Work

A Multilevel Dyadic Study of the Impact of Retirement on Self-Rated Health

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of retirement on self-rated health for married couples, using interdependence and social stratification theoretical frameworks. METHOD: Dyadic multilevel modeling of data (N = 2,213 non-Hispanic couples) from 1992 to 2010 of the Health and Retirement Survey. RESULTS: Retirement was associated with worse self-ratings of health (SRH) short term (ST) for both husbands and wives during the first couple of years of retirement. In addition, the longer the husbands (but not wives) were retired, the worse was their SRH. Cross-spouse effects varied by gender: When wives retired, their husbands' SRH improved ST, but when husbands retired their wives' SRH improved long term. Spouse education moderated the relationship between years since spouse's retirement and SRH for wives. DISCUSSION: Practitioners can use this information to help married couples through retirement planning and transitions. Results suggest that models of retirement in couples should pay greater attention to gender and other social stratification factors, spousal interdependence, and length of time since retirement.

Source: Research on Aging

DOI: 10.1177/0164027513486900

Authors: Angela L. Curl, Aloen L. Townsend

Institutions: University of Missouri, Case Western Reserve University

Language: English

Topic: Retirement, Disability, and Employment

Subfield: Demography

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: Case Western Reserve University