Factors Affecting the Subjective Health Status of Middle-Aged Retirees in Korea
Abstract
Background: Countries that are becoming aging societies are struggling to establish financial support policies due to their increasing numbers of retired people. In particular, the increase in middle-aged retirees has been reported as unusual and influenced by various factors. This study aimed to identify the subjective health conditions of middle-aged retirees and explore the factors that help provide basic data for developing health-related programs for them.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 7,893 people who participated in the 6th Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging in 2016. Among them, the data of 315 participants were analyzed. A theoretical framework guided the use of multiple regression analysis to examine the factors related to the subjective health status of middle-aged retirees.
Results: The significant factors influencing the subjective health status were socioeconomic status (middle/high: β=.14, P=.005), number of chronic diseases (β=-.11, P=.035; above 2: β=-.38, P<.001), depression (β = -.17, P<.001), and retirement satisfaction (β=.32, P<.001).
Conclusion: This study can help policymakers create effective retirement programs for middle-aged individuals and re-socialize them by enhancing physical and psychological support.
1. World Population Prospects (2022). De-partment of Economic and Social Af-fairs Population Division. https://population.un.org/wpp
2. Korean Statistical Information Service (2022). Koreans’ life expectancy. https://kosis.kr
3. Freeman T, Gesesew HA, Bambra C, et al. (2020). Why do some countries do better or worse in life expectancy relative to income? An analysis of Brazil, Ethiopia, and the United States of America. Int J Equity Health, 19: 202.
4. Ju YJ, Kim W, Lee SA, Lee JE, Yoon H, Park EC (2017). Lack of retirement preparation is associated with increased depressive symptoms in the elderly: findings from the Korean Retirement and Income Panel Study. J Korean Med Sci, 32: 1516–1521.
5. Van der Heide I, van Rijn RM, Robroek SJ, Burdorf A, Proper KI (2013). Is retire-ment good for your health? A systematic review of longitudinal studies. BMC Pub-lic Health, 13: 1180.
6. Van Solinge H (2007). Health change in re-tirement: a longitudinal study among older workers in the Netherlands. Res Aging, 29: 225–256.
7. Noone JH, Stephens C, Alpass FM (2009). Preretirement planning and well-being in later life: a prospective study. Res Ag-ing, 31: 295–317.
8. Wang M (2007). Profiling retirees in the re-tirement transition and adjustment pro-cess: examining the longitudinal change patterns of retirees’ psychological well-being. J Appl Psychol, 92: 455–474.
9. Topa G, Moriano JA, Depolo M, Alcover CM, Morales JF (2009). Antecedents and consequences of retirement planning and decision-making: a meta-analysis and model. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 75: 38–55.
10. Hwang NH, Kim KR, Lee AY, Lim JM, Park SA, Kim MH (2019). A survey on the ac-tual condition of living to support the stable settlement of middle-aged people. Institute for Health and Social Affairs.
11. Hess M (2018). Expected and preferred re-tirement age in Germany. Z Gerontol Ger-iatr, 51: 98–104.
12. Meng A, Sundstrup E, Andersen LL (2020). Factors contributing to retirement deci-sions in Denmark: comparing employ-ees who expect to retire before, at, and after the state pension age. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 17: 3338.
13. Blau D, Siivydko T (2011). Labor market ri-gidities and the employment behavior of older workers. Industrial and Labor Re-lations Review, 64(3): 464–484.
14. Gruber J, Wise D (2002). Social security program and retirement around the world: micro estimation. NBER Work-ing Paper No. 9407, Cambridge, MA: NBER, December 2002.
15. De Preter H, Van Looy D, Mortelmans D (2013). Individual and institutional push and pull factors as predictors of retire-ment timing in Europe: a multilevel analysis. J Aging Stud, 27(4): 299–307.
16. Edge CE, Cooper AM, Coffey M (2017). Barriers and facilitators to extended working lives in Europe: a gender focus. Public Health Rev, 38:2.
17. Lee, R (2003). The demographic transition: three centuries of fundamental change. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 17(4): 167–190.
18. Wang M, Shultz KS (2010). Employee re-tirement: a review and recommenda-tions for future investigation. J Manag, 36: 172–206.
19. Fisher GG, Chaffee DS, Sonnega A (2016). Retirement timing: a review and rec-ommendations for future research. WORKAR, 2: 230–261.
20. Belloc NB, Breslow L (1972). Relationship of physical health status and health practices. Prev Med, 1: 409–421.
21. Segovia J, Bartlett RF, Edwards AC (1989). The association between self-assessed health status and individual health prac-tices. Can J Public Health, 80: 32–37.
22. Nummela O, Raivio R, Uutela A (2012). Trust, self-rated health and mortality: a longitudinal study among ageing people in Southern Finland. Soc Sci Med, 74: 1639–1643.
23. Kim JE, Moen P (2002). Retirement transi-tions, gender, and psychological well-being: a life-course, ecological model. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, 57: P212–222.
24. McLeroy KR, Bibeau D, Steckler A, Glanz K (1988). An ecological perspective on health promotion programs. Health Educ Q, 15: 351–377.
25. George LK (1993). Sociological perspec-tives on life transitions. Annu Rev Sociol, 19: 353–373.
26. Vandewater EA, Ostrove JM, Stewart AJ (1997). Predicting women’s well-being in midlife: the importance of personality development and social role involve-ments. J Pers Soc Psychol, 72: 1147–1160.
27. Atchley RC (1989). A continuity theory of normal aging. Gerontologist, 29: 183–190.
28. Richardson V, Kilty KM (1991). Adjustment to retirement: continuity vs. discontinui-ty. Int J Aging Hum Dev, 33: 151–169.
29. Korea Employment Information Service (2017). Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing survey form. Korea Employment Information Service.
30. Rauer A, Jensen JF (2016). These happy golden years? The role of retirement in marital quality. In: Bookwala J, editor. Couple relationships in the middle and later years: their nature, complexity, and role in health and illness. American Psychological Association. pp. 157–176.
31. Motegi H, Nishimura Y, Oikawa M (2016). What explains the difference in the ef-fect of retirement on health? Evidence from global aging data. Munich Personal RepEC Arch, 1–40.
32. Ryan LH, Newton NJ, Chauhan PK, Chopik WJ (2017). Effects of pre-retirement personality, health and job lock on post-retirement subjective well-being. Transl Issues Psychol Sci, 3: 378–387.
33. Kino S, Jang SN, Takahashi S, Ebner DK, Kawachi I (2020). Socioeconomic dis-parities in self-rated health in two East Asian countries: comparative study be-tween Japan and Korea. Soc Sci Med, 253: 112945.
34. Coe NB, Zamarro G (2011). Retirement ef-fects on health in Europe. J Health Econ, 30: 77–86.
35. Sohn M, Kim HK, Rhe HS, Choi M (2018). Association between multi-morbidity and health care expenditure or cata-strophic health expenditures of South Korean adults. The Korean J Health Econ Policy, 24: 49–75.
36. Wels J (2020). Assessing the impact of par-tial early retirement on self-perceived health, depression level and quality of life in Belgium: a longitudinal perspec-tive using the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Ageing Soc, 40: 512–536.
37. Price CA, Balaswamy S (2009). Beyond health and wealth: predictors of wom-en’s retirement satisfaction. Int J Aging Hum Dev, 68: 195–214.
2. Korean Statistical Information Service (2022). Koreans’ life expectancy. https://kosis.kr
3. Freeman T, Gesesew HA, Bambra C, et al. (2020). Why do some countries do better or worse in life expectancy relative to income? An analysis of Brazil, Ethiopia, and the United States of America. Int J Equity Health, 19: 202.
4. Ju YJ, Kim W, Lee SA, Lee JE, Yoon H, Park EC (2017). Lack of retirement preparation is associated with increased depressive symptoms in the elderly: findings from the Korean Retirement and Income Panel Study. J Korean Med Sci, 32: 1516–1521.
5. Van der Heide I, van Rijn RM, Robroek SJ, Burdorf A, Proper KI (2013). Is retire-ment good for your health? A systematic review of longitudinal studies. BMC Pub-lic Health, 13: 1180.
6. Van Solinge H (2007). Health change in re-tirement: a longitudinal study among older workers in the Netherlands. Res Aging, 29: 225–256.
7. Noone JH, Stephens C, Alpass FM (2009). Preretirement planning and well-being in later life: a prospective study. Res Ag-ing, 31: 295–317.
8. Wang M (2007). Profiling retirees in the re-tirement transition and adjustment pro-cess: examining the longitudinal change patterns of retirees’ psychological well-being. J Appl Psychol, 92: 455–474.
9. Topa G, Moriano JA, Depolo M, Alcover CM, Morales JF (2009). Antecedents and consequences of retirement planning and decision-making: a meta-analysis and model. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 75: 38–55.
10. Hwang NH, Kim KR, Lee AY, Lim JM, Park SA, Kim MH (2019). A survey on the ac-tual condition of living to support the stable settlement of middle-aged people. Institute for Health and Social Affairs.
11. Hess M (2018). Expected and preferred re-tirement age in Germany. Z Gerontol Ger-iatr, 51: 98–104.
12. Meng A, Sundstrup E, Andersen LL (2020). Factors contributing to retirement deci-sions in Denmark: comparing employ-ees who expect to retire before, at, and after the state pension age. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 17: 3338.
13. Blau D, Siivydko T (2011). Labor market ri-gidities and the employment behavior of older workers. Industrial and Labor Re-lations Review, 64(3): 464–484.
14. Gruber J, Wise D (2002). Social security program and retirement around the world: micro estimation. NBER Work-ing Paper No. 9407, Cambridge, MA: NBER, December 2002.
15. De Preter H, Van Looy D, Mortelmans D (2013). Individual and institutional push and pull factors as predictors of retire-ment timing in Europe: a multilevel analysis. J Aging Stud, 27(4): 299–307.
16. Edge CE, Cooper AM, Coffey M (2017). Barriers and facilitators to extended working lives in Europe: a gender focus. Public Health Rev, 38:2.
17. Lee, R (2003). The demographic transition: three centuries of fundamental change. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 17(4): 167–190.
18. Wang M, Shultz KS (2010). Employee re-tirement: a review and recommenda-tions for future investigation. J Manag, 36: 172–206.
19. Fisher GG, Chaffee DS, Sonnega A (2016). Retirement timing: a review and rec-ommendations for future research. WORKAR, 2: 230–261.
20. Belloc NB, Breslow L (1972). Relationship of physical health status and health practices. Prev Med, 1: 409–421.
21. Segovia J, Bartlett RF, Edwards AC (1989). The association between self-assessed health status and individual health prac-tices. Can J Public Health, 80: 32–37.
22. Nummela O, Raivio R, Uutela A (2012). Trust, self-rated health and mortality: a longitudinal study among ageing people in Southern Finland. Soc Sci Med, 74: 1639–1643.
23. Kim JE, Moen P (2002). Retirement transi-tions, gender, and psychological well-being: a life-course, ecological model. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, 57: P212–222.
24. McLeroy KR, Bibeau D, Steckler A, Glanz K (1988). An ecological perspective on health promotion programs. Health Educ Q, 15: 351–377.
25. George LK (1993). Sociological perspec-tives on life transitions. Annu Rev Sociol, 19: 353–373.
26. Vandewater EA, Ostrove JM, Stewart AJ (1997). Predicting women’s well-being in midlife: the importance of personality development and social role involve-ments. J Pers Soc Psychol, 72: 1147–1160.
27. Atchley RC (1989). A continuity theory of normal aging. Gerontologist, 29: 183–190.
28. Richardson V, Kilty KM (1991). Adjustment to retirement: continuity vs. discontinui-ty. Int J Aging Hum Dev, 33: 151–169.
29. Korea Employment Information Service (2017). Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing survey form. Korea Employment Information Service.
30. Rauer A, Jensen JF (2016). These happy golden years? The role of retirement in marital quality. In: Bookwala J, editor. Couple relationships in the middle and later years: their nature, complexity, and role in health and illness. American Psychological Association. pp. 157–176.
31. Motegi H, Nishimura Y, Oikawa M (2016). What explains the difference in the ef-fect of retirement on health? Evidence from global aging data. Munich Personal RepEC Arch, 1–40.
32. Ryan LH, Newton NJ, Chauhan PK, Chopik WJ (2017). Effects of pre-retirement personality, health and job lock on post-retirement subjective well-being. Transl Issues Psychol Sci, 3: 378–387.
33. Kino S, Jang SN, Takahashi S, Ebner DK, Kawachi I (2020). Socioeconomic dis-parities in self-rated health in two East Asian countries: comparative study be-tween Japan and Korea. Soc Sci Med, 253: 112945.
34. Coe NB, Zamarro G (2011). Retirement ef-fects on health in Europe. J Health Econ, 30: 77–86.
35. Sohn M, Kim HK, Rhe HS, Choi M (2018). Association between multi-morbidity and health care expenditure or cata-strophic health expenditures of South Korean adults. The Korean J Health Econ Policy, 24: 49–75.
36. Wels J (2020). Assessing the impact of par-tial early retirement on self-perceived health, depression level and quality of life in Belgium: a longitudinal perspec-tive using the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Ageing Soc, 40: 512–536.
37. Price CA, Balaswamy S (2009). Beyond health and wealth: predictors of wom-en’s retirement satisfaction. Int J Aging Hum Dev, 68: 195–214.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 53 No 12 (2024) | |
| Section | Original Article(s) | |
| Keywords | ||
| Middle age Retirement Retirement Subjective health Theoretical model | ||
| Rights and permissions | |
|
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
How to Cite
1.
Moon H, Noh W. Factors Affecting the Subjective Health Status of Middle-Aged Retirees in Korea. Iran J Public Health. 2024;53(12):2730-2738.
