsky %A Christine S Ritchie %K Aged %K Caregivers %K Evidence-Based Practice %K Health Services Research %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Needs Assessment %K Pain Management %K Palliative care %K Quality of Life %K Retirement %K Sociological Factors %K United States %X

BACKGROUND: The critical need to expand and develop the palliative care evidence base was recently highlighted by the Journal of Palliative Medicine's series of articles describing the Research Priorities in Geriatric Palliative Care. The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) is uniquely positioned to address many priority areas of palliative care research. This nationally representative, ongoing, longitudinal study collects detailed survey data every 2 years, including demographics, health and functional characteristics, information on family and caregivers, and personal finances, and also conducts a proxy interview after each subject's death. The HRS can also be linked with Medicare claims data and many other data sources, e.g., U.S. Census, Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care.

SETTING: While the HRS offers innumerable research opportunities, these data are complex and limitations do exist. Therefore, we assembled an interdisciplinary group of investigators using the HRS for palliative care research to identify the key palliative care research gaps that may be amenable to study within the HRS and the strengths and weaknesses of the HRS for each of these topic areas.

CONCLUSION: In this article we present the work of this group as a potential roadmap for investigators contemplating the use of HRS data for palliative care research.

%B J Palliat Med %I 17 %V 17 %P 506-11 %8 2014 May %G eng %N 5 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24694096?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC4012620 %4 Caregivers/Evidence-Based Practice/Needs Assessment/Pain Management/Palliative Care %$ 999999 %R 10.1089/jpm.2013.0648 %0 Journal Article %J Prev Chronic Dis %D 2014 %T Longitudinal predictors of self-rated health and mortality in older adults. %A Diane C Wagner %A Jerome L Short %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Body Mass Index %K Chronic disease %K depression %K Educational Status %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Health Status Indicators %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Mental Recall %K Middle Aged %K Proportional Hazards Models %K Psychometrics %K Retirement %K Self Report %K Survival Analysis %K United States %X

INTRODUCTION: Few studies have compared the effects of demographic, cognitive, and behavioral factors of health and mortality longitudinally. We examined predictors of self-rated health and mortality at 3 points, each 2 years apart, over 4 years.

METHODS: We used data from the 2006 wave of the Health and Retirement Study and health and mortality indicators from 2006, 2008, and 2010. We analyzed data from 17,930 adults (aged 50-104 y) to examine predictors of self-rated health and data from a subgroup of 1,171 adults who died from 2006 through 2010 to examine predictors of mortality.

RESULTS: Time 1 depression was the strongest predictor of self-rated health at all points, independent of age and education. Education, mild activities, body mass index, delayed word recall, and smoking were all associated with self-rated health at each point and predicted mortality. Delayed word recall mediated the relationships of mild activity with health and mortality. Bidirectional mediation was found for the effects of mild activity and depression on health.

CONCLUSION: Medical professionals should consider screening for depression and memory difficulties in addition to conducting medical assessments. These assessments could lead to more effective biopsychosocial interventions to help older adults manage risks for mortality.

%B Prev Chronic Dis %I 11 %V 11 %P E93 %8 2014 Jun 05 %G eng %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24901793?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC4049199 %4 Self assessed health/depression/mortality/memory decline/psychosocial influences/psychosocial influences %$ 999999 %R 10.5888/pcd11.130241 %0 Journal Article %J J Occup Health Psychol %D 2014 %T Mental work demands, retirement, and longitudinal trajectories of cognitive functioning. %A Gwenith G Fisher %A Stachowski, Alicia %A Frank J Infurna %A Jessica Faul %A James Grosch %A Lois E Tetrick %K Cognition %K Employment %K Female %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Stress, Psychological %X

Age-related changes in cognitive abilities are well-documented, and a very important indicator of health, functioning, and decline in later life. However, less is known about the course of cognitive functioning before and after retirement and specifically whether job characteristics during one's time of employment (i.e., higher vs. lower levels of mental work demands) moderate how cognition changes both before and after the transition to retirement. We used data from n = 4,182 (50% women) individuals in the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative panel study in the United States, across an 18 year time span (1992-2010). Data were linked to the O*NET occupation codes to gather information about mental job demands to examine whether job characteristics during one's time of employment moderates level and rate of change in cognitive functioning (episodic memory and mental status) both before and after retirement. Results indicated that working in an occupation characterized by higher levels of mental demands was associated with higher levels of cognitive functioning before retirement, and a slower rate of cognitive decline after retirement. We controlled for a number of important covariates, including socioeconomic (education and income), demographic, and health variables. Our discussion focuses on pathways through which job characteristics may be associated with the course of cognitive functioning in relation to the important transition of retirement. Implications for job design as well as retirement are offered.

%B J Occup Health Psychol %I 19 %V 19 %P 231-42 %8 2014 Apr %G eng %U http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84896104239andpartnerID=40andmd5=8a0c0422ba5b68927fdc926a3e8a25b4 %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24635733?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC4663987 %4 Aging/Cognitive Ability/Job Characteristics/Retirement %$ 999999 %R 10.1037/a0035724 %0 Report %D 2014 %T The Role of Health in Retirement %A Alan L Gustman %A Thomas L. Steinmeier %K health %K Health and well-being %K Health Behavior %K Retirement %K Retirement Decision %X This paper constructs and estimates a dynamic model of the evolution of health for those over the age of 50 and then embeds that model of health dynamics in a structural, econometric model of retirement and saving. The health model traces the effects of smoking, obesity, alcohol consumption, depression and other proclivities on medical conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, cancer, lung disease, heart problems, stroke, psychiatric problems and arthritis. These in turn influence an overall index of health status based on self-reported health, work limitations and ADLs, which is used to classify the population into good, fair, poor or terrible health. Compared to a situation where the entire population is in good health, the current health status of the population reduces the retirement age of the entire population by an average of about one year. While poor health or terrible health have a great impact on the disutility of work and thus on retirement, fair health as opposed to good health has a relatively minor effect. Smoking depresses full-time work effort by up to 3.5 percentage points by those in the early sixties, reducing the average retirement age by four to five months. Effects of trends in health care and health policies on retirement are also analyzed. Including detailed measurement of health dynamics in a retirement model improves understanding of the effects of health on retirement. It does not, however, influence estimates of the marginal effects of economic incentives on retirement. %I NBER %G eng %U http://www.nber.org/papers/w19902 %R 10.3386/w19902 %0 Journal Article %J PLoS One %D 2014 %T Self-rated health in the last 12 years of life compared to matched surviving controls: the Health and Retirement Study. %A Stenholm, Sari %A Pentti, Jaana %A Ichiro Kawachi %A Westerlund, Hugo %A Mika Kivimäki %A Vahtera, Jussi %K Adult %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Diagnostic Self Evaluation %K Female %K health %K Health Status %K Humans %K Life Style %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Mortality %K Retirement %K Retrospective Studies %X

Self-rated health (SRH) is a valid measure of health status and associated with mortality. Based on individual-level biannual repeat data on SRH we sought to characterize the natural history of poor SRH during the 12 years prior to death in men and women in different age groups. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the Health and Retirement Study participants who died between 1998 and 2010 and had at least two SRH measurements in the 12 years prior to death. We used a nested case-control design to compare SRH trajectories of deceased men and women aged 30-64, 65-79 and 80 years versus surviving participants. The cases comprised 3,350 deceased participants who were matched to surviving controls (n = 8,127). SRH was dichotomized into good vs. poor health. Men and women dying at age 65-79 and ≥ 80 years had 1.5 to 3 times higher prevalence of poor SRH already 11-12 years prior to death compared to surviving controls. The risk estimates remained statistically significant even after adjusting for life-style related risk factors and diagnosed diseases. Prevalence of poor SRH before death was lowest among those aged ≥ 80 years and highest in 30-64 year-olds. In conclusion, men and women who subsequently die perceive their health worse already 11-12 years prior to death compared to their surviving controls.

%B PLoS One %I 9 %V 9 %P e107879 %8 2014 %G eng %N 9 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25237814?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC4169624 %4 Self assessed health/Mortality/health Status/retrospective analysis/health trajectories/health trajectories %$ 999999 %R 10.1371/journal.pone.0107879 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 2013 %T The influence of unpaid work on the transition out of full-time paid work. %A Dawn C Carr %A Ben Lennox Kail %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Employment %K Female %K Humans %K Interviews as Topic %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Salaries and Fringe Benefits %K Volunteers %K Work %X

PURPOSE: Continued employment after retirement and engagement in unpaid work are both important ways of diminishing the negative economic effects of the retirement of baby boomer cohorts on society. Little research, however, examines the relationship between paid and unpaid work at the transition from full-time work. Using a resource perspective framework this study examines how engagement in unpaid work prior to and at the transition from full-time work influences whether individuals partially or fully retire.

DESIGN AND METHODS: This study used a sample of 2,236 Americans between the ages 50 and 68, who were interviewed between 1998 and 2008. Logistic regression was used to estimate transitioning into partial retirement (relative to full retirement) after leaving full-time work.

RESULTS: We found that the odds of transitioning into part-time work were increased by continuous volunteering (78%) and reduced by starting parental (84%), grandchild (41%), and spousal (90%) caregiving and unaffected by all other patterns of engagement in unpaid work.

IMPLICATIONS: Our findings suggest that volunteering is complementary with a transition to part-time work, and starting a new caregiving role at this transitioncreates a barrier to continued employment. In order to provide workers the opportunity to engage in the work force longer at the brink of retirement, it may be necessary to increase the support mechanisms for those who experience new caregiving responsibilities.

%B Gerontologist %V 53 %P 92-101 %8 2013 Feb %G eng %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22859436?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3605938 %4 retirement Planning/Public policy/baby boomers/partial retirement/labor force participation/unpaid work %$ 69664 %R 10.1093/geront/gns080 %0 Journal Article %J J Epidemiol Community Health %D 2013 %T Urban neighbourhood unemployment history and depressive symptoms over time among late middle age and older adults. %A Richard G Wight %A Carol S Aneshensel %A Barrett, Christopher %A Michelle J Ko %A Joshua Chodosh %A Arun S Karlamangla %K Age Factors %K depression %K Female %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Multilevel Analysis %K Residence Characteristics %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Socioeconomic factors %K Stress, Psychological %K Surveys and Questionnaires %K Time Factors %K Unemployment %K United States %K Urban Population %X

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how a neighbourhood's unemployment history may set the stage for depressive symptomatology. This study examines the effects of urban neighbourhood unemployment history on current depressive symptoms and subsequent symptom trajectories among residentially stable late middle age and older adults. Contingent effects between neighbourhood unemployment and individual-level employment status (ie, cross-level interactions) are also assessed.

METHODS: Individual-level survey data are from four waves (2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006) of the original cohort of the nationally representative US Health and Retirement Study. Neighbourhoods are operationalised with US Census tracts for which historical average proportion unemployed between 1990 and 2000 and change in proportion unemployed between 1990 and 2000 are used to characterise the neighbourhood's unemployment history. Hierarchical linear regressions estimate three-level (time, individual and neighbourhood) growth models.

RESULTS: Symptoms in 2000 are highest among those residing in neighbourhoods characterised by high historical average unemployment beginning in 1990 and increasing unemployment between 1990 and 2000, net of a wide range of socio-demographic controls including individual-level employment status. These neighbourhood unemployment effects are not contingent upon individual-level employment status in 2000. 6-year trajectories of depressive symptoms decrease over time on average but are not significantly influenced by the neighbourhood's unemployment history.

CONCLUSIONS: Given the current US recession, future studies that do not consider historical employment conditions may underestimate the mental health impact of urban neighbourhood context. The findings suggest that exposure to neighbourhood unemployment earlier in life may be consequential to mental health later in life.

%B J Epidemiol Community Health %I 67 %V 67 %P 153-8 %8 2013 Feb %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22918896?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3681821 %4 Depressive Symptoms/depression/neighborhood Characteristics/employment status/mental Health/labor Force Participation/Socioeconomic Factors/Great Recession %$ 69198 %R 10.1136/jech-2012-201537 %0 Journal Article %J J Women Aging %D 2013 %T Women's receipt of Social Security retirement benefits: expectations compared to elections. %A Gillen, Martie %A Claudia J Heath %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Decision making %K Female %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Middle Aged %K Pensions %K Retirement %K Social Security %K Socioeconomic factors %K Time Factors %K United States %X

This research contributes knowledge regarding the options of early, normal, or delayed receipt of Social Security retirement benefits and research-based findings regarding women's expected and actual timing of election of Social Security retirement benefits. First, descriptive analyses of alternative retirement options, based on Social Security retirement benefit rules, are provided. Second, the 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006 waves of Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data are used to analyze women's anticipated and actual election of Social Security retirement benefits. Third, based on these considerations, recommendations are made regarding Social Security retirement benefit receipt alternatives.

%B J Women Aging %I 25 %V 25 %P 321-36 %8 2013 %G eng %N 4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24116993?dopt=Abstract %4 retirement planning/Delayed Retirement/Womens studies/Social security/Women/Retirement benefits %$ 69336 %R 10.1080/08952841.2013.816219 %0 Report %D 2012 %T Barriers to Later Retirement: Increases in the Full Retirement Age, Age Discrimination, and the Physical Challenges of Work %A David Neumark %A Joanne Song %K Discrimination %K FRA %K Full Retirement Age %K Retirement %K Work %X Policy changes intended to delay retirements of older workers and extend their work lives may run up against demand-side barriers from age discrimination, and supply-side barriers owing to rising physical challenges of work as people age. We study three questions. How do age discrimination protections affect labor market transitions of workers encouraged to work longer by increases in Social Security’s Full Retirement Age (FRA)? How do physical challenges at work influence employment transitions of older workers for whom public policy is trying to delay retirement? And what role do stronger age discrimination protections play in helping workers facing physical challenges at work? We find that stronger state age discrimination protections increase employment and hiring for older workers caught by increases in the FRA. We also find that physical challenges pose a barrier to extending work lives, although some workers with physically-demanding jobs are able to mitigate these demands – either at new jobs or with the same employer. However, for the most part stronger age discrimination protections do not appear to contribute to older workers’ ability to mitigate physical challenges at work. %I Michigan Retirement Research Center %G eng %U https://ideas.repec.org/p/mrr/papers/wp265.html %0 Journal Article %J Hepatology %D 2012 %T Burden of cirrhosis on older Americans and their families: analysis of the health and retirement study. %A M. O. Rakoski %A Ryan J McCammon %A John D Piette %A Theodore J Iwashyna %A J. A. Marrero %A Lok, Anna S %A Kenneth M. Langa %A Volk, Michael L %K Aged %K Black People %K Caregivers %K Comorbidity %K Cost of Illness %K Databases, Factual %K Disability Evaluation %K Female %K Health Care Costs %K Health Status %K Hispanic or Latino %K Humans %K Incidence %K Liver Cirrhosis %K Male %K Medicaid %K Medicare %K Prevalence %K Prospective Studies %K Retirement %K United States %K White People %X

UNLABELLED: Prevalence of cirrhosis among older adults is expected to increase; therefore, we studied the health status, functional disability, and need for supportive care in a large national sample of individuals with cirrhosis. A prospective cohort of individuals with cirrhosis was identified within the longitudinal, nationally representative Health and Retirement Study. Cirrhosis cases were identified in linked Medicare data via ICD-9-CM (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification) codes and compared to an age-matched cohort without cirrhosis. Two primary outcome domains were assessed: (1) patients' health status (perceived health status, comorbidities, health care utilization, and functional disability as determined by activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living), and (2) informal caregiving (hours of caregiving provided by a primary informal caregiver and associated cost). Adjusted negative binomial regression was used to assess the association between cirrhosis and functional disability. A total of 317 individuals with cirrhosis and 951 age-matched comparators were identified. Relative to the comparison group, individuals with cirrhosis had worse self-reported health status, more comorbidities, and used significantly more health care services (hospitalizations, nursing home stays, physician visits; P < 0.001 for all bivariable comparisons). They also had greater functional disability (P < 0.001 for activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living), despite adjustment for covariates such as comorbidities and health care utilization. Individuals with cirrhosis received more than twice the number of informal caregiving hours per week (P < 0.001), at an annual cost of US $4700 per person.

CONCLUSION: Older Americans with cirrhosis have high rates of disability, health care utilization, and need for informal caregiving. Improved care coordination and caregiver support is necessary to optimize management of this frail population.

%B Hepatology %I 55 %V 55 %P 184-91 %8 2012 Jan %G eng %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21858847?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3462487 %4 alcohol Abuse/cirrhosis/cirrhosis/Self assessed health/COMORBIDITY/health care/HOSPITALIZATION/physician visits/physician visits %$ 62711 %R 10.1002/hep.24616 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 2012 %T Cohort differences in the availability of informal caregivers: are the Boomers at risk? %A Lindsay H Ryan %A Jacqui Smith %A Toni C Antonucci %A James S Jackson %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Aging %K Caregivers %K Censuses %K Family Characteristics %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Likelihood Functions %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Nuclear Family %K Population Growth %K Residence Characteristics %K Retirement %K Risk %K Socioeconomic factors %X

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: We compare the close family resources of Baby Boomers (BBs) to previous cohorts of older adults at population level and then examine individual-level cohort comparisons of age-related trajectories of informal care availability from midlife into old age.

DESIGN AND METHODS: Population data from the U.S. Census and from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) are used to identify a cohort similar to the BBs on marital status and fertility rates. Using generalized linear mixed models and 10-year longitudinal data from Depression and WWII parents (DWP; n = 1,052) and the parents of BBs (PBB; n = 3,573) in the HRS, we examine cohort differences in the time-varying likelihoods of being married and of having an adult child living within 10 miles.

RESULTS: The DWP had similar informal care resources at entry to old age as is expected in the BB. Longitudinal analyses of the DWP and PBB cohorts in HRS reveal that the availability of family changes over time and that the DWP cohort was significantly less likely to have a spouse or a grown child living nearby.

IMPLICATIONS: These findings, and future projections based on them, have significant implications for institutions and public policy concerned with the informal caregiving needs of the Boomer cohort as they age.

%B Gerontologist %I 52 %V 52 %P 177-88 %8 2012 Apr %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22298747?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3304892 %4 Baby boomers/Caregivers/Older people/Public policy/Generalized linear models/Generalized linear models %$ 62838 %R 10.1093/geront/gnr142 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2012 %T Coverage or costs: the role of health insurance in labor market reentry among early retirees. %A Ben Lennox Kail %K Employment %K Female %K Health Benefit Plans, Employee %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Insurance Coverage %K Insurance, Health %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the impact of insurance coverage on the odds of returning to work after early retirement and the change in insurance coverage after returning to work.

METHOD: The Health and Retirement Study was used to estimate hierarchical linear models of transitions to full-time work and part-time work relative to remaining retired. A chi-square test was also used to assess change in insurance coverage after returning to work.

RESULTS: Insurance coverage was unrelated to the odds of transitioning to full-time work. However, relative to employer-provided insurance, private nongroup insurance increased the odds of transitioning to part-time work, whereas public insurance reduced the odds of making this transition. Additionally, after returning to work, insurance coverage increased among those who were without employer-provided insurance in retirement.

DISCUSSION: Results indicated that source of coverage may be more useful in explaining returns to part-time work than simply whether people have coverage at all. In other words, the mechanism underlying the positive relationship between insurance and returning to work appeared to be limited to those who return to work because of the cost of private nongroup insurance. Among these people, however, there was some evidence that they are able to secure new coverage once they return to work.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 67B %V 67 %P 113-20 %8 2012 Jan %G eng %U http://proquest.umi.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/pqdweb?did=2579962341andFmt=7andclientId=17822andRQT=309andVName=PQD %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22156628?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3267024 %4 Older people/Retirees/Insurance coverage/Labor market/Gerontology/Impact analysis %$ 62824 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbr130 %0 Journal Article %J J Aging Soc Policy %D 2012 %T Determinants of retirement timing expectations in the United States and Australia: a cross-national comparison of the effects of health and retirement benefit policies on retirement timing decisions. %A K. A. Sargent-Cox %A Kaarin J. Anstey %A Kendig, H. %A Skladzien, E. %K Activities of Daily Living %K Age Factors %K Australia %K Cross-Cultural Comparison %K Florida %K Health Benefit Plans, Employee %K Health Status %K Humans %K Job Satisfaction %K Middle Aged %K Pensions %K Public Policy %K Retirement %K Sex Factors %K Socioeconomic factors %K Time Factors %K United States %X

Data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (N = 2,589) and the Australian Household Income and Labour Dynamics survey (N = 1,760) were used to compare the macro-level policy frameworks on individual retirement timing expectations for pre-baby boomers (61+ years) and early baby boomers (45 to 60 years). Australian workers reported younger expected age of retirement compared to the U.S. sample. Reporting poor health was more strongly associated with younger expected retirement age in the United States than in Australia. Cohort and gender differences in the United States were found for the effect of private health insurance on younger expected age at retirement. Our results draw attention to how cross-national comparisons can inform us on the effects of policies on retirement expectations among older workers.

%B J Aging Soc Policy %I 24 %V 24 %P 291-308 %8 2012 %G eng %N 3 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22720888?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC in process %4 cross-national comparison/Australian Household Income and Labour Dynamics/retirement planning/Health insurance %$ 69588 %R 10.1080/08959420.2012.676324 %0 Journal Article %J Health Econ %D 2012 %T Does retirement trigger ill health? %A Stefanie Behncke %K Activities of Daily Living %K Cardiovascular Diseases %K Chronic disease %K England %K Health Status %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Models, Econometric %K Neoplasms %K Quality of Life %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %X

This paper investigates the effects of retirement on various health outcomes. Data stem from the first three waves of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). With these informative data, non-parametric matching and instrumental variable (IV) methods are applied to identify causal effects. It is found that retirement significantly increases the risk of being diagnosed with a chronic condition. In particular, it raises the risk of a severe cardiovascular disease and cancer. This is also reflected in increased risk factors (e.g. BMI, cholesterol, blood pressure) and increased problems in physical activities. Furthermore, retirement worsens self-assessed health and an underlying health stock.

%B Health Econ %I 21 %V 21 %P 282-300 %8 2012 Mar %G eng %N 3 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21322085?dopt=Abstract %3 21322085 %4 retirement/health/Cross-national/matching methods/instrumental variable/ELSA_ %$ 69640 %R 10.1002/hec.1712 %0 Journal Article %J Health Econ %D 2012 %T The effect of retirement on cognitive functioning. %A Norma B Coe %A von Gaudecker, Hans-Martin %A Maarten Lindeboom %A Jürgen Maurer %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Aging %K Cognition %K Decision making %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Mental Recall %K Middle Aged %K Occupations %K Retirement %K Socioeconomic factors %K Time Factors %X

Cognitive impairment has emerged as a major driver of disability in old age, with profound effects on individual well-being and decision making at older ages. In the light of policies aimed at postponing retirement ages, an important question is whether continued labour supply helps to maintain high levels of cognition at older ages. We use data of older men from the US Health and Retirement Study to estimate the effect of continued labour market participation at older ages on later-life cognition. As retirement itself is likely to depend on cognitive functioning and may thus be endogenous, we use offers of early retirement windows as instruments for retirement in econometric models for later-life cognitive functioning. These offers of early retirement are legally required to be nondiscriminatory and thus, inter alia, unrelated to cognitive functioning. At the same time, these offers of early retirement options are significant predictors of retirement. Although the simple ordinary least squares estimates show a negative relationship between retirement duration and various measures of cognitive functioning, instrumental variable estimates suggest that these associations may not be causal effects. Specifically, we find no clear relationship between retirement duration and later-life cognition for white-collar workers and, if anything, a positive relationship for blue-collar workers.

%B Health Econ %I 21 %V 21 %P 913-27 %8 2012 Aug %G eng %N 8 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21818822?dopt=Abstract %3 21818822 %4 Cognitive Impairment/Decision Making/Well Being/labor Force Participation/early Retirement/DISABILITY/DISABILITY/retirement planning/early Retirement %$ 62726 %R 10.1002/hec.1771 %0 Journal Article %J Int J Health Care Finance Econ %D 2012 %T The effects of health shocks on employment and health insurance: the role of employer-provided health insurance. %A Cathy J. Bradley %A David Neumark %A Meryl Motika %K Adult %K Aged %K Employment %K Health Benefit Plans, Employee %K Health Status %K Hospitalization %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Lung Diseases %K Male %K Neoplasms %K Occupations %K Retirement %K Socioeconomic factors %K Spouses %X

Employment-contingent health insurance (ECHI) has been criticized for tying insurance to continued employment. Our research sheds light on two central issues regarding employment-contingent health insurance: whether such insurance "locks" people who experience a health shock into remaining at work; and whether it puts people at risk for insurance loss upon the onset of illness, because health shocks pose challenges to continued employment. We study how men's dependence on their own employer for health insurance affects labor supply responses and health insurance coverage following a health shock. We use the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) surveys from 1996 through 2008 to observe employment and health insurance status at interviews 2 years apart, and whether a health shock occurred in the intervening period between the interviews. All employed married men with health insurance either through their own employer or their spouse's employer, interviewed in at least two consecutive HRS waves with non-missing data on employment, insurance, health, demographic, and other variables, and under age 64 at the second interview are included in the study sample. We then limited the sample to men who were initially healthy. Our analytical sample consisted of 1,582 men of whom 1,379 had ECHI at the first interview, while 203 were covered by their spouse's employer. Hospitalization affected 209 men with ECHI and 36 men with spouse insurance. A new disease diagnosis was reported by 103 men with ECHI and 22 men with other insurance. There were 171 men with ECHI and 25 men with spouse employer insurance who had a self-reported health decline. Labor supply response differences associated with ECHI-with men with health shocks and ECHI more likely to continue working-appear to be driven by specific types of health shocks associated with future higher health care costs but not with immediate increases in morbidity that limit continued employment. Men with ECHI who have a self-reported health decline are significantly more likely to lose health insurance than men with insurance through a spouse. With the passage of health care reform, the tendency of men with ECHI as opposed to other sources of insurance to remain employed following a health shock may be diminished, along with the likelihood of losing health insurance.

%B Int J Health Care Finance Econ %V 12 %P 253-67 %8 2012 Dec %G eng %N 4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22983813?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3518621 %4 health insurance/labor force participation/employment/Employment-contingent health insurance/health decline/health Shocks %$ 69650 %R 10.1007/s10754-012-9113-2 %0 Report %D 2012 %T Retirement in Japan and the United States: Cross-national Comparisons using the Japanese Study of Aging and Retirement (JSTAR) and the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS) %A Olivia S. Mitchell %A John W R Phillips %K Cross-National %K JSTAR %K Retirement %X Cross-national comparisons of data from developed countries offer useful insights into the retirement process and policy. Here we summarize findings for older persons age 50-70 using new microdata files collected by the Japanese Study of Aging and Retirement (JSTAR) project, and we compare these with results in the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We examine the relative importance of health, wealth, family, and other factors in work and retirement at older ages cross-nationally. Though both countries have relatively high employment at older ages, the Japanese have longer life expectancy, higher levels of financial wealth, and a lower public pension eligibility age. Our analysis, the first to compare these two rich data sources, suggests two conclusions (subject to revision when data weights become available). First, older Americans differ in key ways from their Japanese counterparts, particularly along educational, health, and wealth dimensions. Second, in some cases, there is a distinctly different impact of these factors on labor force outcomes. Specifically, age, sex, education, and wealth influence behavior differently across the two countries, though being obese or having better mental acuity/financial literacy scores has no differential impact. Thus observed differences in work patterns between Americans and Japanese at older ages are attributable to some identifiable factors; moreover, the results can be used to project future responses to changes in education, age, health, and wealth in order to account for the large differences in older workers’ work patterns at older ages in Japan and the US. %B MRDRC Working Paper %I Michigan Retirement and Disability Research Center %C Ann Arbor %G eng %U https://mrdrc.isr.umich.edu/pubs/retirement-in-japan-and-the-united-states-cross-national-comparisons-using-the-japanese-study-of-aging-and-retirement-jstar-and-the-u-s-health-and-retirement-study-hrs-2/ %9 Report %0 Journal Article %J J Rural Health %D 2012 %T Self-rated health and the "first move" around retirement: a longitudinal study of older Americans. %A Nan E. Johnson %K Aged %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Population Dynamics %K Retirement %X

PURPOSE: I examine whether less favorable self-rated health raises the risk of outmigration more for young-old adults (aged 53-63 at the start of the 10-year longitudinal study in 1994) in nonmetro than metro counties and increases the odds that both groups of outmigrants will choose metro over nonmetro destinations. Finally, I examine whether nonmetro outmigrants are more likely than metro outmigrants to cite a health concern or a desire to get closer to relatives or friends as a reason for the migration.

METHODS: I use the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to track the main residences of nonmetro and metro older adults from 1994-2003. With a discrete-time Event History Analysis, I assess the joint effects of nonmetro/metro residence in 1994 and self-rated health (updated at each biennial wave) upon the risk of a first migration. Those who migrated were asked to recall why.

FINDINGS: At worse levels of self-rated health, the odds of remaining in a nonmetro county of residence drop in favor of migrating to another nonmetro county. Among migrants, the worse the self-rated health, the higher the odds of within-type migration (nonmetro-nonmetro and metro-metro) over cross-type migration (nonmetro-metro and metro-nonmetro). The percentages of migrants citing a health concern or a desire to live closer to relatives or friends as a reason for migration do not differ by county type of origin.

CONCLUSIONS: An implication for rural health policy is that young-old adults with worse self-rated health tend to remain in nonmetro areas, even when they migrate.

%B J Rural Health %I 28 %V 28 %P 183-91 %8 2012 Spring %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22458319?dopt=Abstract %4 metropolitan/nonmetropolitan/reasons for migration/Public policy/urban areas/health Status/outmigration %$ 69638 %R 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2011.00388.x %0 Journal Article %J Soc Sci Med %D 2012 %T Transition to retirement and risk of cardiovascular disease: prospective analysis of the US health and retirement study. %A J Robin Moon %A M. Maria Glymour %A Subramanian, S V %A Mauricio Avendano %A Ichiro Kawachi %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Cardiovascular Diseases %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Prospective Studies %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Sex Factors %K Socioeconomic factors %K Survival Analysis %K Time Factors %K United States %X

Transitioning from work to retirement could be either beneficial or harmful for health. We investigated the association between transition to retirement and risk of stroke and myocardial infarction (MI). We followed US Health and Retirement Study participants age 50+ working full-time for pay and free of major cardiovascular disease (n = 5422) in 1998 up to 10 years for transition to full retirement and self- or proxy-report of either stroke or MI (CVD; 665 events). We used discrete-time survival analysis to compare the CVD incidence for the fully retired versus the full-time working population. To distinguish short-term from long-term risks, we compared the association in the first year after retirement to estimates 2+ years after retirement. In the full model adjusting for age, sex, childhood and adult SES, behavior, and co-morbidities, being retired was associated with elevated odds of CVD onset (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.90) compared to those remaining in the full-time labor force. The odds ratio for CVD incidence within the first year of retirement was 1.55 (95% CI: 1.03, 2.33). From the second year post-retirement and thereafter, the retired had marginally elevated risk of CVD compared to those still working (OR = 1.35; 95% CI: 0.96, 1.91). Although confidence intervals were wide for some sub-groups, there were no significant interactions by sex or socioeconomic status. Results suggest that CVD risk is increased after retirement.

%B Soc Sci Med %I 75 %V 75 %P 526-30 %8 2012 Aug %G eng %N 3 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22607954?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3367095 %4 Transitions/Retirement/Risk factors/Cardiovascular disease/Survival analysis/Medical research/Myocardial Infarction/Stroke %$ 69428 %R 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.04.004 %0 Journal Article %J J Health Soc Behav %D 2011 %T Childhood health and labor market inequality over the life course. %A Steven A Haas %A M. Maria Glymour %A Lisa F Berkman %K Child %K Employment %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Income %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Models, Econometric %K Retirement %K Social Class %K Social Security %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %X

The authors use data from the Health and Retirement Study's Earnings Benefit File, which links Health and Retirement Study to Social Security Administration records, to estimate the impact of childhood health on earnings curves between the ages of 25 and 50 years. They also investigate the extent to which diminished educational attainment, earlier onset of chronic health conditions, and labor force participation mediate this relationship. Those who experience poor childhood health have substantially diminished labor market earnings over the work career. For men, earnings differentials grow larger over the early to middle career and then slow down and begin to converge as they near 50 years of age. For women, earnings differentials emerge later in the career and show no evidence of convergence. Part of the child health earnings differential is accounted for by selection into diminished educational attainment, the earlier onset of chronic disease in adulthood, and, particularly for men, labor force participation.

%B J Health Soc Behav %I 52 %V 52 %P 298-313 %8 2011 Sep %G eng %N 3 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21896684?dopt=Abstract %3 21896684 %4 chronic Disease/childhood health/labor Force Participation/labor market earnings/labor market earnings/earnings curves/earnings curves %$ 62704 %R 10.1177/0022146511410431 %0 Journal Article %J Stroke %D 2011 %T Consequences of stroke in community-dwelling elderly: the health and retirement study, 1998 to 2008. %A Afshin A Divani %A Shahram Majidi %A Anna M Barrett %A Noorbaloochi, Siamak %A Andreas R Luft %K Activities of Daily Living %K Aged %K Case-Control Studies %K Cohort Studies %K Comorbidity %K Female %K Geriatrics %K Humans %K Male %K Quality of Life %K Retirement %K Risk %K Social Environment %K Stroke %X

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke survivors are at risk of developing comorbidities that further reduce their quality of life. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk of developing a secondary health problem after stroke.

METHODS: We performed a case-control analysis using 6 biennial interview waves (1998 to 2008) of the Health and Retirement Study. We compared 631 noninstitutionalized individuals who had a single stroke with 631 control subjects matched for age, gender, and interview wave. We studied sleep problems, urinary incontinence, motor impairment, falls, and memory deficits among the 2 groups.

RESULTS: Stroke survivors frequently developed new or worsened motor impairment (33%), sleep problems (up to 33%), falls (30%), urinary incontinence (19%), and memory deficits (9%). As compared with control subjects, the risk of developing a secondary health problem was highest for memory deficits (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.34 to 4.46) followed by urinary incontinence (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.31 to 2.66), motor impairment (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.24), falls (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.12 to 2.0), and sleep disturbances (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.09 to 2.03). In contrast, stroke survivors were not more likely to injure themselves during a fall (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.72 to 1.79). After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, social status, psychiatric symptoms, and pain, the risks of falling or developing sleep problems were not different from the control subjects.

CONCLUSIONS: The risk of developing a secondary health problem that can impact daily life is markedly increased after stroke. A better understanding of frequencies and risks for secondary health problems after stroke is necessary for designing better preventive and rehabilitation strategies.

%B Stroke %I 42 %V 42 %P 1821-5 %8 2011 Jul %G eng %N 7 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21597018?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3125444 %4 Activities of Daily Living/Case-Control Studies/Case-Control Studies/Cohort Studies/Comorbidity/Female/Geriatrics/methods/Geriatrics/methods/Humans/Quality of Life/Retirement/Social Environment/Stroke/ complications/ epidemiology/Stroke/ complications/ epidemiology %$ 62750 %R 10.1161/STROKEAHA.110.607630 %0 Journal Article %J J Aging Health %D 2011 %T Drinking patterns and the development of functional limitations in older adults: longitudinal analyses of the health and retirement survey. %A James C. Lin %A Guerrieri, Joy Gioia %A Alison A . Moore %K Activities of Daily Living %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Alcohol Drinking %K Female %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %X

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether consistent low-risk drinking is associated with lower risk of developing functional limitations among older adults.

METHOD: Data were obtained from five waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Function was assessed by questions measuring four physical abilities and five instrumental activities of daily living. Five different drinking patterns were determined using data over two consecutive survey periods.

RESULTS: Over the follow-up periods, 38.6% of older adults developed functional limitations. Consistent low-risk drinkers had lower odds of developing functional limitations compared with consistent abstainers, and the effect of consistent low-risk drinking was greater among those aged 50 to 64 years compared with those aged ≥65 years. Other drinking patterns were not associated with lower odds of incident functional limitation.

DISCUSSION: Consistent low-risk drinking was associated with lower odds of developing functional limitations, and this association was greater among older middle-aged adults aged 50 to 64 years.

%B J Aging Health %I 23 %V 23 %P 806-21 %8 2011 Aug %G eng %N 5 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21311049?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3233258 %4 Risk assessment/Older people/Alcohol use/Aging/Comparative analysis %$ 62592 %R 10.1177/0898264310397541 %0 Journal Article %J Am Econ Rev %D 2011 %T Dynamic Inefficiencies in an Employment-Based Health Insurance System: Theory and Evidence. %A Fang, H. %A Alessandro Gavazza %K Employment %K Health Benefit Plans, Employee %K Health Expenditures %K Health Status %K Humans %K Income %K Personnel Turnover %K Retirement %K United States %X

We investigate the effects of the institutional settings of the US health care system on individuals' life-cycle medical expenditures. Health is a form of general human capital; labor turnover and labor-market frictions prevent an employer-employee pair from capturing the entire surplus from investment in an employee’s health. Thus, the pair underinvests in health during working years, thereby increasing medical expenditures during retirement. We provide empirical evidence consistent with the comparative statics predictions of our model using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Our estimates suggest significant inefficiencies in health investment in the United States.

%B Am Econ Rev %I 101 %V 101 %P 3047-77 %8 2011 Dec %G eng %N 7 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29517886?dopt=Abstract %4 Studies/Health care expenditures/Economic theory/Life cycles/Life cycles/Economic models/Health insurance/Employee benefits/Labor market/Human capital %$ 62794 %R 10.1257/aer.101.7.3047 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2011 %T Generational jeopardy? Parents' marital transitions and the provision of financial transfers to adult children. %A Shapiro, Adam %A R Corey Remle %K Adolescent %K Adult %K Adult children %K Aged %K Divorce %K Female %K Financial Support %K Humans %K Intergenerational Relations %K Male %K Marriage %K Middle Aged %K Prejudice %K Retirement %K Widowhood %K Young Adult %X

OBJECTIVES: Transitions into and out of marriage are becoming more commonplace among persons in middle and later life. We assess the extent to which parental marital transitions influence inter vivos financial transfers to adult children at the family level.

METHODS: Panel data from 6,017 households with adult children in the 1992-1998 waves of the Health and Retirement Study are analyzed in this study.

RESULTS: Net of familial characteristics, those families experiencing a parental marriage were less likely than stably married households to make a financial transfer to an adult child. The effects of divorce or widowhood were modest. Divorce was associated with a slight increase in the probability of providing a transfer. Widowhood was associated with a slight increase in the total amount transferred to children.

DISCUSSION: The study adds weight to the growing argument that marital transitions may alter intergenerational exchanges. The results prompt us to further question how broader demographic and marriage patterns will influence relationships between parents and children in aging societies.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 66 %V 66 %P 99-108 %8 2011 Jan %G eng %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20197303?dopt=Abstract %3 20197303 %4 Divorce/Family structure/Intergenerational exchange/Marriage/Widowhood/INTER-VIVOS TRANSFERS/INTERGENERATIONAL EXCHANGES/FAMILY-STRUCTURE/DIVORCE/RETIREMENT/SUPPORT/WIDOWHOOD/HEALTH/MIDLIFE %$ 25360 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbq010 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol Soc Work %D 2011 %T Health and medical services use: a matched case comparison between CCRC residents and national health and retirement study samples. %A Gaines, Jean M %A Judith L Poey %A Marx, Katherine A %A J. M. Parrish %A Resnick, Barbara %K Activities of Daily Living %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Aging %K Case-Control Studies %K Chronic disease %K depression %K Female %K Geriatric Assessment %K Health Services %K Health Services for the Aged %K Health Status %K Home Care Services %K Hospitalization %K Humans %K Interview, Psychological %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Multivariate Analysis %K Psychometrics %K Retirement %X

Little is known about the health status of adults living in continuing care retirement communities (CCRC). Using matched-case control, 458 adults from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) or a CCRC-based sample were compared on total comorbidity, self-rated health, home health services use, and hospitalizations. At year 2, the CCRC sample reported more comorbidities (96%) but significantly better self-rated health (96% good/excellent) than the HRS sample (93% comorbidity, 73% good/excellent; p < .01). There were no significant differences in frequency of home health use or hospitalization. Living in a CCRC appears to be associated with higher self-ratings of health in this sample.

%B J Gerontol Soc Work %I 54 %V 54 %P 788-802 %8 2011 Nov %G eng %N 8 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22060005?dopt=Abstract %3 22060005 %4 health Status/Continuing care retirement communities/COMORBIDITY/Self assessed health %$ 62690 %R 10.1080/01634372.2011.595476 %0 Journal Article %J Eur J Epidemiol %D 2011 %T Higher education delays and shortens cognitive impairment: a multistate life table analysis of the US Health and Retirement Study. %A Mieke Reuser %A Frans J Willekens %A Luc G Bonneux %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Body Mass Index %K Cognition Disorders %K Educational Status %K Female %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Incidence %K Life Expectancy %K Life Tables %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Prevalence %K Proportional Hazards Models %K Retirement %K Sex Factors %K Smoking %K Time Factors %K United States %X

Improved health may extend or shorten the duration of cognitive impairment by postponing incidence or death. We assess the duration of cognitive impairment in the US Health and Retirement Study (1992-2004) by self reported BMI, smoking and levels of education in men and women and three ethnic groups. We define multistate life tables by the transition rates to cognitive impairment, recovery and death and estimate Cox proportional hazard ratios for the studied determinants. 95% confidence intervals are obtained by bootstrapping. 55 year old white men and women expect to live 25.4 and 30.0 years, of which 1.7 [95% confidence intervals 1.5; 1.9] years and 2.7 [2.4; 2.9] years with cognitive impairment. Both black men and women live 3.7 [2.9; 4.5] years longer with cognitive impairment than whites, Hispanic men and women 3.2 [1.9; 4.6] and 5.8 [4.2; 7.5] years. BMI makes no difference. Smoking decreases the duration of cognitive impairment with 0.8 [0.4; 1.3] years by high mortality. Highly educated men and women live longer, but 1.6 years [1.1; 2.2] and 1.9 years [1.6; 2.6] shorter with cognitive impairment than lowly educated men and women. The effect of education is more pronounced among ethnic minorities. Higher life expectancy goes together with a longer period of cognitive impairment, but not for higher levels of education: that extends life in good cognitive health but shortens the period of cognitive impairment. The increased duration of cognitive impairment in minority ethnic groups needs further study, also in Europe.

%B Eur J Epidemiol %I 26 %V 26 %P 395-403 %8 2011 May %G eng %N 5 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21337033?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3109265 %4 Cognitive ability/Life tables/Body mass index/Smoking/Educational attainment/Minority groups/ethnic Groups %$ 69390 %R 10.1007/s10654-011-9553-x %0 Journal Article %J Inquiry %D 2011 %T How does health insurance affect the retirement behavior of women? %A Kanika Kapur %A Jeannette Rogowski %K Decision making %K Female %K Health Benefit Plans, Employee %K Humans %K Male %K Models, Econometric %K Multivariate Analysis %K Pensions %K Retirement %K Spouses %K United States %K Women, Working %X

The availability of health insurance is a crucial factor in the retirement decision. Women are substantially less likely to have health insurance from their own employment. Using the Health and Retirement Study, we examine the role of employer-provided retiree health insurance in the retirement decisions of single women, and women in single-earner and dual-earner couples. We compare the effect of health insurance on female and male retirement. Our results show that retiree health insurance increases retirement for all groups except single men. We find suggestive evidence that the role of health insurance for women hinges on their husbands' labor force status.

%B Inquiry %I 48 %V 48 %P 51-67 %8 2011 Spring %G eng %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21634262?dopt=Abstract %3 21634262 %4 Health insurance/Retirement planning/Employee benefits/Impact analysis/Female employees/Life insurance/health insurance/Investment analysis/personal finance/benefits/compensation/Experiment/theoretical treatment %$ 69420 %R 10.5034/inquiryjrnl_48.01.04 %0 Journal Article %J Int J Environ Res Public Health %D 2011 %T Increasing and decreasing alcohol use trajectories among older women in the U.S. across a 10-year interval. %A Janet Kay Bobo %A April A Greek %K Aged %K Alcohol Drinking %K Alcoholic Intoxication %K Alcoholism %K Cohort Studies %K depression %K Ethanol %K Female %K Follow-Up Studies %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Smoking %K Surveys and Questionnaires %K United States %X

Older women who routinely drink alcohol may experience health benefits, but they are also at risk for adverse effects. Despite the importance of their drinking patterns, few studies have analyzed longitudinal data on changes in drinking among community-based samples of women ages 50 and older. Reported here are findings from a semi-parametric group-based model that used data from 4,439 randomly sampled U.S. women who enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and completed ≥ 3 biannual alcohol assessments during 1998-2008. The best-fitting model based on the drinks per day data had four trajectories labeled as "Increasing Drinkers" (5.3% of sample), "Decreasing Drinkers" (5.9%), "Stable Drinkers" (24.2%), and "Non/Infrequent Drinkers" (64.6%). Using group assignments generated by the trajectory model, one adjusted logistic regression analysis contrasted the groups with low alcohol intake in 1998 (Increasing Drinkers and Non/Infrequent Drinkers). In this model, baseline education, physical activity, cigarette smoking, and binge drinking were significant factors. Another analysis compared the groups with higher intake in 1998 (Decreasing Drinkers versus Stable Drinkers). In this comparison, baseline depression, cigarette smoking, binge drinking, and retirement status were significant. Findings underscore the need to periodically counsel all older women on the risks and benefits of alcohol use.

%B Int J Environ Res Public Health %I 8 %V 8 %P 3263-76 %8 2011 Aug %G eng %N 8 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21909305?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3166741 %4 alcohol use/WOMEN/depression/Smoking %$ 62702 %R 10.3390/ijerph8083263 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Public Health %D 2011 %T The influence of changes in dental care coverage on dental care utilization among retirees and near-retirees in the United States, 2004-2006. %A Richard J. Manski %A John F Moeller %A Patricia A St Clair %A Jody Schimmel %A Haiyan Chen %A John V Pepper %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Dental Care %K Employment %K Female %K Health Care Surveys %K Humans %K Insurance, Dental %K Male %K Medically Uninsured %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: We examined dental care utilization transition dynamics between 2004 and 2006 in the context of changing dental coverage status.

METHODS: We used data from the Health and Retirement Study for persons aged 51 years and older to estimate a multivariable model of dental care use transitions with controls for dental coverage and retirement transitions and other potentially confounding covariates.

RESULTS: We found that Americans aged 51 years and older who lost dental coverage between the 2004 and 2006 survey periods were more likely to stop dental care use between periods, and those who gained coverage were more likely to start dental care use between periods, than those without coverage in both periods.

CONCLUSIONS: Dental coverage transitions and status have a strong effect on transitions in dental care use. Given that retirement is a time when many experience a loss of dental coverage, older adults may be at risk for sporadic dental care and even stopping use, leading to worse dental and potentially overall health.

%B Am J Public Health %I 101 %V 101 %P 1882-91 %8 2011 Oct %G eng %N 10 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21852656?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3174340 %4 dental Care/dental insurance/employee benefits/health care policy/health Status/health Insurance %$ 69712 %R 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300227 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2011 %T Job strain, depressive symptoms, and drinking behavior among older adults: results from the health and retirement study. %A Briana Mezuk %A Amy S B Bohnert %A Scott M Ratliff %A Zivin, Kara %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Alcoholism %K Cohort Studies %K Depressive Disorder %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Job Satisfaction %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Multivariate Analysis %K Prospective Studies %K Retirement %K Sex Factors %K Statistics as Topic %K Stress, Psychological %K United States %X

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between job strain and two indicators of mental health, depression and alcohol misuse, among currently employed older adults.

METHOD: Data come from the 2004 and 2006 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 2,902). Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to determine the association between job strain, indicated by the imbalance of job stress and job satisfaction, with depression and alcohol misuse.

RESULTS: High job strain (indicated by high job stress combined with low job satisfaction) was associated with elevated depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 2.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.99-4.45) relative to low job strain after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, labor force status, and occupation. High job stress combined with high job satisfaction (OR = 1.93) and low job stress combined with low job satisfaction (OR = 1.94) were also associated with depressive symptoms to a lesser degree. Job strain was unrelated to either moderate or heavy drinking. These associations did not vary by gender or age.

DISCUSSION: Job strain is associated with elevated depressive symptoms among older workers. In contrast to results from investigations of younger workers, job strain was unrelated to alcohol misuse. These findings can inform the development and implementation of workplace health promotion programs that reflect the mental health needs of the aging workforce.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 66B %V 66 %P 426-34 %8 2011 Jul %G eng %N 4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21427175?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3166196 %4 Occupational stress/Job satisfaction/Occupational health/Alcohol use/Older people %$ 62582 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbr021 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2011 %T Memory predicts changes in depressive symptoms in older adults: a bidirectional longitudinal analysis. %A Jajodia, Archana %A Borders, Ashley %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Comorbidity %K Dementia, Vascular %K depression %K Female %K Geriatric Assessment %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Mental Recall %K Middle Aged %K Models, Psychological %K Retirement %K Statistics as Topic %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: Although research indicates that depressive symptoms and memory performance are related in older adults, the temporal associations between these variables remain unclear. This study examined whether depressive symptoms predicted later memory change and whether memory predicted later change in depressive symptoms.

METHODS: The sample consisted of more than 14,000 adults from the Health and Retirement Study, a biannual longitudinal study of health and retirement in Americans older than age 50 years. Measures of delayed recall and depressive symptoms served as the main study variables. We included age, sex, education, and history of vascular diseases as covariates.

RESULTS: Using dynamic change models with latent difference scores, we found that memory performance predicted change in depressive symptoms 2 years later. Depressive symptoms did not predict later change in memory. The inclusion of vascular health variables diminished the size of the observed relationship, suggesting that biological processes may partially explain the effect of memory on depressive symptoms.

IMPLICATIONS: Future research should explore both biological and psychological processes that may explain the association between worse memory performance and subsequent increases in depressive symptoms.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 66B %V 66 %P 571-81 %8 2011 Sep %G eng %N 5 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21742642?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3155030 %4 Older people/Mental depression/Memory/Gerontology/Cardiovascular disease %$ 62620 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbr035 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 2011 %T Recruitment and retention of minority participants in the health and retirement study. %A Mary Beth Ofstedal %A David R Weir %K Aged %K Biomarkers %K Black or African American %K Female %K Health Promotion %K Health Surveys %K Hispanic or Latino %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Minority Groups %K Minority health %K National Health Programs %K Patient Dropouts %K Patient Selection %K Retirement %K Sampling Studies %K Surveys and Questionnaires %K United States %X

PURPOSE: Minority oversamples of African Americans and Hispanics have been a key feature of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) design from its origins in 1992. The objective of this article was to assess the quality of the HRS with respect to the recruitment and retention of minority respondents.

DESIGN AND METHODS: To evaluate minority recruitment efforts, we examine baseline response rates for the early baby boom cohort that was added in the 2004 wave and the representativeness of this cohort with regard to demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics. To evaluate retention, we focus on minority differentials in 2008 interview, nonresponse and mortality outcomes for the full HRS sample. We also examine minority differentials in participation in supplemental components of the HRS.

RESULTS: Minority response rates at baseline and in longitudinal follow-ups for the main HRS interview have been equal to or better than that of majority Whites. Conversely, response rates to some specific supplemental components have been lower for minority sample members.

IMPLICATIONS: The oversample strategies that the HRS has employed have been successful at identifying and recruiting minority participants at response rates very comparable with that of Whites and others. Minority differentials in participation in supplemental components have been overcome to some extent through interviewer training and targeted follow-up strategies. The HRS experience suggests that well-trained interviewers can overcome most if not all of whatever race and ethnic differentials exist in willingness to participate in surveys, including those involving biological data collection.

%B Gerontologist %I 51 Suppl 1 %V 51 Suppl 1 %P S8-20 %8 2011 Jun %G eng %N Suppl 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21565822?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3106365 %R 10.1093/geront/gnq100 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Population Ageing %D 2011 %T Trends in Labor Force Participation: How Much is Due to Changes in Pensions? %A Michael D Hurd %A Susann Rohwedder %K Pension plantype %K Retirement %K Subjective probabilities %X

In the United States, beginning in the late 1980s there was a substantial increase in the labor force participation of men and women in their 60s. Over the same time period the type of pension plans offered by employers shifted strongly from defined benefit plans to defined contribution plans. Defined benefit plans typically have optimal retirement ages embedded in their structure which induce early retirement, whereas defined contribution plans do not favor any particular retirement age. Based on panel data, this paper quantifies the increase in participation due to the change in pension structure. The main result is that the pension changes account for a considerable part of the increase, but other factors also made a contribution.

%B Journal of Population Ageing %V 4 %P 81-96 %G eng %N 1-2 %R 10.1007/s12062-011-9042-8 %0 Journal Article %J J Am Geriatr Soc %D 2011 %T Volunteering, driving status, and mortality in U.S. retirees. %A Sei J. Lee %A Michael A Steinman %A Erwin J Tan %K Activities of Daily Living %K Aged %K Automobile Driving %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Male %K Prospective Studies %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Social Behavior %K Survival Rate %K United States %K Volunteers %X

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate how accounting for driving status altered the relationship between volunteering and mortality in U.S. retirees.

DESIGN: Observational prospective cohort.

SETTING: Nationally representative sample from the Health and Retirement Study in 2000 and 2002 followed to 2006.

PARTICIPANTS: Retirees aged 65 and older (N=6,408).

MEASUREMENTS: Participants self-reported their volunteering, driving status, age, sex, race or ethnicity, presence of chronic conditions, geriatric syndromes, socioeconomic factors, functional limitations, and psychosocial factors. Death by December 31, 2006, was the outcome.

RESULTS: For drivers, mortality in volunteers (9%) and nonvolunteers (12%) was similar; for limited or non-drivers, mortality for volunteers (15%) was markedly lower than for nonvolunteers (32%). Adjusted results showed that, for drivers, the volunteering-mortality odds ratio (OR) was 0.90 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.66-1.22), whereas for limited or nondrivers, the OR was 0.62 (95% CI=0.49-0.78) (interaction P=.05). The effect of driving status was greater for rural participants, with greater differences between rural drivers and rural limited or nondrivers (interaction P=.02) and between urban drivers and urban limited or nondrivers (interaction P=.81).

CONCLUSION: The influence of volunteering in decreasing mortality seems to be stronger in rural retirees who are limited or nondrivers. This may be because rural or nondriving retirees are more likely to be socially isolated and thus receive more benefit from the greater social integration from volunteering.

%B J Am Geriatr Soc %I 59 %V 59 %P 274-80 %8 2011 Feb %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21314648?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3089440 %4 Activities of Daily Living/Automobile Driving/driving Patterns/Health Status/Prospective Studies/Retirement planning/Risk Factors/Social Behavior/Social Behavior/Survival/volunteering %$ 62776 %R 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03265.x %0 Journal Article %J J Psychol %D 2010 %T Activities of daily living, social support, and future health of older Americans. %A Bozo, Ozlem %A Charles A Guarnaccia %K Activities of Daily Living %K Adaptation, Psychological %K Aged %K Aging %K Caregivers %K Chronic disease %K Female %K Friends %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Personal Satisfaction %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Sick Role %K Social Support %K Spouses %X

The authors investigated the relation of activities of daily living (ADL) and social support satisfaction to illness status 10 years later among 4,870 married older adults in the Health and Retirement Study (F. Juster & R. Suzman, 1995). The authors tested the direct and indirect effects of 1992 ADL, as well as family and friends support satisfaction and spousal social support satisfaction on 2002 illness status. The hierarchical multiple regressions found, controlling for 1992 illness status, ADL protected against future illness, and family and friends and spousal support satisfaction had small, surprisingly positive, effects on greater 2002 illness. The ADL x Family and Friends Support Satisfaction and the ADL x Spousal Support Satisfaction crossproduct interactions were also small positive predictors of later illness. The authors discuss several possible mechanisms that explained this unexpected result. The authors concluded that, depending on whether the recipient is in need of support and depending on the source of the support, the older adults do or do not benefit from the support.

%B J Psychol %I 144 %V 144 %P 1-14 %8 2010 Jan-Feb %G eng %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20092067?dopt=Abstract %3 20092067 %4 Activities of Daily Living/social Support/health care/families/Transfers %$ 22220 %R 10.1080/00223980903356032 %0 Journal Article %J J Am Geriatr Soc %D 2010 %T Alcohol use trajectories in two cohorts of U.S. women aged 50 to 65 at baseline. %A Janet Kay Bobo %A April A Greek %A Daniel H. Klepinger %A Jerald R Herting %K Aged %K Aging %K Alcohol Drinking %K Alcoholism %K Cohort Studies %K Female %K Follow-Up Studies %K Humans %K Life Change Events %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Surveys and Questionnaires %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: To examine drinking trajectories followed by two cohorts of older women over 8 to 10 years of follow-up.

DESIGN: Longitudinal analyses of two nationally representative cohorts using semiparametric group-based models weighted and adjusted for baseline age.

SETTING: Study data were obtained from detailed interviews conducted in the home or by telephone.

PARTICIPANTS: One cohort included 5,231 women in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) aged 50 to 65 in 1996; the other included 1,658 women in the National Longitudinal Survey (NLS) aged 50 to 65 in 1995.

MEASUREMENTS: Both cohorts reported any recent drinking and average number of drinks per drinking day using similar but not identical questions. HRS women completed six interviews (one every other year) from 1996 to 2006. NLS women completed five interviews from 1995 to 2003.

RESULTS: All trajectory models yielded similar results. For HRS women, four trajectory groups were observed in the model based on drinks per day: increasing drinkers (4.9% of cohort), infrequent and nondrinkers (61.8%), consistent drinkers (25.9%), and decreasing drinkers (7.4%). Corresponding NLS values from the drinks per day model were 8.8%, 61.4%, 21.2%, and 8.6%, respectively. In 2006, the average number of drinks per day for HRS women in the increasing drinker and consistent drinker trajectories was 1.31 and 1.59, respectively. In 2003, these values for NLS women were 0.99 and 1.38, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Most women do not markedly change their drinking behavior after age 50, but some increase their alcohol use substantially, whereas others continue to exceed current recommendations. These findings underscore the importance of periodically asking older women about their drinking to assess, advise, and assist those who may be at risk for developing alcohol-related problems.

%B J Am Geriatr Soc %I 58 %V 58 %P 2375-80 %8 2010 Dec %G eng %N 12 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21087226?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3064493 %4 WOMEN/Alcohol Abuse/Drinking Behavior %$ 24510 %R 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03180.x %0 Journal Article %J Am J Public Health %D 2010 %T Childhood socioeconomic position and disability in later life: results of the health and retirement study. %A Mary E Bowen %A Hector M González %K Activities of Daily Living %K Cohort Studies %K Disabled Persons %K Female %K Humans %K Male %K Michigan %K Middle Aged %K Prospective Studies %K Retirement %K Risk Assessment %K Social Class %X

OBJECTIVES: We used a life course approach to assess the ways in which childhood socioeconomic position may be associated with disability in later life.

METHODS: We used longitudinal data from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (1998-2006) to examine associations between parental education, paternal occupation, and disabilities relating to activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).

RESULTS: Respondents whose fathers had low levels of education and those whose fathers were absent or had died while they were growing up were at increased risk of disability in later life, net of social, behavioral, and pathological health risks in adulthood. Social mobility and health behaviors were also important factors in the association between low childhood socioeconomic position and ADL and IADL disabilities.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the need for policies and programs aimed at improving the well-being of both children and families. A renewed commitment to such initiatives may help reduce health care costs and the need for people to use health and social services in later life.

%B Am J Public Health %I 100 %V 100 Suppl 1 %P S197-203 %8 2010 Apr 01 %G eng %N Suppl 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19762655?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2837439 %4 ADL and IADL Impairments/Health risk assessment/Children/youth/Tuition/Health behavior/Tobacco smoke/Families/family life/Disease/Retirement/Disability/Disability/Palliative care/Education %$ 22460 %R 10.2105/AJPH.2009.160986 %0 Journal Article %J J Aging Health %D 2010 %T Coronary heart disease from a life-course approach: findings from the health and retirement study, 1998-2004. %A Mary E Bowen %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Aging %K Coronary Artery Disease %K Educational Status %K Female %K Health Status Disparities %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Income %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Multivariate Analysis %K Odds Ratio %K Poverty %K Prevalence %K Retirement %K Risk Assessment %K Risk Factors %K Self Report %K Social Class %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %X

OBJECTIVE: Guided by a life-course approach to chronic disease, this study examined the ways in which childhood deprivation (low parental education and father's manual occupation) may be associated with coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHOD: Multilevel modeling techniques and a nationally representative sample of Americans above age 50 from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; N = 18,465) were used to examine childhood and CHD relationships over the course of 6 years (1998-2004).

RESULTS: Having a father with

DISCUSSION: Policies and programs aimed at improving the conditions of poor children and their families may effectively reduce the prevalence of CHD in later life.

%B J Aging Health %I 22 %V 22 %P 219-41 %8 2010 Mar %G eng %N 2 %L newpubs20100519_Bowen.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20056814?dopt=Abstract %3 20056814 %4 Life Cycle/health Status/socioeconomic Status/health risk %$ 21880 %R 10.1177/0898264309355981 %0 Journal Article %J J Public Health Dent %D 2010 %T Dental care coverage and retirement. %A Richard J. Manski %A John F Moeller %A Jody Schimmel %A Patricia A St Clair %A Haiyan Chen %A Larry S. Magder %A John V Pepper %K Aged %K Employment %K ethnicity %K Female %K Humans %K Income %K Insurance, Dental %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Models, Statistical %K Multivariate Analysis %K Retirement %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: To examine the convergence of an aging population and a decreased availability of dental care coverage using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).

METHODS: We calculate national estimates of the number and characteristics of those persons age 51 years and above covered by dental insurance by labor force, retirement status, and source of coverage. We also estimate a multivariate model controlling for potentially confounding variables.

RESULTS: We show that being in the labor force is a strong predictor of having dental coverage. For older retired adults not in the labor force, the only source for dental coverage is either a postretirement health benefit or spousal coverage.

CONCLUSIONS: Dental care, generally not covered in Medicare, is an important factor in the decision to seek dental care. It is important to understand the relationship between retirement and dental coverage in order to identify the best ways of improving oral health and access to care among older Americans.

%B J Public Health Dent %I 70 %V 70 %P 1-12 %8 2010 Winter %G eng %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19694939?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2864343 %4 dental/utilization/dentistry/insurance/coverage/retirement %$ 25450 %R 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2009.00137.x %0 Journal Article %J J Public Health Dent %D 2010 %T Dental care expenditures and retirement. %A Richard J. Manski %A John F Moeller %A Haiyan Chen %A Patricia A St Clair %A Jody Schimmel %A Larry S. Magder %A John V Pepper %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Dental Care %K Educational Status %K ethnicity %K Female %K Financing, Personal %K Humans %K Income %K Insurance Coverage %K Insurance, Dental %K Male %K Marital Status %K Middle Aged %K Mouth, Edentulous %K Retirement %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship of dental care coverage, retirement, and out-of-pocket (OOP) dental expenditures in an aging population, using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).

METHODS: We estimate OOP dental expenditures among individuals who have dental utilization as a function of dental care coverage status, retirement, and individual and household characteristics. We also estimate a multivariate model controlling for potentially confounding variables.

RESULTS: Overall, mean OOP dental expenditures among those with any spending were substantially larger for those without coverage than for those with coverage. However, controlling for coverage shows that there is little difference in spending by retirement status.

CONCLUSIONS: Although having dental coverage is a key determinant of the level of OOP expenditures on dental care; spending is higher among those without coverage than those who have dental insurance. We also found that while retirement has no independent effect on OOP dental expenditures once controlling for coverage, dental coverage rates are much lower among retirees.

%B J Public Health Dent %I 70 %V 70 %P 148-55 %8 2010 Spring %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20002876?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2891582 %4 dental/utilization/dentistry/insurance/coverage/retirement %$ 25440 %R 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2009.00156.x %0 Journal Article %J J Public Health Dent %D 2010 %T Dental care utilization and retirement. %A Richard J. Manski %A John F Moeller %A Haiyan Chen %A Patricia A St Clair %A Jody Schimmel %A Larry S. Magder %A John V Pepper %K Aged %K Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic %K Dental Care %K Employment %K ethnicity %K Female %K health policy %K Humans %K Income %K Insurance, Dental %K Leisure activities %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Multivariate Analysis %K Odds Ratio %K Retirement %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %X

OBJECTIVE: The authors examine the relationship of dental care coverage, retirement, and utilization in an aging population using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).

METHODS: The authors estimate dental care use as a function of dental care coverage status, retirement, and individual and household characteristics. They also estimate a multivariate model controlling for potentially confounding variables.

RESULTS: The authors show that that the loss of income and dental coverage associated with retirement may lead to lower use rates but this effect may be offset by other unobserved aspects of retirement including more available free time leading to an overall higher use rate.

CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude from this study that full retirement accompanied by reduced income and dental insurance coverage produces lower utilization of dental services. However, they also show that retirement acts as an independent variable, whereas income, coverage, and free time (unobserved) act as intervening variables.

%B J Public Health Dent %I 70 %V 70 %P 67-75 %8 2010 Winter %G eng %N 1 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19765203?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2864359 %4 Confounding Factors (Epidemiology)/Dental Care/Employment/Ethnic Groups/Health Policy/Income/Dental Insurance/leisure/Logistic Models/Multivariate Analysis/Odds Ratio/Retirement planning/Socioeconomic Factors %$ 69479 %R 10.1111/j.1752-7325.2009.00145.x %0 Journal Article %J Soc Sci Med %D 2010 %T Direct and indirect effects of obesity on U.S. labor market outcomes of older working age adults. %A F. Renna %A Thakur, Nidhi %K Chronic disease %K Disabled Persons %K Employment %K Female %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Obesity %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Sex Factors %K United States %X

In this paper, we study the impact of obesity on labor market decisions of older working age adults in USA. Labor market outcomes are defined as any one of three: working; not working due to a disability; or not working due to an early retirement. Based on existing medical literature, we deduce that obesity can largely impact labor market decisions directly through impairment of bodily functions and indirectly by being a risk factor for various diseases like hypertension, arthritis, etc. We use data from the US Health and Retirement Study on older adults who were no more than 64 years of age in 2002. In our modeling effort, we employ two estimation strategies. We first estimate a model in which employment outcome in 2002 is a function of weight status in 1992. In the second strategy, controlling for time-invariant individual heterogeneity, we first consider the impact of obesity on bodily impairments and chronic illnesses; then, we consider the impact of such impairments and illnesses on labor market outcomes. Our results indicate that, for men, obesity class 2 and 3 increases both the probability of taking an early retirement and the incidence of disability by 1.5 percentage points. For women, we find that obesity class 2 and 3 increases the probability of taking an early retirement by 2.5 percentage points and the incidence of disability by 1.7 percentage points.

%B Soc Sci Med %I 71 %V 71 %P 405-413 %8 2010 Jul %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20488600?dopt=Abstract %3 20488600 %4 Obesity/Retirement/chronic illness/labor Force Participation/Physical handicaps %$ 23330 %R 10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.03.038 %0 Journal Article %J J Aging Health %D 2010 %T Migration and psychological well-being among older adults: a growth curve analysis based on panel data from the Health and Retirement Study, 1996-2006. %A Don E Bradley %A Van Willigen, Marieke %K Adaptation, Psychological %K Age Factors %K Aging %K depression %K Female %K Happiness %K Health Status %K Humans %K Life Change Events %K Male %K Mental Health %K Middle Aged %K Models, Psychological %K Models, Theoretical %K Multivariate Analysis %K Psychometrics %K Retirement %K Stress, Psychological %K Transients and Migrants %X

PURPOSE: A vibrant body of research examines migration among older adults. Existing research, however, grants scarce attention to the implications of later-life migration for the migrants themselves. Our research focuses on the impacts of migration on depressive symptomatology among older U.S. adults.

METHODS: Our analysis employs six waves of panel data from the Health and Retirement Study, 1996-2006. Growth curve modeling techniques are employed.

RESULTS: Net of other stressful life events, migration effects appear to vary significantly across persons. Findings highlight the particularly depressive impact of moves motivated by negative life events or circumstances. Results further suggest that later life moves may be especially stressful for women and as individuals age.

DISCUSSION: The stress of moving late in life may depend on social integration at destination. Further research should pursue this issue. Study limitations and additional directions for further research are delineated.

%B J Aging Health %I 22 %V 22 %P 882-913 %8 2010 Oct %G eng %N 7 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20495157?dopt=Abstract %3 20495157 %4 Elderly/Migration/Well Being/Health/Retirement/mobility/Stress/Social Integration %$ 24210 %R 10.1177/0898264310368430 %0 Journal Article %J J Am Geriatr Soc %D 2010 %T Prevalence and predictors of fatigue in middle-aged and older adults: evidence from the health and retirement study. %A Meng, Hongdao %A Hale, Lauren %A Friedberg, Fred %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Fatigue %K Female %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Prevalence %K Retirement %K Retrospective Studies %K Survival Rate %K United States %B J Am Geriatr Soc %I 58 %V 58 %P 2033-4 %8 2010 Oct %G eng %N 10 %L newpubs20101112_Meng.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20929479?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2981161 %4 fatigue/retirement/health outcomes/PREVALENCE %$ 24000 %R 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03088.x %0 Journal Article %J Psychol Assess %D 2010 %T The Process of Retirement Planning Scale (PRePS): development and validation. %A Jack H Noone %A Christine Stephens %A Fiona M. Alpass %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Educational Status %K Factor Analysis, Statistical %K Female %K Financing, Personal %K Goals %K Health Status %K Humans %K Internal-External Control %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Pilot Projects %K Planning Techniques %K Psychological Tests %K Psychology %K Reproducibility of Results %K Retirement %K Surveys and Questionnaires %X

Although a substantial proportion of the western population is approaching retirement age, little is known about how they are preparing for the future. Much attention has been paid to the consumption of educational material and retirement wealth in the present literature, but the process of retirement planning has been ignored. S. L. Friedman and E. K. Scholnick's (1997) theoretical model provided the basis for a comprehensive measure of retirement planning. According to their process theory, individuals develop an understanding of the problem, set goals, make a decision to start preparing, and finally undertake the behaviors needed to fulfill their goals. Fifty-two items were developed to assess each stage of the planning process for financial, health, lifestyle, and psychosocial retirement planning. These were tested on a population sample of 1,449 New Zealanders aged 49-60. Confirmatory factor analysis, bivariate correlations, and hierarchical regression provided support for the valid use of the measure. Necessary antecedents, such as the tendency to look to the future, and locus of control were significantly related to the Process of Retirement Planning Scale (PRePS). The PRePS also outperformed retirement planning measures used in the Health and Retirement Study (F. T. Juster & R. Suzman, 1995) after controlling for socioeconomic and psychological variables. This measure will enable social policy makers to determine which stages of retirement planning require support and intervention. The PRePS will also help to determine which domains of retirement planning predict well-being in later life and the factors which differentiate those who are planning from those who are not.

%B Psychol Assess %I 22 %V 22 %P 520-31 %8 2010 Sep %G eng %N 3 %L newpubs20101012_Noone.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20822264?dopt=Abstract %3 20822264 %4 retirement Planning/methodology/Public Policy %$ 23600 %R 10.1037/a0019512 %0 Journal Article %J J Aging Health %D 2010 %T Trading years for perfect health: results from the health and retirement study. %A Liat Ayalon %A King-Kallimanis, Bellinda L %K Activities of Daily Living %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Aging %K Community Participation %K Confidence Intervals %K Culture %K Epidemiologic Methods %K ethnicity %K Female %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Longevity %K Male %K Multivariate Analysis %K Psychometrics %K Retirement %K Self Report %K Surveys and Questionnaires %K Time Factors %X

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the preferences of an ethnically diverse national sample of older Americans regarding length of life versus health quality.

METHOD: A time trade-off task administered as part of the 2002 wave of the Health and Retirement Study.

RESULTS: Respondents equated 6.86 (SD = 3.46) years of perfect health with 10 years of life in imperfect health. Women and those who ranked their health less favorably were more likely to give up years of life for perfect health. Relative to Whites, Blacks were more willing to live longer in imperfect health. Those of lower levels of education were more likely to prefer 10 years of life in imperfect health.

DISCUSSION: There is wide variability in responses to the time trade-off task that is partially associated with self-rated health, gender, ethnicity, and education.

%B J Aging Health %I 22 %V 22 %P 1184-97 %8 2010 Dec %G eng %N 8 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20660638?dopt=Abstract %3 20660638 %4 SELF-RATED HEALTH/demographics/GENDER/imperfect health %$ 22960 %R 10.1177/0898264310371980 %0 Journal Article %J J Occup Health Psychol %D 2009 %T Bridge employment and retirees' health: a longitudinal investigation. %A Zhan, Yujie %A Wang, Mo %A Liu, Songqi %A Kenneth S. Shultz %K Employment %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Interviews as Topic %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K United States %X

The present study examined the relationship between bridge employment and retirees' health outcomes (i.e., major diseases, functional limitations, and mental health). We used a nationally representative sample of 12,189 retirees from the first 4 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that compared with full retirement, engaging in bridge employment either in a career field or in a different field was associated with fewer major diseases and functional limitations, whereas engaging in career bridge employment was associated with better mental health. The findings highlight the health benefits of engaging in bridge employment for retirees. The practical implications of this study are discussed at both the individual and policy levels. Limitations of the current findings are also noted in conjunction with future research directions.

%B J Occup Health Psychol %I 14 %V 14 %P 374-89 %8 2009 Oct %G eng %N 4 %L newpubs20091202_Zhan_etal.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19839658?dopt=Abstract %3 19839658 %4 Bridge Jobs/health outcomes/RETIREMENT %$ 21240 %R 10.1037/a0015285 %0 Journal Article %J Stroke %D 2009 %T Can self-reported strokes be used to study stroke incidence and risk factors?: evidence from the health and retirement study. %A M. Maria Glymour %A Mauricio Avendano %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Algorithms %K Epidemiologic Methods %K ethnicity %K Female %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Sex Factors %K Stroke %K Treatment Outcome %K United States %X

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Most stroke incidence studies use geographically localized (community) samples with few national data sources available. Such samples preclude research on contextual risk factors, but national samples frequently collect only self-reported stroke. We examine whether incidence estimates from clinically verified studies are consistent with estimates from a nationally representative US sample assessing self-reported stroke.

METHODS: Health and Retirement Study (HRS) participants (n=17 056) age 50+ years were followed for self- or proxy-reported first stroke (1293 events) from 1998 to 2006 (average, 6.8 years). We compared incidence rates by race, sex, and age strata with those previously documented in leading geographically localized studies with medically verified stroke. We also examined whether cardiovascular risk factor effect estimates in HRS are comparable to those reported in studies with clinically verified strokes.

RESULTS: The weighted first-stroke incidence rate was 10.0 events/1000 person-years. Total age-stratified incidence rates in whites were mostly comparable with those reported elsewhere and were not systematically higher or lower. However, among blacks in HRS, incidence rates generally appeared higher than those previously reported. HRS estimates were most comparable with those reported in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Incidence rates approximately doubled per decade of age and were higher in men and blacks. After demographic adjustment, all risk factors predicted stroke incidence in whites. Smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease predicted incident stroke in blacks.

CONCLUSIONS: Associations between known risk factors and stroke incidence were verified in HRS, suggesting that misreporting is nonsystematic. HRS may provide valuable data for stroke surveillance and examination of classical and contextual risk factors.

%B Stroke %I 40 %V 40 %P 873-9 %8 2009 Mar %G eng %N 3 %L newpubs20090302_STROKE.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19150869?dopt=Abstract %3 19150869 %4 Stroke/SELF-RATED HEALTH/risk factors/Racial Differences %$ 19730 %R 10.1161/STROKEAHA.108.529479 %0 Journal Article %J Inquiry %D 2009 %T Cancer survivorship, health insurance, and employment transitions among older workers. %A Tunceli, Kaan %A Pamela F. Short %A John R. Moran %A Tunceli, Ozgur %K Career Mobility %K Cohort Studies %K Female %K Health Benefit Plans, Employee %K Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Models, Statistical %K Neoplasms %K Retirement %K Survivors %K United States %X

This study examined the effect of job-related health insurance on employment transitions (labor force exits, reductions in hours, and job changes) of older working cancer survivors. Using multivariate models, we compared longitudinal data for the period 1997-2002 from the Penn State Cancer Survivor Study to similar data for workers with no cancer history in the Health and Retirement Study, who were also ages 55 to 64 at follow-up. The interaction of cancer survivorship with health insurance at diagnosis was negative and significant in predicting labor force exits, job changes, and transitions to part-time employment for both genders. The differential effect of job-related health insurance on the labor market dynamics of cancer survivors represents an additional component of the economic and psychosocial burden of cancer on survivors.

%B Inquiry %I 46 %V 46 %P 17-32 %8 2009 Spring %G eng %N 1 %L newpubs20090908_Tunceli.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19489481?dopt=Abstract %3 19489481 %4 Health Insurance/Employment/CANCER/labor market behavior %$ 20460 %R 10.5034/inquiryjrnl_46.01.17 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2009 %T The effect of retirement on weight. %A Chung, Sukyung %A Marisa E Domino %A Sally C. Stearns %K Aged %K Aging %K Body Mass Index %K Cohort Studies %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Female %K Geriatric Assessment %K Health Status %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Models, Statistical %K Motor Activity %K Obesity %K Overweight %K Pensions %K Retirement %K Social Security %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %K Weight Gain %X

OBJECTIVES: People who are close to retirement age show the highest rates of weight gain and obesity. We investigate the effect of retirement on the change in body mass index (BMI) in diverse groups varying by wealth status and occupation type.

METHODS: Six panels of the Health and Retirement Study (1992-2002) on individuals aged 50-71 were used (N = 37,807). We used fixed-effects regression models with instrumental variables method to estimate the causal effect of retirement on change in the BMI.

RESULTS: Retirement leads to modest weight gain, 0.24 BMI on average. Weight gain with retirement was found among people who were already overweight and those with lower wealth retiring from physically demanding occupations. The cumulative effect of aging among people in their 50s, however, outweighs the effect of retirement; the average BMI gain between ages 50 and 60 is 1.30, 5 times the effect of retirement.

CONCLUSIONS: Given the increasing number of people approaching retirement age, the population level impact of the weight gain ascribed to retirement on health outcomes and health care system might be significant. Future research should evaluate programs targeted to older adults who are most likely to gain weight with retirement.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 64B %V 64 %P 656-65 %8 2009 Sep %G eng %N 5 %L newpubs20090908_ChungJoG.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19357073?dopt=Abstract %3 19357073 %4 RETIREMENT/Obesity/Body Mass Index/Occupations/Wealth %$ 20850 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbn044 %0 Journal Article %J J Aging Health %D 2009 %T The effects of developing a dual sensory loss on depression in older adults: a longitudinal study. %A Michele Capella McDonnall %K Adaptation, Psychological %K Adult %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Black or African American %K depression %K Depressive Disorder %K Female %K Health Surveys %K Hearing loss %K Hispanic or Latino %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Models, Statistical %K Multivariate Analysis %K Rehabilitation %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Sensation Disorders %K United States %K Vision Disorders %K White People %X

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of developing a dual sensory loss (DSL) on depression over time and evaluate the impact of preexisting single sensory loss on this effect.

METHOD: Multilevel modeling was used to analyze data (N = 2,689) from the Health and Retirement Study.

RESULTS: A significant increase in depression at the first report of DSL occurred, and depression increased at a significantly faster rate following DSL, in a curvilinear pattern. In addition, persons who eventually developed DSL began the study with a depression score significantly higher than persons who did not experience sensory loss. A preexisting single sensory loss did not alter the effect of DSL on depression.

DISCUSSION: Two sources of disparity in depression between persons with and without DSL were identified: preexisting differences and differences that occurred due to the DSL. The relationship exhibited between depression and developing a DSL indicated an adjustment process.

%B J Aging Health %I 21 %V 21 %P 1179-99 %8 2009 Dec %G eng %N 8 %L newpubs20100129_McDonnall.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19897782?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2789482 %4 Depression/Hearing Impaired Persons/Visually Impaired Persons %$ 21480 %R 10.1177/0898264309350077 %0 Journal Article %J Ann Epidemiol %D 2009 %T Financial hardship and mortality among older adults using the 1996-2004 Health and Retirement Study. %A Reginald D. Tucker-Seeley %A Li, Yi %A Subramanian, S V %A Sorensen, Glorian %K Aged %K Female %K Geriatric Assessment %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Male %K Medicaid %K Middle Aged %K Mortality %K Poverty %K Proportional Hazards Models %K Prospective Studies %K Retirement %K Risk %K Sex Factors %K United States %X

PURPOSE: We investigated the effect of financial hardship on mortality risk in a community-dwelling sample of adults 50 years of age and olderin the United States.

METHOD: The 1996 Health and Retirement Study cohorts were followed prospectively to 2004 (N = 8,377). Gender-stratified grouped Cox models were used to estimate the difference in the relative risk (RR) of mortality between a specific number of financial hardships (one, two, or three or more) and no hardships; and the predictive utility of each individual financial hardship for mortality during the follow-up period.

RESULTS: Gender-stratified models adjusted for demographics, socioeconomic characteristics, and functional limitations in 1996 showed that women reporting one (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.92) or three or more (HR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.05-2.46) and men reporting two (HR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.21-2.69) financial hardships had a substantially higher probability of mortality compared to those reporting no financial hardships. Individual financial hardships that predicted mortality in fully adjusted models for women included receiving Medicaid (HR = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.68-2.98) and for men receiving Medicaid (HR = 2.11; 95% CI: 1.57-2.84) and receiving food stamps (HR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.09-2.33).

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that over and above the influence of traditional measures of socioeconomic status, financial hardship exerts an influence on the risk of mortality among older adults and that the number and type of hardships important in predicting mortality may differ for men and women.

%B Ann Epidemiol %I 19 %V 19 %P 850-7 %8 2009 Dec %G eng %N 12 %L newpubs20100129_Tucker-Seeley.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19944348?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2835519 %4 financial resources/socioeconomic status/Mortality/GENDER-DIFFERENCES %$ 21510 %R 10.1016/j.annepidem.2009.08.003 %0 Journal Article %J Health Serv Res %D 2009 %T The health effects of Medicare for the near-elderly uninsured. %A Daniel Polsky %A Jalpa A Doshi %A José J Escarce %A Manning, Willard %A Susan M Paddock %A Cen, Liyi %A Jeannette Rogowski %K Aged %K Attitude to Health %K Female %K Follow-Up Studies %K Health Services Accessibility %K Health Services Research %K Health Status %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Insurance Coverage %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Medically Uninsured %K Medicare %K Mortality %K Multivariate Analysis %K Program Evaluation %K Retirement %K Socioeconomic factors %K Statistics, Nonparametric %K United States %X

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Medicare enrollment at age 65 has an effect on the health trajectory of the near-elderly uninsured.

DATA SOURCES: Eight biennial waves (1992-2006) of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative panel survey of noninstitutionalized 51-61 year olds and their spouses.

STUDY DESIGN: We use a quasi-experimental approach to compare the health effects of insurance for the near-elderly uninsured with previously insured contemporaneous controls. The primary outcome measure is overall self-reported health status combined with mortality (i.e., excellent to very good, good, fair to poor, dead).

RESULTS: The change in the trajectory of overall health status for the previously uninsured that can be attributed to Medicare is small and not statistically significant. For every 100 persons in the previously uninsured group, joining Medicare is associated with 0.6 fewer in excellent or very good health (95 percent CI: -4.8, 3.3), 0.3 more in good health (95 percent CI: -3.8, 4.1), 2.5 fewer in fair or poor health (95 percent CI: -7.4, 2.3), and 2.8 more dead (-4.0, 10.0) by age 73. The health trajectory patterns from physician objective health measures are similarly small and not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: Medicare coverage at age 65 for the previously uninsured is not linked to improvements in overall health status.

%B Health Serv Res %I 44 %V 44 %P 926-45 %8 2009 Jun %G eng %N 3 %L newpubs20090908_Polsky_etal.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19674430?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2699915 %4 Medicare/health status/Health Insurance/Health Benefits %$ 16770 %R 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2009.00964.x %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2009 %T The impact of occupation on self-rated health: cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence from the health and retirement survey. %A Ralitza Gueorguieva %A Jody L Sindelar %A Tracy Falba %A Jason M. Fletcher %A Patricia S Keenan %A Wu, Ran %A William T Gallo %K Aged %K Attitude to Health %K Cohort Studies %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Educational Status %K Female %K Health Status Indicators %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Linear Models %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Mortality %K Occupations %K Odds Ratio %K Retirement %K Social Class %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %X

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to estimate occupational differences in self-rated health, both in cross-section and over time, among older individuals.

METHODS: We use hierarchical linear models to estimate self-reported health as a function of 8 occupational categories and key covariates. We examine self-reported health status over 7 waves (12 years) of the Health and Retirement Study. Our study sample includes 9,586 individuals with 55,389 observations. Longest occupation is used to measure the cumulative impact of occupation, address the potential for reverse causality, and allow the inclusion of all older individuals, including those no longer working.

RESULTS: Significant baseline differences in self-reported health by occupation are found even after accounting for demographics, health habits, economic attributes, and employment characteristics. But contrary to our hypothesis, there is no support for significant differences in slopes of health trajectories even after accounting for dropout.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that occupation-related differences found at baseline are durable and persist as individuals age.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 64 %V 64 %P 118-24 %8 2009 Jan %G eng %N 1 %L newpubs20090302_RalitzaJog.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19196689?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2654983 %4 SELF-RATED HEALTH/Occupations %$ 19760 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbn006 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Epidemiol %D 2009 %T Marital trajectories and mortality among US adults. %A Matthew E Dupre %A Audrey N Beck %A Sarah O. Meadows %K Age Factors %K Cohort Studies %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Humans %K Male %K Marital Status %K Middle Aged %K Mortality %K Retirement %K Retrospective Studies %K Risk Factors %K Sex Factors %K Time Factors %K United States %X

More than a century of empirical evidence links marital status to mortality. However, the hazards of dying associated with long-term marital trajectories and contributing risk factors are largely unknown. The authors used 1992-2006 prospective data from a cohort of US adults to investigate the impact of current marital status, marriage timing, divorce and widow transitions, and marital durations on mortality. Multivariate hazard ratios were significantly higher for adults currently divorced and widowed, married at young ages (< or =18 years), who accumulated divorce and widow transitions (among women), and who were divorced for 1-4 years. Results also showed significantly lower risks of mortality for men married after age 25 years compared with on time (ages 19-25 years) and among women experiencing > or =10 years of divorce and > or =5 years of widowhood relative to those without exposure to these statuses. For both sexes, accumulation of marriage duration was the most robust predictor of survival. Results from risk-adjusted models indicated that socioeconomic resources, health behaviors, and health status attenuated the associations in different ways for men and women. The study demonstrates that traditional measures oversimplify the relation between marital status and mortality and that sex differences are related to a nexus of marital experiences and associated health risks.

%B Am J Epidemiol %I 170 %V 170 %P 546-55 %8 2009 Sep 01 %G eng %N 5 %L newpubs20090908_DupreAJE.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19584130?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2732990 %4 Marital Status/Mortality/Marital History/GENDER-DIFFERENCES %$ 20930 %R 10.1093/aje/kwp194 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Public Health %D 2009 %T Measuring socioeconomic differences in use of health care services by wealth versus by income. %A Allin, Sara %A Masseria, Cristina %A Elias Mossialos %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Aging %K Data collection %K Europe %K Female %K Health Services %K Health Services Accessibility %K Health Status Disparities %K Humans %K Income %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Odds Ratio %K Pensions %K Retirement %K Socioeconomic factors %K Statistics as Topic %K United Kingdom %X

OBJECTIVES: We compared the extent of socioeconomic differences in use of health care services based on wealth (i.e., accumulated assets) as the socioeconomic ranking variable with the extent of differences based on income to explore the sensitivity of the estimates of equity to the choice of the socioeconomic indicator.

METHODS: We used data from the Health and Retirement Study in the United States and the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe to estimate levels of income- and wealth-related disparity in use of physician and dental services among adults 50 or older in 12 countries.

RESULTS: We found socioeconomic differences in use of physician services after standardizing for need in about half of the countries studied. No consistent pattern in levels of disparity measured by wealth versus those measured by income was found. However, the rich were significantly more likely to use dental services in all countries. Wealth-related differences in dental service use were consistently higher than were income-related differences.

CONCLUSIONS: We found some support for wealth as a more sensitive indicator of socioeconomic status among older adults than was income. Wealth may thus allow more accurate measurements of socioeconomic differences in use of health care services for this population.

%B Am J Public Health %I 99 %V 99 %P 1849-55 %8 2009 Oct %G eng %N 10 %L newpubs20090908_Allin_etal.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19150899?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2741508 %4 Health Care Utilization/socioeconomic status/Wealth/Cross Cultural Comparison/SHARE/cross-national comparison %$ 21060 %R 10.2105/AJPH.2008.141499 %0 Journal Article %J Demography %D 2009 %T Reconstructing childhood health histories. %A James P Smith %K Humans %K Income %K Mental Health %K Retirement %K Retrospective Studies %X

This article provides evidence about the quality of retrospective childhood health histories given to respondents in the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) and the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). Even though information on early life health events is critical, there is legitimate skepticism about the ability of older respondents to remember specific health problems that they had during childhood. The evidence presented in this article suggests that this view is too negative. Respondents appear to remember salient childhood events about themselves, such as the illnesses they had during childhood, quite well. Moreover, these physical and psychological childhood health events are important correlates of adult health during middle age.

%B Demography %I 46 %V 46 %P 387-403 %8 2009 May %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21305399?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2831272 %4 childhood health %$ 25400 %R 10.1353/dem.0.0058 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Prev Med %D 2009 %T Retirement and physical activity: analyses by occupation and wealth. %A Chung, Sukyung %A Marisa E Domino %A Sally C. Stearns %A Barry M Popkin %K Cohort Studies %K Female %K Humans %K Income %K Life Style %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Motor Activity %K Occupations %K Retirement %K United States %X

BACKGROUND: Older adults close to retirement age show the lowest level of physical activity. Changes in lifestyle with retirement may alter physical activity levels. This study investigated whether retirement changes physical activity and how the effect differs by occupation type and wealth level.

METHODS: This longitudinal study used the Health and Retirement Study (1996-2002), U.S. population-based data. Analyses were conducted in 2007 and 2008. Physical activity was measured by a composite indicator of participation in either work-related or leisure-time physical activity. Fixed-effects regression models were used to account for confounders and unobserved heterogeneity. The dependent variable was a composite indicator of participation in regular physical activity either at work or during nonworking hours.

RESULTS: Physical activity decreased with retirement from a physically demanding job but increased with retirement from a sedentary job. Occupation type interacted with wealth level, with the negative impact on physical activity of retirement exacerbated by lack of wealth and the positive effect of retirement on physical activity enhanced by wealth.

CONCLUSIONS: Substantial differences in the effect of retirement on physical activity occurred across subgroups. As the number of people approaching retirement age rapidly increases, findings suggest that a growing segment of the nation's population may not sustain an adequate level of physical activity.

%B Am J Prev Med %I 36 %V 36 %P 422-8 %8 2009 May %G eng %N 5 %L newpubs20090908/ChungAJPM.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19269129?dopt=Abstract %3 19269129 %4 RETIREMENT/Physical Activity %$ 20390 %R 10.1016/j.amepre.2009.01.026 %0 Journal Article %J Social Security Bulletin %D 2009 %T Social Security Research at the Michigan Retirement Research Center %A R.V. Burkhauser %A Alan L Gustman %A John Laitner %A Olivia S. Mitchell %A Amanda Sonnega %K Pension %K Retirement %K Social Security %X Social Security has been a topic of widespread discussion in the last decade. Rising longevity and falling fertility have led to an aging population, which increases solvency challenges for the Social Security system. Public concerns over low national saving have led to an extensive dialog on the merits of reform that might change the U.S. system into one with fully or partially funded personal accounts. Meanwhile, pensions in the private sector have been evolving from predominantly defined benefit (DB) to predominantly defined contribution (DC), raising concerns that workers preparing for retirement have more personal responsibility, with more complex financial challenges, than ever before. %B Social Security Bulletin %V 69 %G eng %U https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v69n4/v69n4p51.html %N 4 %9 Journal %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2009 %T Volunteer dynamics of older Americans. %A Barbara A Butrica %A Richard W. Johnson %A Sheila R Zedlewski %K Aged %K Aging %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Female %K Humans %K Life Change Events %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Probability %K Retirement %K United States %K Volunteers %X

OBJECTIVES: The impending retirement of boomers has spurred interest in tapping their productive energies to benefit society. This study examined volunteer transitions among older adults to understand the factors that affect volunteer dynamics.

METHODS: Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, the analysis examined entries into and exits from formal volunteer activities between 1996 and 2004 by adults aged 55-65 at study baseline. The study showed the duration of volunteer activities, the probability that older adults start and stop volunteering, and the factors that significantly predict volunteer transitions.

RESULTS: The findings reveal considerable stability among both volunteers and nonvolunteers; however, older adults are more likely to stop volunteering than to start. Volunteers who contribute intensely and for many years and who are married to volunteers are the least likely to quit. And nonvolunteers are more likely to start volunteering if they have been uninvolved for few years and their spouses volunteer.

CONCLUSIONS: The results point to the need to focus efforts on retaining older volunteers to maximize volunteer engagement during later years. Recruiting older adults in volunteer activities early on, ideally before they retire, could also help meet volunteer needs.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 64B %V 64 %P 644-55 %8 2009 Sep %G eng %N 5 %L newpubs20090908_ButricaVol.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19213847?dopt=Abstract %3 19213847 %4 ADULTS/Time Utilization/Volunteering %$ 20840 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbn042 %0 Journal Article %J J Ment Health Policy Econ %D 2009 %T Work expectations, realizations, and depression in older workers. %A Tracy Falba %A Jody L Sindelar %A William T Gallo %K Age Factors %K depression %K Employment %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Psychometrics %K Retirement %K Sex Factors %K Stress, Psychological %X

AIMS OF THE STUDY: In this study, we explore whether ex ante work expectations, conditional on work force status at age 62, affect self-reported depressive symptoms at age 62.

METHODS: Our sample includes 4,387 participants of the Health and Retirement Study, a national longitudinal survey of individuals born between 1931 and 1941, and their spouses. The sample is composed of workers who were less than 62 years of age at the study baseline (1992), and who had reached age 62 by the current study endpoint (2004). This sample enables comparison of realized work status with prior expectations. We estimate the impact of expected work status on self-reported depressive symptoms using negative binomial and logistic regression methods. Sex-stratified regressions are estimated according to full-time work status at age 62. The primary outcome is a summary measure of self-reported depressive symptoms based on a short form of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale. The explanatory variable of interest is the subjective probability of working full-time at the age of 62, reported by participants at the 1992 HRS baseline. We control for baseline socioeconomic and demographic variables as well as life events and changes in macroeconomic conditions that occur within the study timeframe.

RESULTS: Among participants who were not working full time at age 62, we find that men who provided a higher ex ante likelihood of full-time employment at 62 had significantly worse self-reported depressive symptoms than men who provided a lower ex ante likelihood. A similar effect was not found for women. Among participants who were working full time at age 62, we do not find a statistical relationship between ex ante expectations and age-62 self-reported depressive symptoms, for either men or women.

DISCUSSION: The results suggest that an earlier-than-anticipated work exit is detrimental to mental health for men nearing normal retirement age. Previous research has demonstrated that stress is a causal factor in depression, and a premature labor force departure, which is inconsistent with an individual's cognitive judgment of a suitably timed exit from work, is a psychologically stressful transition that could realistically induce depression. This may be especially true of men, who in this cohort, have stronger labor force attachment than women and tend to define their roles by their occupation. The advantages of the study include nationally representative data, a baseline depression control that circumscribes the effect of endogeneity, and a reasonably long follow-up. Despite our efforts to infer causality, unmeasured factors may account for part of the observed relationship. IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH POLICY AND RESEARCH: Depression is a disease that, if untreated, may have serious consequences for behavioral, medical, and social well-being. Our results suggest that further research should aim to estimate the magnitude of clinically severe and mild depression in populations of those who retire earlier than expected, especially for men. Such information could help health care planners and policy makers to direct resources to the mental health needs of men who retire prematurely.

%B J Ment Health Policy Econ %I 12 %V 12 %P 175-86 %8 2009 Dec %G eng %U URL:http://www.icmpe.org/test1/journal/journal.htm Publisher'sURL %N 4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20195005?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC3434685 %4 Health Production/Economics of the Elderly/Handicapped/Non-labor Market Discrimination/Older Workers/depression %$ 22070 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 2008 %T Actuation of mobility intentions among the young-old: an event-history analysis. %A Don E Bradley %A Charles F Longino %A Eleanor P. Stoller %A William H Haas %K Aged %K Databases as Topic %K Emigration and Immigration %K Humans %K Intention %K Middle Aged %K Population Dynamics %K Retirement %K United States %X

PURPOSE: Although migration decision making is central to understanding later-life migration, the critical step between migration intentions and mobility outcomes has received only limited empirical attention. We address two questions: How often are intended moves actuated? What factors condition the likelihood that mobility intentions will be actuated?

DESIGN AND METHODS: We employ data from the 1994-2002 Health and Retirement Study, which is a nationally representative panel targeting households containing persons aged 53 to 63 years at baseline. Event-history techniques are used to examine the link between reported mobility intentions at baseline and mobility outcomes across the study period, net of relevant controls. We conduct separate household-level analyses for couple and noncouple households and recognize three types of moves: local, family oriented, and nonlocal.

RESULTS: Findings confirm the utility of mobility expectations as a predictor of future mobility. More importantly, results highlight the complex nature of later-life mobility. The actuation of mobility intentions appears to operate differently in couple than in noncouple households. Moreover, our findings suggest that the role of several key variables depends on the type of move under consideration.

IMPLICATIONS: The ability to identify potential "retirement migrants" may be of practical importance for state and local government officials as well as developers interested in recruiting or retaining young-old residents. Our study offers insight on the interpretation of stated mobility intentions. Moreover, consistent with early theoretical work in the field, our analysis suggests that empirical studies must account for heterogeneity among older movers in order to avoid misleading results.

%B Gerontologist %I 48 %V 48 %P 190-202 %8 2008 Apr %G eng %N 2 %L newpubs20080528_Gerontol.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18483431?dopt=Abstract %3 18483431 %4 migration/Mobility %$ 18920 %R 10.1093/geront/48.2.190 %0 Journal Article %J J Appl Psychol %D 2008 %T Antecedents of bridge employment: a longitudinal investigation. %A Wang, Mo %A Zhan, Yujie %A Liu, Songqi %A Kenneth S. Shultz %K Aged %K Career Mobility %K Employment %K Female %K Follow-Up Studies %K Humans %K Job Satisfaction %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Psychological Theory %K Retirement %K Surveys and Questionnaires %X

Bridge employment is the labor force participation pattern increasingly observed in older workers between their career jobs and their complete labor force withdrawal. It serves as a transition process from career employment to full retirement. Typical bridge employment decisions include full retirement, career bridge employment, and bridge employment in a different field. In the current study, 3 dominant theories (i.e., role theory, continuity theory, and life course perspective) on retirement processes were reviewed. On the basis of these theories, the authors proposed 4 categories of antecedents (i.e., individual attributes, job-related psychological variables, family-related variables, and a retirement-planning-related variable) of different types of bridge employment decisions. The authors used longitudinal data of a large, nationally representative sample from the Health and Retirement Study (F. Juster & R. Suzman, 1995) to test the current hypotheses. These data were analyzed with multinomial logistic regression, and most of the hypotheses were supported by the results. The implications of this study are discussed at both theoretical and practical levels.

%B J Appl Psychol %I 98 %V 93 %P 818-30 %8 2008 Jul %G eng %N 4 %L newpubs20080822_AppPsych %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18642986?dopt=Abstract %3 18642986 %4 Labor Force Participation/Bridge Jobs/Older workers/RETIREMENT %$ 19230 %R 10.1037/0021-9010.93.4.818 %0 Journal Article %J Soc Secur Bull %D 2008 %T Cohort differences in wealth and pension participation of near-retirees. %A Irena Dushi %A Howard M Iams %K Female %K Humans %K Income %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Pensions %K Population Growth %K Retirement %K United States %X

The approaching retirement of the baby-boom generation has attracted both research and public policy attention. Many social and economic changes occurred during the second half of the twentieth century, changes that are likely to affect the retirement economic security of recent cohorts in many ways. In this article, using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a longitudinal, nationally representative survey of older Americans, we compare potential retirement economic resources-pension participation and nonpension net worth-of two cohorts of near-retirees. Particularly we look at individuals born from 1933 through 1939, often referred to as depression babies, who were ages 55-61 in 1994 and the more recent cohort consisting of individuals of the same ages (55-61) in 2004, who were born from 1943 through 1949. Our findings indicate that the more recent cohort of near-retirees has a significantly higher pension participation rate over their working life, and therefore greater opportunity to establish pension income through their working life, compared with the earlier cohort (82 percent versus 64 percent). The increase in pension participation was more pronounced among the recent cohort of women, an expected outcome given the increase in labor force participation of women over the past half century. As a result, although differences by sex in pension participation remained significant, the gap has narrowed for the recent cohort of near-retirees. In addition, we find that the gap in participation rate between those in the highest and the lowest wealth quintiles has widened over time (from 22 percent in 1994 to 26 percent in 2004). For both cohorts of near-retirees, the evidence indicates that those without a pension have much lower levels of net total worth than those who report having a pension. The pattern that emerges for both cohorts is that about one-fifth of individuals aged 55-61 hold little or no wealth at all, whereas about two-fifths hold a substantial amount of wealth. In addition, housing equity, which rarely is used to finance consumption in retirement, comprises more than one-half of total nonpension net worth for about 60 percent of all households, leaving--on average less than $45,000 jointly in nonhousing wealth and IRA/Keogh assets--a much smaller amount of wealth that is readily accessible if the need arises. The fact that many near-retirees (about 40 percent) in the lowest-two wealth quintiles have no pension to potentially draw income from, coupled with the very low level of total nonpension wealth raises concern about their income security in retirement; they may be likely to rely heavily on Social Security, rely on welfare programs, or continue work in retirement.

%B Soc Secur Bull %I 68 %V 68 %P 45-66 %8 2008 %G eng %N 3 %L newpubs20090908/DushiIamsSSB.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19260617?dopt=Abstract %3 19260617 %4 Pension Wealth/Housing Equity/Social Security %$ 20320 %0 Journal Article %J Health Serv Res %D 2008 %T Depression and retirement in late middle-aged U.S. workers. %A Jalpa A Doshi %A Cen, Liyi %A Daniel Polsky %K Activities of Daily Living %K Comorbidity %K depression %K Employment %K Female %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Severity of Illness Index %K Sex Factors %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %X

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether late middle-aged U.S. workers with depression are at an increased risk for retirement.

DATA SOURCE: Six biennial waves (1992-2002) of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative panel survey of noninstitutionalized 51-61-year-olds and their spouses started in 1992.

STUDY DESIGN: Workers aged 53-58 years in 1994 were followed every 2 years thereafter, through 2002. Depression was coded as lagged time-dependent variables measuring active depression and severity of depression. The main outcome variable was a transition to retirement which was measured using two distinct definitions to capture different stages in the retirement process: (1) Retirement was defined as a transition out of the labor force in the sample of all labor force participants (N=2,853); (2) In addition a transition out of full time work was used as the retirement definition in the subset of labor force participants who were full time workers (N=2,288).

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In the sample of all labor force participants, the presence of active depression significantly increased the hazard of retirement in both late middle-aged men (adjusted OR: 1.37 [95 percent CI 1.05, 1.80]) and women (adjusted OR: 1.40 [95 percent CI 1.10, 1.78]). For women, subthreshold depression was also a significant predictor of retirement. In the sample of full time workers, the relationship between depression and retirement was considerably weaker for women yet remained strong for men.

CONCLUSIONS: Depression and depressive symptoms were significantly associated with retirement in late middle-aged U.S. workers. Policymakers must consider the potentially adverse impact of these labor market outcomes when estimating the cost of untreated depression and evaluating the value of interventions to improve the diagnosis and treatment of depression.

%B Health Serv Res %I 43 %V 43 %P 693-713 %8 2008 Apr %G eng %N 2 %L newpubs20080528_HlthServRes %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18370974?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2442377 %4 Depression/Mental health/RETIREMENT/risk factors/Public health/Labor Market %$ 18960 %R 10.1111/j.1475-6773.2007.00782.x %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2008 %T Divergent pathways? Racial/ethnic differences in older women's labor force withdrawal. %A Tyson H Brown %A David F Warner %K Aged %K Black People %K Demography %K Disability Evaluation %K Disabled Persons %K Employment %K ethnicity %K Hispanic or Latino %K Humans %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate how women's labor force withdrawal behavior varies across race/ethnicity and to identify life course factors that generate these differences.

METHODS: Using a sample of 7,235 women from the 1992-2004 Health and Retirement Study, we estimated cross-sectional multinomial logit models to explore racial/ethnic differences in labor force status at first interview. We then examined the prospective risk of exiting the labor force via retirement, work disability, or death using discrete-time hazard models.

RESULTS: Black and Hispanic women had twice the odds of Whites of being work-disabled at first interview. Whereas younger minorities had lower odds of being retired at first interview, older minorities had higher odds. The prospective results showed that both Blacks and Hispanics had higher risks of work disability but not of retirement or of dying in the labor force. Overall, racial/ethnic differences in mid- and later life work behavior stemmed primarily from disparities in life course capital.

DISCUSSION: This study shows that substantial racial/ethnic disparities in labor force exit behavior have already emerged by midlife. It is important to note that distinguishing between alternative pathways out of the labor force demonstrates that work disability is a more common experience for Black and Hispanic women than for Whites.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 63B %V 63 %P S122-34 %8 2008 May %G eng %N 3 %L newpubs20080822_Brown_Warner %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18559687?dopt=Abstract %3 18559687 %4 Women/Labor Force Participation/Racial Differences/Ethnic Groups %$ 19190 %R 10.1093/geronb/63.3.s122 %0 Journal Article %J J Health Econ %D 2008 %T Health and wealth of elderly couples: causality tests using dynamic panel data models. %A Pierre-Carl Michaud %A Arthur H.O. vanSoest %K Aged %K Causality %K Family Characteristics %K Female %K Health Status Indicators %K Humans %K Income %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Models, Econometric %K Retirement %K Social Class %K Spouses %K United States %X

A positive relationship between socio-economic status (SES) and health, the "health-wealth gradient", is repeatedly found in many industrialized countries. This study analyzes competing explanations for this gradient: causal effects from health to wealth (health causation) and causal effects from wealth to health (wealth or social causation). Using six biennial waves of couples aged 51-61 in 1992 from the US Health and Retirement Study, we test for causality in panel data models incorporating unobserved heterogeneity and a lag structure supported by specification tests. In contrast to tests relying on models with only first order lags or without unobserved heterogeneity, these tests provide no evidence of causal wealth health effects. On the other hand, we find strong evidence of causal effects from both spouses' health on household wealth. We also find an effect of the husband's health on the wife's mental health, but no other effects from one spouse's health to health of the other spouse.

%B J Health Econ %I 27 %V 27 %P 1312-25 %8 2008 Sep %G eng %N 5 %L newpubs20081014_Michaud-vanSoest.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18513809?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2867362 %4 Wealth/HEALTH/socioeconomic status %$ 19370 %R 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2008.04.002 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Business & Economic Statistics %D 2008 %T Health Risk and Portfolio Choice %A Ryan D. Edwards %K financial risk %K Retirement %K risky health %X [This article investigates the role of self-perceived risky health in explaining continued reductions in financial risk taking after retirement. If future adverse health shocks threaten to increase the marginal utility of consumption, either by absorbing wealth or by changing the utility function, then health risk should prompt individuals to lower their exposure to financial risk. I examine individual-level data from the Study of Assets and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD), which reveal that risky health prompts safer investment. Elderly singles respond the most to health risk, consistent with a negative cross partial deriving from health shocks that impede home production. Spouses and planned bequests provide some degree of hedging. Risky health may explain 20% of the age-related decline in financial risk taking after retirement.] %B Journal of Business & Economic Statistics %V 26 %P - 485472 %8 2008 %@ 07350015 %G eng %U www.jstor.org/stable/27639006 %N 4 %0 Report %D 2008 %T How Does Modeling of Retirement Decisions at the Family Level Affect Estimates of the Impact of Social Security Policies on Retirement? %A Alan L Gustman %A Thomas L. Steinmeier %K modeling %K Policy %K Retirement %K Social Security %X This paper applies structural models of retirement and saving of two earner couples to explore the effects on retirement of two actuarially neutral policies, which we know from previous work can have a substantial effect on retirement if heterogeneity in time preference rates is allowed. The main question being investigated here is whether using a model that explicitly incorporates the retirement interactions of two working spouses yields a different evaluation of policies than when a much simpler model that treats the retirement decisions of the second spouse as exogenous is used. The findings indicate that unless the question of interest is specifically related to joint retirement issues, the effects of the two actuarially neutral policies being investigated are roughly equal whichever model is estimated. A second question explored in the paper is whether two earner and one earner households can be combined in the analysis. The effects of policy changes are clearly different for one earner and two earner households, but there is some evidence that the principal difference is due to the differing budget sets of the two groups. Though the estimated preference parameters are significantly different, the critical parameters governing responses to policy changes are similar. As a result, it seems plausible that unless the question being investigated involves looking at these two groups separately, the overall impact of the policy changes may be adequately assessed by combining the two groups, separately identifying them by a dummy variable. A third question involves the magnitude of the effects for these two specific policy changes. Increasing the Social Security early entitlement age from 62 to 64 would reduce the level of retirement for husbands from two earner households by 4.4-4.6 percentage points at age 62, and by 5.1-5.7 percentage points for wives. In contrast, this policy change would induce husbands from one earner households to reduce the level of retirement by 10.2 percentage points at age 62. In a system of personal accounts, offering Social Security benefits as a lump sum instead of as an annuity would increase the level of retirement for husbands from two earner households by 7.1-8.1 percentage points at age 62 and by 8.9 percentage points for husbands in one earner households, and by 2.8-3.2 percentage points for wives in two earner households. %I Michigan Retirement Research Center %C Ann Arbor, MI %8 10/2008 %G eng %U https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1287302 %0 Journal Article %J J Ment Health Policy Econ %D 2008 %T Job loss, retirement and the mental health of older Americans. %A Mandal, Bidisha %A Roe, Brian %K depression %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Insurance Coverage %K Insurance, Health %K Life Change Events %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Mental Health %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Socioeconomic factors %K Stress, Psychological %K Unemployment %K United States %X

BACKGROUND: Millions of older individuals cope with physical limitations, cognitive changes, and various losses such as bereavement that are commonly associated with aging. Given increased vulnerability to various health problems during aging, work displacement might exacerbate these due to additional distress and to possible changes in medical coverage. Older Americans are of increasing interest to researchers and policymakers due to the sheer size of the Baby Boom cohort, which is approaching retirement age, and due to the general decline in job security in the U.S. labor market.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: This research compares and contrasts the effect of involuntary job loss and retirement on the mental health of older Americans. Furthermore, it examines the impact of re-employment on the depressive symptoms.

METHODS: There are two fundamental empirical challenges in isolating the effect of employment status on mental health. The first is to control for unobserved heterogeneity--all latent factors that could impact mental health so as to establish the correct magnitude of the effect of employment status. The second challenge is to verify the direction of causality. First difference models are used to control for latent effects and a two-stage least squares regression is used to account for reverse causality.

RESULTS: We find that involuntary job loss worsens mental health, and re-employment recaptures the past mental health status. Retirement is found to improve mental health of older Americans.

DISCUSSION: With the use of longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study surveys and the adoption of proper measures to control for the possibility of reverse causality, this study provides strong evidence of elevating depressive symptoms with involuntary job displacement even after controlling for other late-life events. Women suffer from greater distress levels than men after job loss due to business closure or lay-off. However, women also exhibit better psychological well-being than men following retirement. The present study is the first to report that the re-employment of involuntary job-loss sufferers leads to a recapturing of past mental health status. Additionally, we find that re-entering the labor force is psychologically beneficial to retirees as well.

IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH CARE PROVISION: It is well established that out-of-pocket expenditures on all forms of health care for seniors with self-diagnosed depression significantly exceeds expenditures for seniors with other common ailments such as hypertension and arthritis in the U.S. Thus, our research suggests that re-employment of older Americans displaced from the labor force will be cost-effective with regard to personal mental health outcomes.

IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH POLICIES: That re-employment of involuntary job loss sufferers leads to a recapturing of past mental health status illuminates one potential policy trade off - increased resources dedicated to job training and placement for older U.S. workers could reap benefits with regard to reduced private and public mental health expenditures.

IMPLICATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: Further research could more clearly assess the degree to which the mental health benefits of employment among older Americans would warrant the expansion of job training and employment programs aimed at this group.

%B J Ment Health Policy Econ %I 11 %V 11 %P 167-76 %8 2008 Dec %G eng %N 4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19096091?dopt=Abstract %3 19096091 %4 RETIREMENT/Job Loss/Mental health/Older workers %$ 19670 %R 10.2139/ssrn.991134 %0 Journal Article %J Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord %D 2008 %T Memory decline and depressive symptoms in a nationally representative sample of older adults: the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2004). %A Hector M González %A Mary E Bowen %A Gwenith G Fisher %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K depression %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Incidence %K Male %K Memory Disorders %K Neuropsychological tests %K Prevalence %K Retirement %K United States %X

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Inconsistencies in the relationship between depression and cognitive decline may exist because the expected cognitive domains at risk have not been specified in previous study designs. We aimed to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and verbal episodic memory functioning over time.

METHODS: Data from a prospective cohort study (Health and Retirement Study; 1998-2004; n = 18,465), a multistage national probability sample of older adults in the United States, were analyzed. Verbal learning and memory of a 10-word list learning task were the main outcomes. Depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression Scale) constituted the main predictor.

RESULTS: Depressive symptoms were associated with significantly lower immediate (-0.05; p < 0.001) and delayed (-0.06; p < 0.001) word list recall scores after controlling for demographics and baseline and time-varying cardiovascular disease risks and diseases.

CONCLUSIONS: In this US national study of older adults, elevated depressive symptoms were associated with declines in episodic learning and memory over time. These associations were little affected by the demographic or medical conditions considered in this study. The results suggest that learning and memory decline may be a long-term feature associated with depressive symptoms among the nation's older adult population.

%B Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord %I 25 %V 25 %P 266-71 %8 2008 %G eng %N 3 %L newpubs20090126_Gonzales_etal.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18270489?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2292399 %4 Depression/Cognitive Function %$ 19610 %R 10.1159/000115976 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Public Health %D 2008 %T Neighborhoods and obesity in later life. %A Irina B Grafova %A Vicki A Freedman %A Kumar, Rizie %A Jeannette Rogowski %K Aged %K Air Pollution %K Crime %K Emigrants and Immigrants %K Environment Design %K Female %K Health Status Indicators %K Humans %K Income %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Obesity %K Odds Ratio %K Overweight %K Population Density %K Residence Characteristics %K Retirement %K Social Class %K Social Conditions %K Social Environment %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: We examined the influence of neighborhood environment on the weight status of adults 55 years and older.

METHODS: We conducted a 2-level logistic regression analysis of data from the 2002 wave of the Health and Retirement Study. We included 8 neighborhood scales: economic advantage, economic disadvantage, air pollution, crime and segregation, street connectivity, density, immigrant concentration, and residential stability.

RESULTS: When we controlled for individual- and family-level confounders, living in a neighborhood with a high level of economic advantage was associated with a lower likelihood of being obese for both men (odds ratio [OR] = 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.80, 0.94) and women (OR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.77, 0.89). Men living in areas with a high concentration of immigrants and women living in areas of high residential stability were more likely to be obese. Women living in areas of high street connectivity were less likely to be overweight or obese.

CONCLUSIONS: The mechanisms by which neighborhood environment and weight status are linked in later life differ by gender, with economic and social environment aspects being important for men and built environment aspects being salient for women.

%B Am J Public Health %I 98 %V 98 %P 2065-71 %8 2008 Nov %G eng %N 11 %L newpubs20081205_Grafova.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18799770?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2636421 %4 Obesity/Weight/Neighborhood Characteristics %$ 19540 %R 10.2105/AJPH.2007.127712 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 2008 %T Racial/ethnic differences in the relationship between the use of health care services and functional disability: the health and retirement study (1992-2004). %A Mary E Bowen %A Hector M González %K Activities of Daily Living %K Disabled Persons %K ethnicity %K Female %K Health Services %K Health Status Disparities %K Healthcare Disparities %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Mobility Limitation %K Racial Groups %K Retirement %X

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine racial/ethnic differences in the relationship between functional disability and the use of health care services in a nationally representative sample of older adults by using the Andersen behavioral model of health services utilization.

DESIGN AND METHODS: The study used 12 years of longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (1992-2004), a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling adults older than 50 in 1992 (N = 8,947). Nonlinear multilevel models used self-reported health care service utilization (physician visits and hospital admissions) to predict racial/ethnic differences in disability (activities of daily living and mobility limitations). The models also evaluated the roles of other predisposing (age and gender), health need (medical conditions and self-rated health), and enabling factors (health insurance, education, income, and wealth).

RESULTS: Blacks and Latinos utilizing physician visits and hospital admissions were associated with significantly more activity of daily living disability than Whites (p <.001). Blacks utilizing physician visits (p <.001) and hospital admissions (p <.05) and Latinos utilizing hospital admissions (p <.05) were associated with more mobility disability than Whites. Other predisposing, health need, and enabling factors did not account for these racial/ethnic differences.

IMPLICATIONS: Nationally, health care use for Blacks and Latinos was associated with more disabilities than for Whites after we accounted for predisposing, health need, and enabling factors. The findings suggest that improving health care quality for all Americans may supersede equal access to health care for reducing ethnic and racial disparities in functional health.

%B Gerontologist %I 48 %V 48 %P 659-67 %8 2008 Oct %G eng %N 5 %L newpubs20081205_Bowen-Gonzales.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18981282?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2885453 %4 DISABILITY/DISABILITY/Health Care Utilization/Racial Differences %$ 19550 %R 10.1093/geront/48.5.659 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2008 %T Retirement and weight changes among men and women in the health and retirement study. %A Valerie L Forman-Hoffman %A Kelly K Richardson %A Jon W. Yankey %A Stephen L Hillis %A Robert B Wallace %A Frederic D Wolinsky %K Aged %K Aging %K Body Mass Index %K Body Weight %K Demography %K depression %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Health Status %K Humans %K Interviews as Topic %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Obesity %K Retirement %X

OBJECTIVES: Older adults may experience weight changes upon retirement for a number of reasons, such as being less physically active; having less structured meal times; and consuming food in response to losing personal identity, the potential for social interactions, or the sense of accomplishment derived from working. The purpose of this study was to determine whether retirement was associated with either weight gain or weight loss.

METHODS: We used the 1994-2002 Health and Retirement Study to determine whether retirement between biennial interviews was associated with weight change, separately for men (n = 1,966) and women (n = 1,759). We defined weight change as a 5% increase or decrease in body mass index between interviews.

RESULT: . We did not find a significant association between retirement and weight change among men. Women who retired were more likely to gain weight than women who continued to work at least 20 hr per week (odds ratio [OR] = 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-1.48). We found a significant relationship between retirement and weight gain only for women who were normal weight upon retiring (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.01-1.69) and who retired from blue-collar jobs (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.13-2.21).

DISCUSSION: Public health interventions may be indicated for women, particularly those working in blue-collar occupations, in order to prevent weight gain upon retirement.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 63B %V 63 %P S146-53 %8 2008 May %G eng %N 3 %L newpubs20080822_JoG63B146 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18559689?dopt=Abstract %3 18559689 %4 RETIREMENT/Weight/Women %$ 19200 %R 10.1093/geronb/63.3.s146 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Economics %D 2008 %T Social security and the retirement and savings behavior of low-income households %A van der Klaauw, Wilbert %A Wolpin, Kenneth I. %K Retirement %K Social Security %K structural estimation %X In this paper, we develop and estimate a model of retirement and savings incorporating limited borrowing, stochastic wage offers, health status and survival, social security benefits, Medicare and employer-provided health insurance coverage, and intentional bequests. The model is estimated on a sample of relatively poor households from the first three waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), for whom we would expect social security income to be of particular importance. The estimated model is used to simulate the responses to changes in social security rules, including changes in benefit levels, in the payroll tax, in the social security earnings tax and in early and normal retirement ages. Welfare and budget consequences are estimated. %B Journal of Economics %V 145 %G eng %N 1-2 %& 21-42 %R 10.1016/j.jeconom.2008.05.004 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2007 %T Baseline health, socioeconomic status, and 10-year mortality among older middle-aged Americans: findings from the Health and Retirement Study, 1992 2002. %A Joseph Feinglass %A Lin, Suru %A Jason A. Thompson %A Joseph J Sudano %A Dorothy D Dunlop %A Song, Jing %A David W. Baker %K Adult %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Economics %K Education %K Follow-Up Studies %K Health Status %K Humans %K Income %K Middle Aged %K Mortality %K Motor Activity %K Pilot Projects %K Proportional Hazards Models %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Risk-Taking %K Smoking %K Social Class %K Thinness %K United States %X

OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed whether socioeconomic status in older middle age continues to be associated with 10-year survival after data are controlled for baseline health status.

METHODS: We confirmed deaths through 2002 for 9,759 participants in the Health and Retirement Study, aged 51 to 61 in 1992. We used discrete time survival models to examine hazard ratios over 10 years of follow-up. We examined associations of demographic characteristics and socioeconomic status measures before and after adjustment by health status and behavioral risk factors.

RESULT: The 10-year mortality rate was 10.9%, ranging from 4.7% for respondents reporting excellent health to 35.8% for those reporting poor health at baseline. Lower levels of education, income, and wealth were strongly associated with higher mortality risk after we controlled for just demographic characteristics. After further adjustment for health status and behavioral risk factors, only household income remained significant.

DISCUSSION: Baseline health by age 50 is an important pathway in the association between midlife socioeconomic status and mortality risk to age 70. The continuing effect of low household income on mortality risk was concentrated among respondents reporting excellent to good health at baseline. Socioeconomic disparities in middle-age health continue to limit disability-free life expectancy at older ages.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 62 %V 62 %P S209-17 %8 2007 Jul %G eng %N 4 %L newpubs20071002_JoGS209.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17673534?dopt=Abstract %4 socioeconomic status/health status/Mortality %$ 17980 %R 10.1093/geronb/62.4.s209 %0 Journal Article %J Health (London) %D 2007 %T Does money buy better health? Unpacking the income to health association after midlife. %A Berry, Brent M. %K Aged %K Attitude to Health %K Employment %K Health Status Indicators %K Humans %K Income %K Middle Aged %K Mobility Limitation %K Models, Econometric %K Retirement %K Self Concept %K Sociology, Medical %K United States %X

This article estimates the effect of household financial resources on health after midlife using models that minimize health-related selectivity and unobserved heterogeneity bias. I focus on the self-rated health and mobility limitations of adults transitioning into retirement over six panels of the Health and Retirement Study (1992-2002; age 51-61 at wave one; N = 7602). Standard regression models that adjust for health-related selection with prospective and retrospective controls suggest a significant influence of long-term income on health, but an insignificant influence of short-term income. Further adjustment for unobserved fixed effects also suggests that short-term income is insignificant. Sizable recent and long-term health feedbacks to income for a portion of the HRS respondents underscore the need to control for the confounding influence of health over the lifecourse. Together these results suggest that adults after midlife are heterogeneous with respect to the causal and selective processes generating the observed association between income and health.

%B Health (London) %I 11 %V 11 %P 199-226 %8 2007 Apr %G eng %N 2 %L newpubs20070403_Berry_Health.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17344272?dopt=Abstract %4 HEALTH/income/Wealth %$ 17230 %R 10.1177/1363459307074694 %0 Journal Article %J Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences %D 2007 %T Evidence on early-life income and late-life health from America's Dust Bowl era. %A David M Cutler %A Grant Miller %A Douglas M Norton %K Aged %K Data collection %K Female %K Health Status %K History, 20th Century %K Humans %K Income %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %X

In recent decades, elderly Americans have enjoyed enormous gains in longevity and reductions in disability. The causes of this progress remain unclear, however. This paper investigates the role of fetal programming, exploring how economic progress early in the 20th century might be related to declining disability today. Specifically, we match sudden unexpected economic changes experienced in utero in America's Dust Bowl during the Great Depression to unusually detailed individual-level information about old-age disability and chronic disease. We are unable to detect any meaningful relationship between early life factors and outcomes in later life. We conclude that, if such a relationship exists in the United States, it is most likely not a quantitatively important explanation for declining disability today.

%B Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences %V 104 %P 13244-9 %8 2007 Aug 14 %G eng %N 33 %R 10.1073/pnas.0700035104 %0 Journal Article %J Ann Intern Med %D 2007 %T Geriatric conditions and disability: the Health and Retirement Study. %A Christine T Cigolle %A Kenneth M. Langa %A Mohammed U Kabeto %A Zhiyi Tian %A Caroline S Blaum %K Accidental Falls %K Activities of Daily Living %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Body Mass Index %K Chronic disease %K Cognition Disorders %K Comorbidity %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Disability Evaluation %K Dizziness %K Female %K Geriatric Assessment %K Geriatrics %K Hearing Disorders %K Humans %K Male %K Prevalence %K Retirement %K Urinary incontinence %K Vision Disorders %X

BACKGROUND: Geriatric conditions, such as incontinence and falling, are not part of the traditional disease model of medicine and may be overlooked in the care of older adults. The prevalence of geriatric conditions and their effect on health and disability in older adults has not been investigated in population-based samples.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of geriatric conditions and their association with dependency in activities of daily living by using nationally representative data.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis.

SETTING: Health and Retirement Study survey administered in 2000.

PARTICIPANTS: Adults age 65 years or older (n = 11 093, representing 34.5 million older Americans) living in the community and in nursing homes.

MEASUREMENTS: Geriatric conditions (cognitive impairment, falls, incontinence, low body mass index, dizziness, vision impairment, hearing impairment) and dependency in activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, eating, transferring, toileting).

RESULTS: Of adults age 65 years or older, 49.9% had 1 or more geriatric conditions. Some conditions were as prevalent as common chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. The association between geriatric conditions and dependency in activities of daily living was strong and significant, even after adjustment for demographic characteristics and chronic diseases (adjusted risk ratio, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.9 to 2.4] for 1 geriatric condition, 3.6 [CI, 3.1 to 4.1] for 2 conditions, and 6.6 [CI, 5.6 to 7.6] for > or =3 conditions).

LIMITATIONS: The study was cross-sectional and based on self-reported data. Because measures were limited by the survey questions, important conditions, such as delirium and frailty, were not assessed. Survival biases may influence the estimates.

CONCLUSIONS: Geriatric conditions are similar in prevalence to chronic diseases in older adults and in some cases are as strongly associated with disability. The findings suggest that geriatric conditions, although not a target of current models of health care, are important to the health and function of older adults and should be addressed in their care.

%B Ann Intern Med %I 147 %V 147 %P 156-64 %8 2007 Aug 07 %G eng %N 3 %L newpubs20071002_Cigolle_etal.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17679703?dopt=Abstract %4 ADL and IADL Impairments/Geriatrics/Chronic Disease/Health care %$ 18010 %R 10.7326/0003-4819-147-3-200708070-00004 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Applied Psychology %D 2007 %T Profiling retirees in the retirement transition and adjustment process: examining the longitudinal change patterns of retirees' psychological well-being. %A Wang, Mo %K Aged %K Female %K Follow-Up Studies %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Quality of Life %K Retirement %K Social Adjustment %X

The author used role theory, continuity theory, and the life course perspective to form hypotheses regarding the different retirement transition and adjustment patterns and how different individual and contextual variables related to those patterns. The longitudinal data of 2 samples (n(1) = 994; n(2) = 1,066) from the Health and Retirement Survey were used. Three latent growth curve patterns of retirees' psychological well-being were identified as coexisting in the retiree samples through growth mixture modeling (GMM) analysis. On the basis of the latent class membership derived from GMM, retiree subgroups directly linked to different growth curve patterns were profiled with individual (e.g., bridge job status) and contextual variables (e.g., spouse working status). By recognizing the existence of multiple retiree subgroups corresponding to different psychological well-being change patterns, this study suggests that retirees do not follow a uniform adjustment pattern during the retirement process, which reconciles inconsistent previous findings. A resource perspective is further introduced to provide a more integrated theory for the current findings. The practical implications of this study are also discussed at both individual level and policy level.

%B Journal of Applied Psychology %V 92 %P 455-74 %8 2007 Mar %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1037/0021-9010.92.2.455 %0 Journal Article %J Int Arch Occup Environ Health %D 2006 %T The effect of recurrent involuntary job loss on the depressive symptoms of older US workers. %A William T Gallo %A Elizabeth H Bradley %A Teng, Hsun-Mei %A Stanislav V Kasl %K Adaptation, Physiological %K depression %K Employment %K Female %K Humans %K Life Change Events %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Stress, Psychological %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess whether recurrent involuntary job loss among US workers nearing retirement resulted in increasingly less severe changes in depressive symptoms with successive job losses.

METHODS: With data drawn from the US Health and Retirement Survey (HRS), we used repeated measures longitudinal analysis to investigate the effect of recurrent job loss on follow-up depressive symptoms, measured up to 2 years following job loss. Study participants include 617 individuals, aged 51-61 years at the 1992 study baseline, who had at least one job loss between 1990 and 2000. Our primary outcome variable was a continuous measure of depressive symptoms, constructed from the 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) battery administered at every HRS wave. A second, dichotomous outcome, derived from the continuous measure, measured clinically relevant depressive symptoms. The exposure (recurrent job loss) was defined by binary dummy variables representing two and three/four job losses. All job losses were the result of either plant closing or layoff.

RESULTS: Our main finding indicates that, after relevant covariates are controlled, compared to one job loss, two job losses result in a modest increase in the level depressive symptoms (not significant) at two-year follow-up. Three or more job losses result, on average, in a decline in depressive symptoms to a level near pre-displacement assessment (not significant). Somewhat in contrast, two job losses were found to be associated with increased risk of clinically relevant depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS: The principal finding confirms our hypothesis that, among US workers nearing retirement, repeated exposure to job separation results in diminished effects on mental health. Adaptation to the job loss stressor may underlie the observed response, although other explanations, including macroeconomic developments, are possible.

%B Int Arch Occup Environ Health %I 80 %V 80 %P 109-16 %8 2006 Nov %G eng %N 2 %L newpubs20101112_Gallo2.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16710713?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC1904500 %4 depression/employment/life Course/Job Loss/RETIREMENT/Stress %$ 23850 %R 10.1007/s00420-006-0108-5 %0 Journal Article %J Int J Aging Hum Dev %D 2006 %T Effects of retirement and grandchild care on depressive symptoms. %A Maximiliane E Szinovacz %A Adam Davey %K Aged %K Aging %K Child %K Child Rearing %K depression %K Family Characteristics %K Female %K Holistic health %K Humans %K Intergenerational Relations %K Leisure activities %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Sex Factors %K Social Responsibility %K Surveys and Questionnaires %K United States %X

This study explores how grandchild care in conjunction with grandparents' retirement affects depressive symptoms, using data from the Health and Retirement Survey. The findings demonstrate that retirement moderates the influence of grandchild care obligations on well-being, measured by depressive symptoms. For retired men, freedom from grandchild care obligations is associated with heightened well-being. Among women, continued employment seems to protect against potential negative effects of extensive grandchild care obligations on well-being. The results for men seem most in line with the argument that family care obligations spoil retirement, whereas the results for women suggest a scenario that is most compatible with the role enhancement thesis.

%B Int J Aging Hum Dev %I 62 %V 62 %P 1-20 %8 2006 %G eng %N 1 %L pubs_2006_Szinovacz.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16454480?dopt=Abstract %4 Caregiving/Retirement/Children %$ 15320 %R 10.2190/8Q46-GJX4-M2VM-W60V %0 Report %D 2006 %T Financial Risk, Retirement, Saving and Investment. %A Alan L Gustman %A Thomas L. Steinmeier %K Economics %K financial risk %K Investments %K Retirement %X This paper considers the prospects for adding choice of portfolio composition to a life cycle model of retirement and saving, while preserving the ability of the model to continue to explain the course of saving and retirement. If eventually successful, such a modification might be used to improve understanding of retirement and saving behavior both under the current Social Security system, and under variations involving personal accounts. In particular we consider the implications of separating parameters that now reflect both risk aversion and time preference %I Michigan Retirement and Research Center %C Ann Arbor, MI %8 09/2006 %G eng %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol Soc Work %D 2006 %T Increased wealth and income as correlates of self-assessed retirement. %A Caputo, Richard K. %K Aged %K Data collection %K Employment %K Female %K Financing, Personal %K Humans %K Income %K Interviews as Topic %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Motivation %K Organizational Policy %K Pensions %K Retirement %K Self-Assessment %K Social Security %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %X

This study examined whether retirement implies complete withdrawal from the labor force and the role that increased wealth and income play in regard to the nature of retirement. Data came from the Health & Retirement Study, Waves 1-5. Findings indicated that most study sample pre-retirees remained in the labor force as they moved into what are considered the normal retirement years. As they moved on average from 50+ years of age to 60+ years of age, increasing percentages of study sample pre-retirees reported themselves as completely retired. Those who viewed themselves as completely retired were far less likely to work than those who did not view themselves as completely retired. Of particular importance was the finding that increased income in 2000 decreased the likelihood of self-reported complete retirement. Equally important was the finding that increased assets had no effect on retirement status with the exception of survey year 1998 when increased assets decreased the likelihood of viewing oneself as completely retired. Findings suggested that pro-work retirement policies aimed at increasing labor force participation among pre-retirees and increasing the normal retirement age can be effective. Five pro-work policies were discussed.

%B J Gerontol Soc Work %I 47 %V 47 %P 175-201 %8 2006 %G eng %N 1-2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16901883?dopt=Abstract %4 Labor Force/Retirement Behavior/Retirement Incomes %$ 16760 %R 10.1300/J083v47n01_11 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol Soc Work %D 2006 %T Postretirement earnings relative to preretirement earnings: gender and racial differences. %A Martha N. Ozawa %A Hong, Baeg-Eui %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Data collection %K Employment %K Female %K Humans %K Income %K Male %K Men %K Minority Groups %K Pensions %K Retirement %K Salaries and Fringe Benefits %K Sex Factors %K Social Security %K Time Factors %K United States %K White People %K women %X

As the social security program comes under increasing financial pressure in the coming decades, the federal government will encourage elderly people to continue to work. Data from the Social Security Administration indicate that earnings are already a sizable component of retirement income. But there is public concern about how women and minorities will fare economically in this changing policy environment. To what extent can women and minorities keep earning money after they reach retirement age? This article presents the results of a study that investigated the postretirement earnings, relative to the preretirement earnings, of women and minorities, and compared the results with those for men and whites. The major finding, based on regression analyses, was that women's postretirement earnings, relative to their preretirement earnings, were greater than those of men. Furthermore, the regression results indicate that nonwhites' postretirement earnings could not be predicted by their preretirement earnings or by any of the independent variables used in the study, including age, gender, education, marital status, number of children, occupation, and preretirement earnings.

%B J Gerontol Soc Work %I 32 %V 47 %P 63-82 %8 2006 %G eng %N 3-4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17062523?dopt=Abstract %3 17062523 %4 Employment/Retirement/WOMEN/Gender Differences/Labor Force Participation/Socioeconomic Status/Marital Status/Vulnerability/gerontology %$ 22000 %R 10.1300/J083v47n03_05 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 2006 %T Retirement patterns from career employment. %A Kevin E. Cahill %A Michael D. Giandrea %A Joseph F. Quinn %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Aging %K Career Choice %K Employment %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Income %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Pensions %K Retirement %K Social Security %K United States %X

PURPOSE: This article investigates how older Americans leave their career jobs and estimates the extent of intermediate labor force activity (bridge jobs) between full-time work on a career job and complete labor-force withdrawal.

DESIGN AND METHODS: Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, we explored the work histories and retirement patterns of a cohort of retirees aged 51 to 61 in 1992 during a 10-year period in both cross-sectional and longitudinal contexts. We examined determinants of retirement patterns in a multinomial logistic regression model.

RESULTS: We found that a majority of older Americans with career jobs retire gradually, in stages, rather than all at once. We also found that the utilization of bridge jobs was more common among younger respondents, respondents without defined-benefit pension plans, and respondents at both the lower and upper ends of the wage distribution.

IMPLICATIONS: Older Americans are now working longer than pre-1980s trends would have predicted. Given concerns about the traditional sources of retirement income (Social Security, employer pensions, and prior savings), older Americans may have to rely more on earnings. This article suggests that many are already doing so by moving to bridge jobs after leaving their career employment.

%B Gerontologist %I 46 %V 46 %P 514-23 %8 2006 Aug %G eng %N 4 %L pubs_2006_Cahill_etal.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16921005?dopt=Abstract %4 Labor Force Attachment/Bridge Jobs/Retirement Behavior %$ 16840 %R 10.1093/geront/46.4.514 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2005 %T The impact of childhood and adult SES on physical, mental, and cognitive well-being in later life. %A Ye Luo %A Linda J. Waite %K Aged %K Aging %K Black People %K Child %K Cognition %K Cohort Studies %K Data collection %K Education %K ethnicity %K Female %K Health Status %K Hispanic or Latino %K Humans %K Income %K Male %K Mental Health %K Middle Aged %K Quality of Life %K Retirement %K Sex Factors %K Social Class %K White People %X

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) and health across the life course and their variations by gender and race/ethnicity.

METHODS: The sample included 19,949 respondents aged 50 or over from the 1998 Health and Retirement Study.

RESULTS: Lower childhood SES was associated with worse health outcomes in later life. Part of the effect of childhood SES on adult health occurred through childhood health. The impact of childhood SES on education and income in adulthood explained an even larger share of this effect. We also found a stronger effect of adult SES for those with lower childhood SES than for those with more advantaged childhoods. Moreover, childhood SES had a similar impact on health in later life for women and men and for Whites and non-Whites. However, college education seemed more important for women's later health, whereas income seemed more important for men's health. Education appeared to have a weaker effect on adult health for Blacks and Hispanics than for Whites.

DISCUSSION: Both childhood and adult SES are important for health. The negative impact of low childhood SES can be partially ameliorated if people from a low SES position during childhood mobilize to higher status in adulthood.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 60B %V 60 %P S93-S101 %8 2005 Mar %G eng %N 2 %L pubs_2005_luo_waite.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15746030?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2505177 %4 Childhood/Socioeconomic Status/Well Being %$ 14232 %R 10.1093/geronb/60.2.s93 %0 Journal Article %J Soc Secur Bull %D 2005 %T Lifetime earnings, social security benefits, and the adequacy of retirement wealth accumulation. %A Engen, Eric M. %A William G. Gale %A Cori E. Uccello %K Adult %K Humans %K Income %K Middle Aged %K Models, Econometric %K Pensions %K Retirement %K Social Security %K United States %B Soc Secur Bull %I 66 %V 66 %P 38-57 %8 2005 %G eng %U https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v66n1/v66n1p38.html %N 1 %L wp_2004/Engen-etal_2004-10.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16295316?dopt=Abstract %4 Social Security expectations/Retirement Saving %$ 12472 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 2005 %T Predictors of perceptions of involuntary retirement. %A Maximiliane E Szinovacz %A Adam Davey %K Activities of Daily Living %K Choice Behavior %K Demography %K Humans %K Retirement %K Social Perception %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %X

PURPOSE: Retirement is often treated as a voluntary transition, yet selected circumstances can restrict choice in retirement decision processes. We investigated conditions under which retirees perceive their retirement as "forced" rather than "wanted."

METHODS: Analyses relied on Waves 1-4 of the Health and Retirement Survey (N=1,160; 572 men and 588 women). Logistic regression models estimated the effects of background factors, choice and restricted choice conditions, and retirement contexts on perceptions of forced retirement.

RESULTS: Nearly one third of older workers perceived their retirement as forced. Such forced retirement reflects restricted choice through health limitations, job displacement, and care obligations. Other predictors include marital status, race, assets, benefits, job tenure, and off-time retirement.

IMPLICATIONS: Future research should establish personal and policy implications of forced retirement. Programs are needed to help older workers forced into retirement find alternative employment opportunities and to reduce the conditions leading to forced retirement.

%B Gerontologist %I 45 %V 45 %P 36-47 %8 2005 Feb %G eng %N 1 %L pubs_2004_szinovacz_DaveyGeron.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15695416?dopt=Abstract %4 Retirement %$ 12432 %R 10.1093/geront/45.1.36 %0 Journal Article %J National Tax Journal %D 2005 %T Retirement Effects of Proposals by the President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security %A Alan L Gustman %A Thomas L. Steinmeier %K Retirement %K Social Security %X The effects on retirement of proposals by the President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security are simulated using an econometric model of retirement and saving. In the absence of any policy reforms, and holding other market adjustments constant, increases in real wages are predicted to increase retirement from full time work at age 62 by 8.7 percentage points over the next 70 years. However, two leading proposals put forth by the Commission, model 2 and model 3, will offset almost half this trend, reducing retirement from full–time work at age 62 by roughly five and three percentage points, respectively. %B National Tax Journal %V 58 %P 27-49 %8 March %G eng %U https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=701296 %N 1 %0 Journal Article %J J Am Geriatr Soc %D 2005 %T Setting eligibility criteria for a care-coordination benefit. %A Christine T Cigolle %A Kenneth M. Langa %A Mohammed U Kabeto %A Caroline S Blaum %K Activities of Daily Living %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Case Management %K Chronic disease %K Cognition Disorders %K Comorbidity %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Disability Evaluation %K Disease Management %K Eligibility Determination %K Female %K Geriatric Assessment %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Medicare %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: To examine different clinically relevant eligibility criteria sets to determine how they differ in numbers and characteristics of individuals served.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of the 2000 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative longitudinal health interview survey of adults aged 50 and older.

SETTING: Population-based cohort of community-dwelling older adults, subset of an ongoing longitudinal health interview survey.

PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 65 and older who were respondents in the 2000 wave of the HRS (n=10,640, representing approximately 33.6 million Medicare beneficiaries).

MEASUREMENTS: Three clinical criteria sets were examined that included different combinations of medical conditions, cognitive impairment, and activity of daily living/instrumental activity of daily living (ADL/IADL) dependency.

RESULTS: A small portion of Medicare beneficiaries (1.3-5.8%) would be eligible for care coordination, depending on the criteria set chosen. A criteria set recently proposed by Congress (at least four severe complex medical conditions and one ADL or IADL dependency) would apply to 427,000 adults aged 65 and older in the United States. Criteria emphasizing cognitive impairment would serve an older population.

CONCLUSION: Several criteria sets for a Medicare care-coordination benefit are clinically reasonable, but different definitions of eligibility would serve different numbers and population groups of older adults.

%B J Am Geriatr Soc %I 53 %V 53 %P 2051-9 %8 2005 Dec %G eng %N 12 %L pubs_2005_Cigolle_etal.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16398887?dopt=Abstract %4 Chronic Disease/Cognition Disorders/ADL and IADL Impairments/Caregiving %$ 15640 %R 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.00496.x %0 Journal Article %J Obes Res %D 2005 %T Survival expectations of the obese: Is excess mortality reflected in perceptions? %A Tracy Falba %A Susan H. Busch %K Aged %K Body Mass Index %K Body Weight %K Diabetes Mellitus %K Female %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Hypertension %K Male %K Obesity %K Perception %K Retirement %K Smoking %K Surveys and Questionnaires %K Survival Rate %X

OBJECTIVE: This study compared self-reported subjective life expectancy (i.e., probability of living to age 75) for normal-weight, overweight, and obese weight groups to examine whether individuals are internalizing information about the health risks due to excessive weight.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, a total of 9035 individuals 51 to 61 years old were analyzed by BMI category. The primary outcome measure was individuals' reports about their own expectations of survival to age 75. Absolute and relative risks of survival were compared with published estimates of survival to age 75.

RESULTS: Consistently, higher levels of BMI were associated with lower self-estimated survival probabilities. Differences relative to normal weight ranged from 4.9% (p < 0.01) for male nonsmokers to 8.8% (p < 0.001) for female nonsmokers. However, these differences were substantially less than those obtained from published survival curve estimates, suggesting that obese individuals tended to underestimate mortality risks.

DISCUSSION: Individuals appeared to underestimate the mortality risks of excessive weight; thus, knowledge campaigns about the risks of obesity should remain a top priority.

%B Obes Res %I 13 %V 13 %P 754-61 %8 2005 Apr %G eng %N 4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15897485?dopt=Abstract %4 Health Behavior/Obesity/Life Expectancy/Subjective Probabilities of Survival/Survival %$ 14324 %R 10.1038/oby.2005.85 %0 Report %D 2004 %T Are Americans saving "optimally" for retirement? %A John Karl Scholz %A Ananth Seshadri %A Khitatrakun, Surachai %K life-cycle model %K Retirement %K Saving %X This paper examines the degree to which Americans are saving optimally for retirement. Our standard for assessing optimality comes from a life-cycle model that incorporates uncertain lifetimes, uninsurable earnings and medical expenses, progressive taxation, government transfers, and pension and social security benefit functions derived from rich household data. We solve every household''s decision problem from death to starting age and then use the decision rules in conjunction with earnings histories to make predictions about wealth in 1992. Ours is the first study to compare, household by household, wealth predictions that arise from a life-cycle model that incorporates earnings histories for a nationally representative sample. The results, based on data from the Health and Retirement Study, are striking we find that the model is capable of accounting for more than 80 percent of the 1992 cross-sectional variation in wealth. Fewer than 20 percent of households have less wealth than their optimal targets, and the wealth deficit of those who are undersaving is generally small. %B NBER Working Paper %I The National Bureau of Economic Research %C Cambridge, MA %G eng %R 10.3386/w10260 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 2004 %T Born to retire: the foreshortened life course. %A David J Ekerdt %K Adolescent %K Adult %K Aged %K Child %K Female %K Humans %K Investments %K Life Style %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Pensions %K Retirement %K Social Security %X

Retirement is no longer a concern solely for the second half of life. Rather, the idea that we will someday retire is increasingly present to all adults and it is even urged on adolescents. The earliest reaches of adulthood are being colonized by frequent reminders that it takes individual effort to achieve retirement. The changing nature of pensions, the identification of retirement saving with financial markets, the politics of Social Security, the aging baby boom generation, and the interests of a powerful industry and of government are daily compelling people's attention to retirement as a lifelong goal. With retirement as adulthood's great project of deferred gratification, the result could be greater personal readiness to retire but also some ironic outcomes, such as a stronger retirement norm, reluctance to spend on children, and outsized expectations for later life.

%B Gerontologist %I 44 %V 44 %P 3-9 %8 2004 Feb %G eng %N 1 %L pubs_2004_Ekerdt_TG.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14978315?dopt=Abstract %4 Retirement Behavior %$ 12572 %R 10.1093/geront/44.1.3 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2004 %T Honeymoons and joint lunches: effects of retirement and spouse's employment on depressive symptoms. %A Maximiliane E Szinovacz %A Adam Davey %K Adaptation, Psychological %K Aged %K Aging %K Data collection %K depression %K Employment %K Female %K Humans %K Life Change Events %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Mental Health %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Sex Factors %K Spouses %X

With hypotheses derived from a life course perspective in conjunction with life event stress and role theories, we examine whether a spouse's employment and length of retirement affect a person's postretirement depressive symptoms and whether such effects differ by gender. Analyses use pooled data from Waves 1-4 of the Health and Retirement Survey, using a subsample of married individuals who either remained continuously employed over time or completely retired since the Wave 1 interviews (N = 2,695). Recently retired men seem to be negatively affected by their spouses' continuous employment when compared with men whose wives were continuously not employed. In contrast, spouses' joint retirement has a beneficial influence on both recently retired and longer-retired men. However, for recently retired men, the positive effect of wives' retirement seems to be contingent on spouses' enjoyment of joint activities. Among women, effects of spouses' employment occur only among very recently retired wives (0-6 months). These wives report more depressive symptoms if their spouses were already nonemployed prior to wives' retirement. These results demonstrate the complexity of retirement adaptation processes and suggest that marital context plays an important role in retirement well-being.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 59B %V 59 %P P233-45 %8 2004 Sep %G eng %N 5 %L pubs_2004_szinovacz-Davey_Honeymoons.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15358796?dopt=Abstract %4 Spouses/Retirement Behavior/Depressive Symptoms/Gender Differences %$ 12522 %R 10.1093/geronb/59.5.p233 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Ind Med %D 2004 %T Involuntary job loss as a risk factor for subsequent myocardial infarction and stroke: findings from the Health and Retirement Survey. %A William T Gallo %A Elizabeth H Bradley %A Tracy Falba %A J. A. Dubin %A Cramer, L. %A Stanislav V Kasl %K Female %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Myocardial Infarction %K Prospective Studies %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Stress, Psychological %K Stroke %K Unemployment %K United States %X

BACKGROUND: The role of stress in the development of cardiovascular disease is well established. Previous research has demonstrated that involuntary job loss in the years immediately preceding retirement can be a stressful life event shown to produce adverse changes in physical and affective health. The objective of this study was to estimate the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke associated with involuntary job loss among workers nearing retirement in the United States.

METHODS: We used multivariable survival analysis to analyze data from the first four waves of the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS), a nationally representative sample of older individuals in the US. The analytic sample includes 457 workers who experienced job loss and a comparison group of 3,763 employed individuals.

RESULTS: The results indicate that involuntary job loss is not associated with subsequent risk of MI (adjusted HR = 1.89; 95% CI = 0.91, 3.93); the risk of subsequent stroke associated with involuntary job loss is more than double (adjusted HR = 2.64; 95% CI = 1.01, 6.94).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings present new data to suggest that involuntary job loss should be considered as a plausible risk factor for subsequent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular illness among older workers.

%B Am J Ind Med %I 45 %V 45 %P 408-16 %8 2004 May %G eng %N 5 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15095423?dopt=Abstract %4 Job Loss/Myocardial Infarction/Risk Factors %$ 13212 %R 10.1002/ajim.20004 %0 Journal Article %J Int J Aging Hum Dev %D 2004 %T Race, gender, and the retirement decisions of people ages 60 to 80: prospects for age integration in employment. %A Tay K. McNamara %A Williamson, John B. %K Age Distribution %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Black People %K Educational Status %K Employment %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Income %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Sex Distribution %K White People %X

UNLABELLED: Demographic projections have prompted concerns about the potential economic burden of an aging population. This article, drawing on the 1998 Health and Retirement Study, explores ways in which race, gender, and age moderate the effects of various factors on labor force participation among people ages 60 to 80. Key findings center on health, education, and non-wage income. First, the effect of low non-wage income is weaker at older ages due to higher levels of functional disability. Second, the effect of low education is stronger for women, who perceive their chances of finding employment as low. Third, the effect of health is weaker for blacks, as they are less likely to find steady employment regardless of health.

POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Employer flexibility in number of hours worked might make sense for workers close to retirement age, while job search and training programs might be preferable for workers past the typical retirement age.

%B Int J Aging Hum Dev %I 59 %V 59 %P 255-86 %8 2004 %G eng %N 3 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15566013?dopt=Abstract %4 Racial disparities/Labor Force Participation %$ 13692 %R 10.2190/GE24-03MX-U34P-AMNH %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2004 %T Retirement transitions and spouse disability: effects on depressive symptoms. %A Maximiliane E Szinovacz %A Adam Davey %K Activities of Daily Living %K Adaptation, Psychological %K Aged %K Caregivers %K Demography %K depression %K Disabled Persons %K Female %K Follow-Up Studies %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Spouses %K Surveys and Questionnaires %X

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of type of retirement (forced, early, abrupt) and spouse's disability on longitudinal change in depressive symptoms.

METHODS: The analyses rely on Waves 1-4 of the Health and Retirement Survey (N = 2,649). Generalized estimating equations models with bootstrapped standard errors and adjustment for survey design and non-independence of dyad members estimate effects of retirement, type of retirement, and spouse's disability on depressive symptoms, controlling for relevant covariates.

RESULTS: The results suggest that depressive symptoms increase when retirement is abrupt and perceived as too early or forced. Women retirees who stopped employment and were either forced into retirement or perceived their retirement as too early report significantly more depressive symptoms with increasing spouse activities of daily living (ADLs) limitations. There is no similar effect for men. In contrast, for working retirees who retired on time, depressive symptoms decrease with increasing spouse ADLs.

DISCUSSION: These results highlight the importance of retirement context on postretirement well-being. They suggest that both type of retirement transition and marital contexts such as spouse's disability influence postretirement well-being, and these effects differ by gender.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 59B %V 59 %P S333-42 %8 2004 Nov %G eng %N 6 %L pubs_2004_szinovacz_daveyJoG.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15576864?dopt=Abstract %4 Retirement Behavior/Spouse/Disability/Disability/Depressive Symptoms %$ 12402 %R 10.1093/geronb/59.6.s333 %0 Report %D 2004 %T Understanding Patterns of Social Security Benefit Receipt, Pensions Incomes, Retirement and Saving by Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Marital Status: A Structural Approach %A Alan L Gustman %A Thomas L. Steinmeier %K ethnicity %K gender %K pension incomes %K race %K Retirement %K Social Security %K Social Security Benefits %X In this paper we use data from the Health and Retirement Study to examine differences in retirement behavior, wealth, Social Security and pension benefits by race and gender. The differences observed among groups are sometimes substantial. We then estimate models jointly explaining retirement and wealth by race and gender. We decompose differences in outcomes into those due to differences in parameters of the preference function for leisure and goods, time preference rates, and those due to differences in the circumstances of the members of each group. By circumstances we mean both the opportunity set, and factors that determine the disutility of continued work, such as health status. We find that differences in outcomes among white, black and Hispanic males are not due to differences in preferences for leisure and goods consumption, but are due both to differences in time preference and to differences in circumstances. Differences in outcomes between men and women are primarily due to differences in preferences. Authors’ Acknowledgement This paper was supported by a grant from the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) to the Michigan Retirement Research Center, UM 03-13. The opinions and conclusions are solely those of the authors and should not be construed as representing the opinions or policy of SSA, the Michigan Retirement Research Center, or the National Bureau of Economic Research. Alan L. Gustman is Loren Berry Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College, Department of Economics, Hanover, N.H. 03755 (alan.l.gustman@dartmouth.edu). Thomas L. Steinmeier is Professor of Economics, Texas Tech University, Department of Economics, Lubbock, Texas 79409 (Thomas.Steinmeier@TTU.edu). %B Michigan Retirement Research Center Research Project %I Michigan Retirement Research Center %C Ann Arbor, MI %G eng %U https://mrdrc.isr.umich.edu/projects/understanding-patterns-of-social-security-benefit-receipt-pensions-incomes-retirement-and-saving-by-race-ethnicity-gender-and-marital-status-a-structured-approach/ %0 Journal Article %J Soz Praventivmed %D 2004 %T Workplace characteristics and work disability onset for men and women. %A Eileen M. Crimmins %A Mark D Hayward %K Disabled Persons %K Female %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Occupational Diseases %K Proportional Hazards Models %K Retirement %K Risk %K Sex Factors %K Sick Leave %K Stress, Psychological %K United States %K Workers' compensation %K Workload %K Workplace %X

OBJECTIVES: This paper investigates the association between job characteristics and work disability among men and women in older working ages in the United States. We examine whether the association persists when controlling for major chronic disease experience. We also address whether job characteristics are ultimately associated with the receipt of disability benefits.

METHODS: Data are from the Health and Retirement Survey and are nationally representative of noninstitutionalized persons 51-61 in 1992. Disability onset is estimated using a hazard modeling approach for those working at wave 1 (N = 5,999). A logistic regression analysis of disability benefits is based on a risk set of 525 persons who become work-disabled before the second interview.

RESULTS: Women's disability onset and health problems appear less related to job characteristics than men's. For men, work disability is associated with stressful jobs, lack of job control, and environmentally hazardous conditions but is not associated with physical demands. Participation in disability benefit programs among those with work disability is unrelated to most job characteristics or health conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: Understanding of the differing process to work disability for men and women and the relationship between work and health by gender is important for current policy development.

%B Soz Praventivmed %I 49 %V 49 %P 122-31 %8 2004 %G eng %N 2 %L newpubs20101112_Crimmins3.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15150864?dopt=Abstract %4 Disabled Persons/occupation/risk Factors/DISABILITY/DISABILITY/stress/environment/Job Characteristics/labor Force Participation %$ 23830 %R 10.1007/s00038-004-3105-z %0 Journal Article %J Int J Aging Hum Dev %D 2003 %T Determinants of self-perceived changes in health status among pre- and early-retirement populations. %A Namkee G Choi %K Activities of Daily Living %K Age Factors %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Health Status %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Multivariate Analysis %K Retirement %K Self Concept %K United States %X

Using data from the 1992 and 1994 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this study described reasons reported by pre- and early-retirement populations for perceived changes in global health status over a 2-year period. It then analyzed the association between self-perceptions of change and the actual changes in objective health conditions, controlling for demographics, emotional health status, and the changes in work status and health-affecting habits. The results were compared to the determinants of self-ratings of health at wave 2. Existing or increasing impairments in functional abilities were found to contribute to self-perceptions of decline. However, a diagnosis of new chronic disease and the experience of a major medical event per se did not universally contribute to self-perception of decline. The relationship between cross-sectional self-ratings of health and objective health conditions was more straightforward. Self-perception of improvement among people with serious health problems most likely owed to medical interventions and improvement in symptoms, the most frequently mentioned reasons for perceived improvement, and reflected the subjects' selective optimization and resiliency.

%B Int J Aging Hum Dev %I 56 %V 56 %P 197-222 %8 2003 %G eng %N 3 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14661813?dopt=Abstract %4 Health Status/Subjective %$ 12922 %R 10.2190/T8JD-1P30-6MFT-8WHA %0 Report %D 2003 %T Retirement Effects of Proposals by the President's Commision to Strengthen Social Security %A Alan L Gustman %A Thomas L. Steinmeier %K Retirement %K Social Security %X A structural dynamic model of retirement and saving is used to simulate the retirement effects of proposals made by the President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security. Provisions reducing the growth in real benefits and increasing actuarial incentives to work reduce retirements. They more than offset increases in retirements caused by individual accounts, increased benefits for low wage workers and survivors, and reductions in the top AIME bracket. By 2075, the Commission's proposals would reduce retirements at age 62 by roughly 4 percentage points, mitigating an 8.7 percentage point trend to earlier retirement projected to reassert itself after its recent interruption. %B National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series %I The National Bureau of Economic Research %C Cambridge, MA %V No. 10030 %G eng %U http://www.nber.org/papers/w10030 %0 Journal Article %J J Health Econ %D 2003 %T Sickness and preventive medical behavior. %A Stephen Wu %K Aged %K Anxiety %K Breast Self-Examination %K Cholesterol %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Health Expenditures %K Health Status %K Humans %K Influenza Vaccines %K Male %K Mammography %K Mass Screening %K Middle Aged %K Papanicolaou Test %K Patient Acceptance of Health Care %K Preventive Health Services %K Primary Prevention %K Prostatic Neoplasms %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Vaginal Smears %X

Using data from two sources, the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), I analyze the relationship between health status and the likelihood of engaging in medical screening and other preventive behavior. The results show that individuals who are in poorer health are more likely to get flu shots and cholesterol checks, but less likely to have mammograms, pap smears, breast examinations and prostate checks. There is some evidence that suggests that psychological factors such as fear and anxiety may be important reasons why sicker people are less likely to get cancer screens.

%B J Health Econ %I 22 %V 22 %P 675-89 %8 2003 Jul %G eng %N 4 %L pubs_2003_Wu_SHealthEcon.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12842321?dopt=Abstract %4 Health Status--physical, mental, and emotional/screening/prevention/anxiety %$ 11032 %R 10.1016/S0167-6296(03)00042-0 %0 Journal Article %J J Health Econ %D 2002 %T Breast cancer survival, work, and earnings. %A Cathy J. Bradley %A Bednarek, Heather %A David Neumark %K Breast Neoplasms %K Cohort Studies %K Diagnostic Tests, Routine %K Efficiency %K Employment %K Female %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Mammography %K Middle Aged %K Models, Econometric %K Probability %K Research Design %K Retirement %K Salaries and Fringe Benefits %K Social Security %K Survivors %K United States %K Women, Working %X

Relying on data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) linked to longitudinal social security earnings data, we examine differences between breast cancer survivors and a non-cancer control group in employment, hours worked, wages, and earnings. Overall, breast cancer has a negative impact on employment. However, among survivors who work, hours of work, wages, and earnings are higher compared to women in the control group. We explore possible biases underlying these estimates, focusing on selection, but cannot rule out a causal interpretation. Our research points to heterogeneous labor market responses to breast cancer, and shows that breast cancer does not appear to be debilitating for women who remain in the work force.

%B J Health Econ %I 21 %V 21 %P 757-79 %8 2002 Sep %G eng %N 5 %L pubs_2002_Bradley_CJHE.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12349881?dopt=Abstract %4 Breast Neoplasms/Economics/Mortality/Radiography/Cohort Studies/Diagnostic Tests, Routine/Efficiency/Employment/Economics/Statistics and Numerical Data/Female/Human/Longitudinal Studies/Mammography/Utilization/Middle Age/Models, Econometric/Probability/Research Design/Retirement/Salaries and Fringe Benefits/Statistics and Numerical Data/Social Security/Support, U.S. Government--PHS/Survivors/Statistics and Numerical Data/United States/Epidemiology/Women, Working/Statistics and Numerical Data %$ 4030 %R 10.1016/s0167-6296(02)00059-0 %0 Generic %D 2002 %T An evaluation of the retirement questions in the Health and Retirement Study %A Courtney Coile %A Gruber, Jonathan %K Health Insurance %K Pensions %K Retirement %K Social Security %I National Institute on Aging %C Bethesda, MD %0 Journal Article %J J Aging Health %D 2001 %T Predictors of transitions in disease and disability in pre- and early-retirement populations. %A Namkee G Choi %A Schlichting-Ray, L. %K Activities of Daily Living %K Aged %K Black or African American %K Chronic disease %K Disabled Persons %K Female %K Health Status %K Hispanic or Latino %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Sex Factors %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %K White People %X

OBJECTIVES: This study analyzed rates of prevalence and incidence of, and transitions in, disease and disability statuses of those aged 51 to 61 years and the predictors of the transition outcomes-remaining free of disease or disability, getting better, or getting worse-over a 2-year period.

METHODS: Data from the 1992 and 1994 interview waves of the Health and Retirement Study were used for gender-separate binary and multinomial logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS: Despite high prevalence and incidence rates of chronic disease and functional limitations, the improvement rates in disabilities were also high. For both genders, age, years of education, health-related behaviors, and comorbidity factors were significant predictors of the transition outcomes.

DISCUSSION: The significance of health-related behaviors as predictors of transitions suggests that lifestyle factors may have a bigger influence on this age group than on older groups.

%B J Aging Health %I 13 %V 13 %P 379-409 %8 2001 Aug %G eng %N 3 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11813732?dopt=Abstract %4 Activities of Daily Living/Blacks/Chronic Disease/Epidemiology/Disabled Persons/Female/Health Status/Hispanic Americans/Human/Middle Age/Retirement/Risk Factors/Sex Factors/Socioeconomic Factors/Support, U.S. Government--PHS/United States/Whites %$ 4035 %R 10.1177/089826430101300304 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2001 %T The role of job-related rewards in retirement planning. %A Karl Kosloski %A David J Ekerdt %A Stanley DeViney %K Career Mobility %K Decision making %K Employment %K Factor Analysis, Statistical %K Female %K Florida %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Interpersonal Relations %K Job Satisfaction %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Models, Psychological %K Planning Techniques %K Regression Analysis %K Retirement %K Reward %K Salaries and Fringe Benefits %K Sampling Studies %X

The authors used data from the first wave of the Health and Retirement Study ( F. Juster and R. Suzman 1995) to evaluate whether certain job-related gratifications might reduce retirement planning. Three definitions of retirement planning were evaluated and then regressed separately on a set of variables that included 3 types of job-related satisfactions (intrinsic gratification, positive social relations, and ascendance in the workplace) and 7 covariates: education, age, sex, health, marital status, race, and pension eligibility. Findings indicated that jobs high in ascendance were related to an increase in certain types of retirement planning, but jobs high in intrinsic rewards and positive social relations were related to less planning, regardless of how planning was defined. The findings suggest that information about work-related rewards may be useful in targeting individuals who might benefit from retirement planning programs, in developing planning programs to help workers realize more complex retirement plans, and in assisting employers who hope to retain older workers.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 56B %V 56 %P P160-9 %8 2001 May %G eng %N 3 %L pubs_1997_Kosloski_KJGSeriesB.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11316834?dopt=Abstract %4 Job Satisfaction/Retirement Planning/Health Status %$ 8460 %R 10.1093/geronb/56.3.p160 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2000 %T Health effects of involuntary job loss among older workers: findings from the health and retirement survey. %A William T Gallo %A Elizabeth H Bradley %A Michele J. Siegel %A Stanislav V Kasl %K Activities of Daily Living %K Adaptation, Psychological %K Aging %K Female %K Geriatric Assessment %K Health Status %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Unemployment %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the health consequences of involuntary job loss among older workers in the United States.

METHODS: Using longitudinal data from the 1992 and 1994 waves of the Health and Retirement Survey, multivariate regression models were estimated to assess the impact of involuntary job loss on both physical functioning and mental health. Our analysis sample included 209 workers who experienced involuntary job loss between survey dates and a comparison group of 2,907 continuously employed workers.

RESULTS: The effects of late-life involuntary job loss on both follow-up physical functioning and mental health were negative and statistically significant (p < .05), even after baseline health status and sociodemographic factors were controlled for. Among displaced workers, reemployment was positively associated with both follow-up physical functioning and mental health, whereas the duration of joblessness was not significantly associated with either outcome.

DISCUSSION: The findings provide evidence of a causal relationship between job loss and morbidity among older workers. This relationship is reflected in both poorer physical functioning and mental health for workers who experience involuntary job loss. In addition to the economic consequences of worker displacement, there may be important health consequences of job loss, especially among older workers.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 55B %V 55 %P S131-40 %8 2000 May %G eng %N 3 %L pubs_2000_Gallo_etal.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11833981?dopt=Abstract %4 Labor Force/Personnel Downsizing/Health Status/Economic Status %$ 8356 %R 10.1093/geronb/55.3.s131 %0 Journal Article %J J Health Econ %D 2000 %T Health insurance and retirement behavior: evidence from the health and retirement survey. %A Jeannette Rogowski %A Lynn A Karoly %K Aged %K Career Mobility %K Data collection %K Decision making %K Employment %K Health Services Accessibility %K Humans %K Insurance, Health %K Male %K Retirement %K Social Class %K United States %X

This paper studies the role of health insurance in the retirement decisions of older workers. As policymakers consider mechanisms for how to increase access to affordable health insurance for the near elderly, considerations of the potential labor force implications of such policies will be important to consider--potentially inducing retirements just at a time when the labor force is shrinking. Using data from the 1992 and 1996 waves of the Health and Retirement Survey, this study demonstrates that access to post-retirement health insurance has a large effect on retirement. Among older male workers, those with retiree health benefit offers are 68% more likely to retire (and those with non-employment based insurance are 44% more likely to retire) than their counterparts who would lose employment-based health insurance upon retirement. In addition, the study demonstrated that in retirement models, when retiree health benefits are controlled for, the effects of pension coverage are reduced, suggesting that these effects may have been overestimated in the prior literature.

%B J Health Econ %I 19 %V 19 %P 529-39 %8 2000 Jul %G eng %N 4 %L pubs_2000_Rogowski_JJHE.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11010239?dopt=Abstract %4 Retirement/Retirement Policies/Analysis of Health Care Markets/Insurance/Insurance Companies/Elderly/Health Insurance/Health/Insurance/Older Workers/Retirement %$ 1022 %R 10.1016/s0167-6296(00)00038-2 %0 Journal Article %J Prev Med %D 2000 %T Health-promoting behaviors among adults with type 2 diabetes: findings from the Health and Retirement Study. %A Nothwehr, F. %A Timothy E. Stump %K Adult %K Behavior Therapy %K Black or African American %K Data collection %K Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 %K Diet, Diabetic %K Exercise %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Hispanic or Latino %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K White People %X

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes has an enormous impact on the health care system and individuals. Dietary habits, exercise, weight management, and smoking status are critical to management and prevention of complications. This study describes the prevalence of these behaviors and their change over time in a national sample of adults with type 2 diabetes. The relationships between behavior change and sociodemographic and health status measures are explored.

METHODS: Data are from the first and third longitudinal waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Surveys were conducted face-to-face or via telephone in 1992 and 1996.

RESULTS: The sample consisted of 733 persons with type 2 diabetes, ages 50-62. The most common behaviors were being on a special diet (79.6%), and not smoking (76.6%). Sixty-six percent were engaged in some physical activity, and 58.4% were trying to lose weight. Reports of being on a special diet, trying to lose weight, and exercising all diminished over time.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of these behaviors is disappointing. Worse, they declined over the 4-year period. A better understanding of factors contributing to a person's decision to begin or discontinue health-promoting behaviors is needed to plan effective supportive or preemptive interventions.

%B Prev Med %I 30 %V 30 %P 407-14 %8 2000 May %G eng %N 5 %L pubs_2000_Nothwehr_FPrevMed.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10845750?dopt=Abstract %4 Adult/Behavior Therapy/Blacks/Diabetes Mellitus, Non Insulin Dependent/Diabetic Diet/Exercise/Female/Health Behavior/Hispanic Americans/Longitudinal Studies/Middle Age/Whites %$ 4130 %R 10.1006/pmed.2000.0658 %0 Journal Article %J J Women Aging %D 2000 %T Nativity and older women's health: constructed reliance in the health and retirement study. %A Cynthia J. Buckley %A Jacqueline L. Angel %A Donahue, Dennis %K Aged %K Emigration and Immigration %K ethnicity %K Female %K Florida %K Health Status %K Humans %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Social Support %K Socioeconomic factors %K Women's Health %X

Gender and nativity are known risk factors for physical and economic dependency. Immigrant women are particularly disadvantaged because of their greater lack of social and economic resources. In this study, we investigate how women immigrants coordinate and utilize various support systems as they approach retirement age, as well as how choices and constraints affect their physical wellbeing. Experiences throughout the life course play a role in the maintenance of health, but the pre-retirement years are particularly crucial to the establishment of patterns of reliance to be used in later life. We examine the effects of economic resources, social support, and family ties (as well as several exogenous variables) on women's physical health using data from the Health and Retirement Survey. For the women in this study, demographic characteristics, such as Hispanic ethnicity and low education are strong risk factors for poor health. Findings also indicate that reliance patterns across resource domains do not differ significantly by nativity and that both economic and familial resource access significantly lessens the risk of poor health for both native and foreign born women.

%B J Women Aging %I 12 %V 12 %P 21-37 %8 2000 %G eng %N 3-4 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11151352?dopt=Abstract %4 Females/Immigrants/Health/Support Networks/Social Support/Family Relations/Socioeconomic Factors/Retirement %$ 1248 %R 10.1300/J074v12n03_03 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2000 %T Pathways to retirement: patterns of labor force participation and labor market exit among the pre-retirement population by race, Hispanic origin, and sex. %A Chenoa Flippen %A Tienda, Marta %K Aged %K Black or African American %K Cross-Cultural Comparison %K Employment %K Female %K Hispanic or Latino %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Personnel Downsizing %K Regression Analysis %K Retirement %K Sex Factors %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %K White People %X

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the pre-retirement labor force participation behavior of Black, White, and Hispanic men and women to determine how patterns of labor market exit differ among groups.

METHODS: We combine data from the first and second waves of the Health and Retirement Study and apply multinomial logit regression techniques to model labor force status in the first wave of the HRS and change over time.

RESULTS: Black, Hispanic, and female elderly persons experience more involuntary job separation in the years immediately prior to retirement, and the resulting periods of joblessness often eventuate in "retirement" or labor force withdrawal. Minority disadvantage in human capital, health, and employment characteristics accounts for a large part of racial and ethnic differences in labor force withdrawal. Nevertheless, Black men and Hispanic women experience more involuntary labor market exits than Whites with similar socioeconomic and demographic characteristics.

DISCUSSION: Workers most vulnerable to labor market difficulties during their youth confront formidable obstacles maintaining their desired level of labor force attachment as they approach their golden years. This has significant policy implications for the contours of gender and race/ethnic inequality among elderly persons, particularly as life expectancy and the size of the minority elderly population continue to increase.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 55B %V 55 %P S14-27 %8 2000 Jan %G eng %N 1 %L pubs_2000_Flippen_CJGSeriesB.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10728126?dopt=Abstract %4 Labor Force Participation/Health Status/Economic Status/Retirement Planning/Basic Demographics %$ 8376 %R 10.1093/geronb/55.1.s14 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 1999 %T At risk on the cusp of old age: living arrangements and functional status among black, white and Hispanic adults. %A Linda J. Waite %A Mary Elizabeth Hughes %K Activities of Daily Living %K Aging %K Black or African American %K Cultural Characteristics %K Family Relations %K Female %K Hispanic or Latino %K Housing %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Quality of Life %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K White People %X

OBJECTIVES: We examine the relationship between living arrangements and multiple measures of physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning in late midlife.

METHODS: Using cross-sectional data from the Health and Retirement Study, we first assess the bivariate relationship between living arrangements and functioning; we then take into account demographic characteristics and measures of household resources and demands.

RESULTS: We find evidence of differential functioning among individuals in various living arrangements. Married couples living alone or with children show the highest levels of functioning, whereas single adults living in complex households show the lowest levels. Functional deficits for those in complex households are reduced but not eliminated when we take demographic characteristics and household resources and demands into account. We find few differences by gender and race/ethnicity in the relationship between living arrangements and functioning.

DISCUSSION: We show a pattern of poorer functioning among those in arguably the most demanding and least supportive household environments. This points to a vulnerable and risk-filled transition from middle to old age for these persons. Because Blacks and Hispanics show lower levels of functioning than Whites and are more likely to live in complex households, they may be particularly disadvantaged.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 54B %V 54 %P S136-44 %8 1999 May %G eng %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10363044?dopt=Abstract %N 3 %L pubs_1999_Waite_LJGSeriesB.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10363044?dopt=Abstract %4 Aging/Ethnicity/Gender/Cultural Characteristics/Family Relations/Housing/Middle Age/Quality of Life/Retirement/Risk Factors/Support, Non U.S. Government/Support, U.S. Government--PHS %$ 4200 %R 10.1093/geronb/54b.3.s136 %0 Journal Article %J Soc Secur Bull %D 1999 %T Characteristics of individuals with integrated pensions. %A Bender, K A %K Bias %K Data collection %K Educational Status %K ethnicity %K Female %K Humans %K Income %K Labor Unions %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Occupations %K Pensions %K Regression Analysis %K Reproducibility of Results %K Retirement %K Sex Factors %K Social Security %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %X

Employer pensions that integrate benefits with Social Security have been the focus of relatively little research. Since changes in Social Security benefit levels and other program characteristics can affect the benefit levels and other features of integrated pension plans, it is important to know who is covered by these plans. This article examines the characteristics of workers covered by integrated pension plans, compared to those with nonintegrated plans and those with no pension coverage. Integrated pension plans are those that explicitly adjust their benefit structure to help compensate for the employer's contributions to the Social Security program. There are two basic integration methods used by defined benefit (DB) plans. The offset method causes a reduction in employer pension benefits by up to half of the Social Security retirement benefit; the excess rate method is characterized by an accrual rate that is lower for earnings below the Social Security taxable maximum than above it. Defined contribution (DC) pension plans can be integrated along the lines of the excess rate method. To date, research on integrated pensions has focused on plan characteristics, as reported to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) through its Employee Benefits Survey (EBS). This research has examined the prevalence of integration among full-time, private sector workers by industry, firm size, and broad occupational categories. However, because the EBS provides virtually no data on worker characteristics, analyses of the effects of pension integration on retirement benefits have used hypothetical workers, varying according to assumed levels of earnings and job tenure. This kind of analysis is not particularly helpful in examining the potential effects of changes in the Social Security program on workers' pension benefits. However, data on pension integration at the individual level are available, most recently from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative survey of individuals aged 51-61 in 1992. This dataset provides the basis for the analysis presented here. The following are some of the major findings from this analysis. The incidence of pension integration in the HRS sample is 32 percent of all workers with a pension (14 percent of all workers). The HRS can also identify integrated DC plans, a statistic that is not available from BLS data. The rate of integration for workers with only DC plans is 8 percent. After controlling for other variables, several socio-demographic characteristics are significantly related to the incidence of integration. The probability of having an integrated pension is 4.6 percentage points less for men compared to women. Non-Hispanic blacks are 6.4 percentage points less likely than non-Hispanic whites to have integrated pensions. Union members are 14 percentage points less likely to have integrated pensions, while workers with less than a graduate level education are at least 15 percentage points more likely to have a pension that is integrated. Some earnings and pension characteristics are also significantly correlated with pension integration. Earnings are positively related, with the probability of having an integrated pension increasing by 2 percentage points for an increase of $1,000 in annual pay. An even larger effect comes from earning at or above the Social Security taxable maximum. Workers at or above this income level are 10 percentage points more likely to have an integrated plan, but for those with more than one plan the probability of pension integration goes up by 13 percentage points.

%B Soc Secur Bull %I 49 %V 62 %P 28-40 %8 1999 %G eng %N 3 %L newpubs20090302_BenderQJEF.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10732369?dopt=Abstract %3 10732369 %4 Pensions/Pension Plans %$ 19810 %0 Journal Article %J J Health Econ %D 1999 %T Health problems as determinants of retirement: are self-rated measures endogenous? %A Debra S. Dwyer %A Olivia S. Mitchell %K Health Services Research %K Health Status Indicators %K Humans %K Male %K Models, Statistical %K Retirement %K Self-Assessment %K United States %X

We explore alternative measures of unobserved health status in order to identify effects of mental and physical capacity for work on older men's retirement. Traditional self-ratings of poor health are tested against more objectively measured instruments. Using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we find that health problems influence retirement plans more strongly than do economic variables. Specifically, men in poor overall health expected to retire one to two years earlier, an effect that persists after correcting for potential endogeneity of self-rated health problems. The effects of detailed health problems are also examined in depth.

%B J Health Econ %I 18 %V 18 %P 173-93 %8 1999 Apr %G eng %N 2 %L pubs_1999_Dwyer_DJHE.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10346352?dopt=Abstract %4 Retirement/Retirement Policies/Health Production--Nutrition, Mortality, Morbidity, Disability, and Economic Behavior/Health Status/Retirement Planning %$ 1196 %R 10.1016/s0167-6296(98)00034-4 %0 Journal Article %J EBRI Issue Brief %D 1999 %T Retirement patterns and bridge jobs in the 1990s. %A Joseph F. Quinn %K Aged %K Attitude %K Career Mobility %K Data collection %K Employment %K Female %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Multivariate Analysis %K Retirement %K United States %X

During most of the post-World War II period, American men have been leaving the labor force at earlier and earlier ages. Evidence suggests that this trend has been under way for more than a century. However, in the mid-1980s, this trend came to an abrupt halt. Male labor force participation rates have been flat since 1985, and have actually increased over the past several years. Understanding these issues is especially important given the looming increase in the Social Security normal retirement age to 67 and the possibility of even more increases in the ages of eligibility under Social Security and Medicare reform. Because of the influx of married women into the labor market in the post-World War II period, older women's participation rates did not decline as men's did. In contrast, their rates were relatively steady, rising or falling very slowly. Since the mid-1980s, however, older women's participation rates have increased significantly. Many more older men and women are working today than the pre-1986 trends would have suggested. Many older Americans leave the labor force gradually, utilizing "bridge jobs" between employment on a full-time career job and complete labor force withdrawal. These bridge jobs are often part-time, often in a new line of work, and sometimes involve a switch from wage and salary work to self-employment. Estimates suggest that between one-third and one-half of older Americans will work on a bridge job before retiring completely, and for these workers retirement is best viewed as a process, not as a single event. These changes in retirement behavior are consistent with societal changes that have altered the relative attractiveness of work and leisure late in life. Mandatory retirement has been outlawed for most American workers. Social Security has become more age-neutral, no longer penalizing the average worker who wants to continue working after age 65. An increasing proportion of employer pension coverage has been in defined contribution plans, which do not contain the age-specific retirement incentives that many defined benefit plans do. The composition of jobs has shifted from manufacturing to service occupations. Americans are living longer and healthier lives, and many look forward to years to productive activity after age 65. These structural changes have been accompanied by an important cyclical factor: the strength of the American economy over the past decade. This has increased the demand for all types of labor, including older workers. Evidence suggests that there is more than this cyclical factor at work, however, and that new attitudes about work late in life are developing. Labor supply decisions late in life are correlated in expected ways with the individual's health (measured in several ways), age, and pension and health insurance status. Retirement patterns in America are much richer and more varied than the stereotypical one-step view of retirement suggests. Public policy is changing in ways that make continued work late in life more likely. If employers are willing to provide flexible job opportunities to meet the needs of these potential employees, then society can tap a growing pool of older, experienced, and willing workers for years to come.

%B EBRI Issue Brief %I Employee Benefit Research Institute %C Washington, D.C. %P 1-22 %8 1999 Feb %G eng %N 206 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10387179?dopt=Abstract %4 Labor Force Participation/Health Status/Health Insurance Coverage/Retirement Planning %$ 8300 %0 Journal Article %J Arthritis Rheum %D 1999 %T Transitions in employment, morbidity, and disability among persons ages 51-61 with musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal conditions in the US, 1992-1994. %A Yelin, Edward %A Laura S. Trupin %A Sebesta, D.S. %K Chronic disease %K Disability Evaluation %K Disabled Persons %K Employment %K Female %K Humans %K Incidence %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Morbidity %K Musculoskeletal Diseases %K Prevalence %K Retirement %K United States %X

OBJECTIVE: To provide estimates of the prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions in a sample of persons ages 51-61 living in the community in the US in 1992, to indicate the incidence of such conditions between 1992 and 1994, and to describe the proportion of individuals with these conditions who developed or recovered from disability and who left and entered employment during this time.

METHODS: The estimates were derived from the Health and Retirement Survey, consisting of data on a national probability sample of 8,739 persons, ages 51-61, who were interviewed in the community in 1992 and reinterviewed in 1994.

RESULTS: In 1992, 62.4% of persons (14.4 million) between the ages of 51 and 61 years reported at least 1 musculoskeletal condition; the rate increased to 70.5% by 1994. More than 40% of persons with musculoskeletal conditions reported disability, which was almost 90% of all persons with disability in this age group. Persons with musculoskeletal conditions had lower employment rates, were less likely to enter employment, and were more likely to leave employment compared with persons without these conditions. High rates of disability account for much of these differences.

CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal conditions affected more than two-thirds of persons ages 51-61 and accounted for all but 10% of those with disabilities. The prevention of disability among such persons should improve their employment prospects.

%B Arthritis Rheum %I 42 %V 42 %P 769-79 %8 1999 Apr %G eng %N 4 %L pubs_1999_Yelin_EArth.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10211893?dopt=Abstract %4 Chronic Disease/Disability Evaluation/Disabled Persons/Employment/Retirement/Musculoskeletal Diseases %$ 8644 %R 10.1002/1529-0131(199904)42:4<769::AID-ANR22>3.0.CO;2-M %0 Journal Article %J Med Care %D 1998 %T Life transitions and health insurance coverage of the near elderly. %A Frank A Sloan %A Conover, C.J. %K Death %K Employment %K health policy %K Health Services Research %K Health Status Indicators %K Humans %K Insurance Coverage %K Life Change Events %K Medicaid %K Medically Uninsured %K Medicare %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Spouses %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: This study addresses three issues. (1) What are demographic wealth, employment, and health characteristics of near-elderly persons losing or acquiring health insurance coverage? Specifically, (2) what are the effects of life transitions, including changes in employment status, health, and marital status? (3) To what extent do public policies protect such persons against coverage loss, including various state policies recently implemented to increase access to insurance?

METHODS: The authors used the 1992 and 1994 waves of the Health and Retirement Study to analyze coverage among adults aged 51 to 64 years.

RESULTS: One in five near-elderly persons experienced a change in insurance coverage from 1992 to 1994. Yet, there was no significant change in the mix of coverage as those losing one form of coverage were replaced by others acquiring similar coverage.

CONCLUSIONS: Individuals whose health deteriorated significantly were not more likely than others to suffer a subsequent loss of coverage, due to substitution of retiree or individual coverage for those losing private coverage and acquisition of Medicaid and Medicare coverage for one in five uninsured. State policies to increase access to private health insurance generally did not prevent individuals from losing coverage or allow the uninsured to gain coverage. Major determinants of the probability of being insured were education, employment status of person and spouse, and work disability status. Other measures of health and functional status did not affect the probability of being insured, but had important impacts on the probability of having public coverage, conditional on being insured.

%B Med Care %I 36 %V 36 %P 110-25 %8 1998 Feb %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9475467?dopt=Abstract %4 Socioeconomic Factors/Wealth/Health Status/Health Insurance Coverage/Employment/Marital Status/Disability/Disability/Medicare/Medicaid/Public Policy %$ 4280 %R 10.1097/00005650-199802000-00002 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Public Health %D 1998 %T Occupational injuries among older workers with disabilities: a prospective cohort study of the Health and Retirement Survey, 1992 to 1994. %A Zwerling, Craig %A Nancy L. Sprince %A Charles S. Davis %A Paul S. Whitten %A Robert B Wallace %A Steven G Heeringa %K Accidents, Occupational %K Age Distribution %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Analysis of Variance %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Disabled Persons %K Female %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Logistic Models %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Odds Ratio %K Prospective Studies %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: We tested the hypothesis that among older workers, disabilities in general, and hearing and visual impairments in particular, are risk factors for occupational injuries.

METHODS: Using the first 2 interviews of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative survey of Americans aged 51 to 61 years, we conducted a prospective cohort study of 5600 employed nonfarmers.

RESULTS: Testing a logistic regression model developed in a previous cross-sectional study, we found that the following occupations and risk factors were associated with occupational injury as estimated by odds ratios: service personnel, odds ratio = 1.71 (95% confidence interval = 1.13, 2.57); mechanics and repairers, 3.47 (1.98, 6.10); operators and assemblers, 2.33 (1.51, 3.61); laborers, 3.16 (1.67, 5.98); jobs requiring heavy lifting, 2.05 (1.55, 2.70); self-employment, 0.50 (0.34, 0.73); and self-reported disability, 1.58 (1.14, 2.19). Replacing the general disability variable with specific hearing and visual impairment variables, we found that poor hearing (1.35 [0.95, 1.93]) and poor sight (1.45 [0.94, 2.22]) both had elevated odds ratios.

CONCLUSIONS: Poor sight and poor hearing, as well as work disabilities in general, are associated with occupational injuries among older workers.

%B Am J Public Health %I 88 %V 88 %P 1691-5 %8 1998 Nov %G eng %U https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9807538/ %N 11 %L pubs_1998_Zwerling_CAJPH.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9807538?dopt=Abstract %4 Labor/Occupational Injury/Health Status/Basic Demographics/Health Behaviors/Risk Factors/Disability/Disability %$ 8152 %R 10.2105/ajph.88.11.1691 %0 Report %D 1998 %T Pensions and Productivity %A Dorsey, Stuart %A Cornwell, Christopher %A David A. Macpherson %K Health Insurance %K labor market %K Pensions %K Retirement %K wages %I Kalamazoo MI, W.E. Upjohn Institute %G eng %4 Pensions %$ 6544 %R 10.17848/9780585277417 %0 Report %D 1998 %T Retirement Wealth Accumulation and Decumulation: New Developments and Outstanding Opportunities %A Olivia S. Mitchell %A James Moore %K Money %K Retirement %K Retirement wealth %K Wealth %X Analysts have raised questions about current workers' ability and inclination to save" enough for retirement. This issue is of obvious policy interest given the current debate over" reforming national retirement income programs. This paper explores the implications of recent" research regarding retirement wealth accumulation and decumulation for this debate. Our goal is" to identify problems and opportunities in the area of preparedness for retirement." %I NBER %G eng %U http://www.nber.org/papers/w6178 %R 10.3386/w6178 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Public Health %D 1997 %T Do smokers understand the mortality effects of smoking? Evidence from the Health and Retirement Survey. %A Michael Schoenbaum %K Cognition %K Female %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Life Tables %K Longevity %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Retirement %K Risk %K Sex Factors %K Smoking %K Survival Analysis %X

OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether smokers recognize that smoking is likely to shorten their lives and, if so, whether they understand the magnitude of this effect.

METHODS: People's expectations about their chances of reaching age 75 were compared with epidemiological predictions from life tables for never, former, current light, and current heavy smokers. Data on expectations of reaching age 75 came from the Health and Retirement Survey, a national probability sample of adults aged 50 through 62 years. Predictions came from smoking-specific life tables constituted from the 1986 National Mortality Followback Survey and the 1985 and 1987 National Health Interview Surveys.

RESULTS: Among men and women, the survival expectations of never, former, and current light smokers were close to actual predictions. However, among current heavy smokers, expectations of reaching age 75 were nearly twice as high as actuarial predictions.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that at least heavy smokers significantly underestimate their risk of premature mortality.

%B Am J Public Health %I 87 %V 87 %P 755-9 %8 1997 May %G eng %N 5 %L pubs_1997_Schoenbaum_MAJPH.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9184501?dopt=Abstract %4 Actuarial Analysis/Cognition/Female/Health Surveys/Life Tables/Longevity/Middle Age/Retirement/Sex Factors/Smoking/Mortality/Support, Non U.S. Government/Support, U.S. Government--PHS/Survival Analysis %$ 4160 %R 10.2105/ajph.87.5.755 %0 Journal Article %J J Rheumatol %D 1997 %T The earnings, income, and assets of persons aged 51-61 with and without musculoskeletal conditions. %A Yelin, Edward %K Comorbidity %K Data collection %K Disabled Persons %K Economics %K Female %K Health Services Research %K Humans %K Income %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Musculoskeletal Diseases %K Retirement %X

OBJECTIVE: To describe the personal and family earnings, income, and assets of persons with musculoskeletal conditions.

METHODS: This study uses the Health and Retirement Survey, a national, community based probability sample of persons 51-61 years of age and their spouses in 1992 to estimate earnings, income, and assets (by kind) in the years immediately prior to the normal age of retirement.

RESULTS: Fifty-nine percent of persons 51-61 years of age (13.76 million) report one or more musculoskeletal condition; of these 38% (8.74 million) also report at least one comorbid condition and 21% (5.02 million) report no such comorbidity. Persons with musculoskeletal conditions and comorbidity report 18% lower family earnings, 15% lower family income, and 35% fewer assets than the average among all persons these ages. Persons with musculoskeletal conditions and no comorbidity have earnings, incomes, and assets closer to the average among their peers.

CONCLUSION: Persons with musculoskeletal conditions and comorbidity have lower earnings and incomes now and fewer assets with which to face the future than the remainder of their peers.

%B J Rheumatol %I 24 %V 24 %P 2024-30 %8 1997 Oct %G eng %U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9330948 %N 10 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9330948?dopt=Abstract %4 Comorbidity/Data Collection/Disabled Persons/Economics/Female/Health Services Research/Economics/Human/Income/Middle Age/Musculoskeletal Diseases/Economics/Retirement/Economics/Support, U.S. Government--PHS %$ 4380 %0 Journal Article %J EBRI Issue Brief %D 1997 %T Employee benefits, retirement patterns, and implications for increased work life. %A Fronstin, Paul %K Age Factors %K Aged %K Employment %K Female %K Health Benefit Plans, Employee %K Health Status Indicators %K Humans %K Male %K Medicare %K Middle Aged %K Pensions %K Private Sector %K Retirement %K Social Security %K United States %X

This Issue Brief examines why policymakers are concerned about the trend toward early retirement and how it relates to Social Security, Medicare, and employee health and retirement benefits. It reviews the rationale for the effects of economic incentives on early retirement decisions and includes a summary of empirical literature on the retirement process. It presents data on how employee benefits influence workers' expected retirement patterns. Finally, it examines the implications of public policies to reverse early-retirement trends and raise the eligibility age for Social Security and Medicare. An employee Benefit Research Institute/Gallup survey indicates that there is a direct link between a worker's decision to retire early and the availability of retiree health benefits. In 1993, 61 percent of workers reported that they would not retire before becoming eligible for Medicare if their employer did not provide retiree health benefits. Participation in a pension plan can be an important determinant of retirement. Twenty-one percent of pension plan participants planned to stop working before age 65, compared with 12 percent among nonparticipants. Workers whose primary pension plan was a defined benefit plan were more likely to expect to stop working before age 65 (23 percent) than workers whose primary plan was a defined contribution plan (18 percent). Expected income replacement rates effect retirement patterns, indicating that as the expected replacement increases, the probability of expecting to stop working before age 65 increases. Twenty-two percent of workers with an expected income replacement rate below 60 percent expected to stop working before age 65, compared with 29 percent for those in the 60-69 percent replacement range, and 30 percent for those in the 70-79 percent replacement range. Workers expecting to receive retiree health insurance are more likely to expect to stop working before age 65 than workers who do not expect to have retiree health insurance. Twenty-one percent of workers with retiree health insurance expected to stop working before age 65, compared with 12 percent of workers not expecting to receive retiree health insurance. The Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) program depends on obtaining sufficient revenue from active workers' payroll taxes to fund the benefits received by retired beneficiaries. Funding the program in the past was in large part effortless because of the relatively large number of workers per retiree. Today, funding the program is a greater challenge because the ratio of workers to retirees has fallen. Policymakers have been able to agree that reform of the program is necessary for its survival; however, the debate over options to reform the program is just beginning, and it is likely to be a long time before a consensus emerges.

%B EBRI Issue Brief %I No. 184 %P 1-23 %8 1997 Apr %G eng %U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10166809 %N 184 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10166809?dopt=Abstract %4 Labor Force/Net Worth/Health Insurance Coverage/Retirement Behavior/Economic Status/Public Policy %$ 8108 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 1997 %T Expectations of nursing home use in the Health and Retirement Study: the role of gender, health, and family characteristics. %A Karen C. Holden %A Timothy D McBride %A Maria Perozek %K Aged %K Black or African American %K Female %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Nursing homes %K Patient Satisfaction %K Retirement %K Sex Characteristics %K White People %X

Economic models of life cycle behavior suggest that expectations about future events may affect savings, insurance, and retirement planning. This article uses data from the first wave of the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) to examine how personal characteristics and health conditions influence expectations of nursing home use. Subjective expectations of nursing home use are quite close to known probabilities of lifetime use. There are marked differences in the determinants of expectations for women and men that also conform to actual behavior. There is strong evidence that women and men incorporate what is known about nursing home risk into their own expectations, even many years prior to the time when they are most likely to need long-term care.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 52B %V 52 %P S240-51 %8 1997 Sep %G eng %U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9310096 %N 5 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9310096?dopt=Abstract %4 Nursing Homes/Family Characteristics/Gender/Health Status %$ 8094 %R 10.1093/geronb/52b.5.s240 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 1996 %T Complex marital histories and economic well-being: the continuing legacy of divorce and widowhood as the HRS cohort approaches retirement. %A Karen C. Holden %A Kuo, H.H. %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Divorce %K Female %K Humans %K Life Tables %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Poverty %K Retirement %K United States %K Widowhood %X

We use data from the first wave of the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS) to examine the marital histories of this cohort of women and men on the verge of retirement. The legacy of past increases in divorce rates is evident in the complex marital histories of HRS households and the relationship between those histories and current economic status. Couples in a first marriage now make up only one-quarter of black households and fewer than half of all white and Hispanic households. In over one-third of all married-couple households, at least one spouse had a previous marriage that ended in divorce or widowhood. These couples have significantly lower incomes and assets than couples in first marriages. Contrary to the popular notion that private and public insurance better provide for the security of widows than divorced persons, currently widowed households and couples in which the prior marriage of one spouse had ended in widowhood are no better off than are their divorced peers. This holds true for both black and white households. From a single cross-section, one cannot tell what caused these differences in income and wealth across marital status groups although it is clear that women and blacks spend a higher percentage of their lifetime outside of marriage than do men and whites. We also speculate from estimates of widowhood expectations for a subset of married respondents that underestimating the chances of widowhood--because both men and women overestimate their chances of joint survival--may be a factor in the relatively low economic status of widows. Because couples in life-long marriages have been the traditional standard upon which marital property reform and the survivorship rules of private and public programs are based, their diminishing importance among all households raises concern about the protection provided by these institutions against the long-term economic consequences of past and future marital dissolution.

%B Gerontologist %I 36 %V 36 %P 383-90 %8 1996 Jun %G eng %N 3 %L pubs_1996_Holden_KGer.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8682336?dopt=Abstract %4 Cross Sectional Studies/Divorce/Female/Human/Life Tables/Middle Age/Poverty/Retirement/Support, Non U.S. Government/Support, U.S. Government--PHS/United States/Widowhood %$ 4175 %R 10.1093/geront/36.3.383 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 1996 %T Minority perspectives from the Health and Retirement Study. Introduction: health and retirement among ethnic and racial minority groups. %A James S Jackson %A Lockery, Shirley A. %A Juster, F. Thomas %K Aged %K Health Status %K Humans %K Minority Groups %K Prospective Studies %K Quality of Life %K Retirement %K United States %B Gerontologist %I 36 %V 36 %P 282-4 %8 1996 Jun %G eng %N 3 %L pubs_1996_Jackson_JGer.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8682326?dopt=Abstract %4 Health Status/Human/Minority Groups/Prospective Studies/Quality of Life/Retirement/United States %$ 4210 %R 10.1093/geront/36.3.282 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 1996 %T Physical function among retirement-aged African American men and women. %A Daniel O. Clark %A Christopher M. Callahan %A Mungai, S.M. %A Frederic D Wolinsky %K Black or African American %K Female %K Health Behavior %K Health Status %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Models, Theoretical %K Odds Ratio %K Retirement %K United States %X

Prior attempts to identify factors associated with physical function (here, major lower body movements) among African Americans have been constrained by a narrow range of measures, small sample sizes, or both. The 1992 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) contains a substantial over-sample of African Americans (649 men and 957 women self-respondents aged 51 to 61 years), and detailed measures of high-risk behaviors, disease prevalence and severity, impairment, and physical function. We extend the natural history of disease to the natural history of functional status and model sociodemographic characteristics, high-risk behaviors, disease prevalence and severity, and impairments as direct and indirect influences on physical function in this African American sample. This natural history of functional status model fits the data well for both men (ROC = .88) and women (ROC = .83), although there are gender differences. Slightly over one-half of the women report some difficulty in physical function, compared with one-third of the men. Women also have a higher mean body-mass and report a greater prevalence and severity in 6 of 9 chronic diseases and more pain, but are less likely to smoke or abuse alcohol than men. Importantly, many of the factors with the largest direct and indirect associations with difficulty in physical function among these African American men (alcohol abuse, smoking, body mass, diabetes, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, arthritis, and pain) and women (alcohol abuse, body mass, arthritis, and respiratory illness) are all potentially preventable or manageable.

%B Gerontologist %I 36 %V 36 %P 322-31 %8 1996 Jun %G eng %N 3 %L pubs_1996_Clark_DGer.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8682330?dopt=Abstract %4 Blacks/Female/Health Behavior/Health Status/Human/Middle Age/Models, Theoretical/Odds Ratio/Retirement %$ 4040 %R 10.1093/geront/36.3.322 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 1996 %T Retirement expectations: differences by race, ethnicity, and gender. %A Honig, Marjorie %K ethnicity %K Female %K Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Models, Theoretical %K Pensions %K Retirement %K Sex Factors %K Social Security %K United States %X

Analyses by race and ethnicity of several important dimensions of labor market behavior have been constrained in the past by limited samples of the African American and Hispanic populations. This article uses data from the first wave of the Health and Retirement Survey, which oversamples these populations, to compare the retirement plans of African American, Hispanic, and white married men and women. Findings suggest that retirement expectations may accurately forecast retirement behavior and that the differences by race and ethnicity, as well as by gender, that are evident in retirement plans are likely to be reflected in retirement outcomes.

%B Gerontologist %I 36 %V 36 %P 373-82 %8 1996 Jun %G eng %N 3 %L pubs_1996_Honig_MGer.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8682335?dopt=Abstract %4 Labor Market/Ethnic Groups/Female/Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/Middle Age/Models, Theoretical/Pensions/Retirement Planning/Sex Factors/Retirement Behavior/Support, Non U.S. Government/Support, U.S. Government--PHS/United States %$ 4180 %R 10.1093/geront/36.3.373 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Public Health %D 1996 %T Risk factors for occupational injuries among older workers: an analysis of the health and retirement study. %A Zwerling, Craig %A Nancy L. Sprince %A Robert B Wallace %A Charles S. Davis %A Paul S. Whitten %A Steven G Heeringa %K Accidents, Occupational %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Educational Status %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Occupational Diseases %K Regression Analysis %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Sex Factors %K United States %K Wounds and Injuries %X

OBJECTIVES: This study examined risk factors for occupational injury among older workers.

METHODS: We analyzed data on 6854 employed nonfarmers from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a population-based sample of Americans 51 through 61 years old.

RESULTS: Occupational injuries were associated with the following: the occupations of mechanics and repairers (odds ratio [OR] = 2.27), service personnel (OR = 1.68), and laborers (OR = 2.18); jobs requiring heavy lifting (OR = 2.75); workers' impaired hearing (OR = 1.60) and impaired vision (OR = 1.53); and jobs requiring good vision (OR = 1.43). Self-employment was associated with fewer injuries (OR = 0.47).

CONCLUSIONS: These results emphasize the importance of a good match between job demands and worker capabilities.

%B Am J Public Health %I 86 %V 86 %P 1306-9 %8 1996 Sep %G eng %N 9 %L pubs_1996_Zwerling_CAJPH.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8806386?dopt=Abstract %4 Accidents, Occupational/Educational Status/Health Status/Gender/Middle Age/Occupational Diseases/Regression Analysis/Retirement/Risk Factors/Sex Factors/Support, Non U.S. Government/Support, U.S. Government--PHS/Wounds and Injuries %$ 4415 %R 10.2105/ajph.86.9.1306 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 1996 %T Who takes early Social Security benefits? The economic and health characteristics of early beneficiaries. %A R.V. Burkhauser %A Kenneth A. Couch %A John W R Phillips %K Aged %K Eligibility Determination %K Female %K Health Status %K Health Surveys %K Humans %K Income %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Pensions %K Retirement %K Social Security %K United States %X

Using the 1992 and 1994 Waves of the Health and Retirement Survey, we compare individuals who first take Social Security benefits at age 62 with those who don't and find that the income and net assets of these two groups are similar in the years just prior to eligibility. However, there is great diversity within the groups, so that poor health appears to be more closely related to lower economic well-being than is early Social Security acceptance status. Our results suggest that raising the Social Security retirement age is not likely to dramatically lower the economic well-being of the typical person aged 62 since only 3% of men aged 62 are receiving Social Security retirement benefits, are in poor health, and have Social Security retirement benefits as their only source of pension income.

%B Gerontologist %I 36 %V 36 %P 789-99 %8 1996 Dec %G eng %N 6 %L wp_1996/Burkhauser_hr96-030.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8990591?dopt=Abstract %4 Comparative Study/Eligibility Determination/Female/Health Status/Health Surveys/Human/Income/Statistics and Numerical Data/Middle Age/Pensions/Statistics and Numerical Data/Retirement/Statistics and Numerical Data/Social Security/Economics/Statistics and Numerical Data/Support, U.S. Government--PHS/United States %$ 4070 %R 10.1093/geront/36.6.789 %0 Journal Article %J Am J Ind Med %D 1995 %T Effect of recall period on the reporting of occupational injuries among older workers in the Health and Retirement Study. %A Zwerling, Craig %A Nancy L. Sprince %A Robert B Wallace %A Charles S. Davis %A Paul S. Whitten %A Steven G Heeringa %K Accidents, Occupational %K Adult %K Aged %K Bias %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Data collection %K Female %K Humans %K Incidence %K Linear Models %K Male %K Mental Recall %K Middle Aged %K Models, Statistical %K Reproducibility of Results %K Retirement %K Risk Factors %K Time Factors %K United States %X

Studies of injury morbidity often rely on self-reported survey data. In designing these surveys, researchers must chose between a shorter recall period to minimize recall bias and a longer period to maximize the precision of rate estimates. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, which employed a recall period of 1 year, we examined the effect of the recall period on rates of occupational injuries among older workers as well as upon rate ratios of these injuries for nine risk factors. We fit a stochastic model to the occupational injury rates as a function of time before the interview and used this model to estimate what the injury rates would have been had we used a 4-week recall period. The adjusted occupational injury rate of 5.9 injuries per 100 workers per year was 36% higher than the rate based on a 1-year recall period. Adjustment for recall period had much less effect on rate ratios, which typically varied by < 10%. Our work suggests that self-reported surveys with longer recall periods may be used to estimate occupational injury rates and also may be useful in studying the associations between occupational injuries and a variety of risk factors.

%B Am J Ind Med %I 28 %V 28 %P 583-90 %8 1995 Nov %G eng %N 5 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8561168?dopt=Abstract %4 Accidents, Occupational/Adult/Bias (Epidemiology)/Morbidity/Gender/Incidence/Middle Age/Models, Statistical/Recall/Reproducibility of Results/Retirement/Risk Factors/Support, U.S. Government--PHS/Time Factors %$ 4425 %R 10.1002/ajim.4700280503 %0 Journal Article %J Econometrica %D 1994 %T Labor force dynamics of older men. %A David M. Blau %K Americas %K Developed Countries %K Economics %K Employment %K Financial Management %K Financing, Government %K Health Workforce %K North America %K Retirement %K Social Class %K Social Security %K Socioeconomic factors %K United States %X

"This paper describes and analyzes movements of older men among labor force states [in the United States] using quarterly observations derived from the Retirement History Survey (RHS)." The results indicate "substantial undercounts in the biannual data, indicating that the prevalence of labor force movements at older ages has been underestimated previously.... The results show that labor force dynamics at older ages are important, including duration and spell occurrence dependence, and work experience effects. These effects are robust to nonparametric controls for unobserved heterogeneity. The estimates indicate that social security benefits have strong effects on the timing of labor force transitions at older ages, but that changes in social security benefit levels over time have not contributed much to the trend toward earlier labor force exit."

%B Econometrica %I 62 %V 62 %P 117-56 %8 1994 Jan %G eng %U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12290260 %N 1 %L pubs_1994_Blau_DEcmetrica.pdf %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12290260?dopt=Abstract %4 Labor Force/Employment/Financial Management/Financing, Government/Retirement/Social Class/Social Security/Socioeconomic Factors %$ 4015