Determinants of voluntary early retirement for older workers with and without chronic diseases: A Danish prospective study

Contains fulltext : 216607.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Aims: This study explored differences in determinants (i.e. health-related, work-related and social factors) of voluntary early retirement between older workers with and without chronic diseases in Denmark. Methods: Workers aged 56–64 years who were members of a voluntary early retirement scheme were selected from the Danish National Working Environment Survey (2008–2009) and were followed in a public register for four years. Cox regression analyses were performed separately for older workers with and without chronic disease to identify the associations between determinants and voluntary early retirement. To explore the differences between groups, an interaction term between the determinant and having a chronic disease was included in the analyses for the total population. Results: Among 1861 eligible older workers, determinants associated with a higher risk of voluntary early retirement included poorer self-rated health, more depressive symptoms, a higher physical workload, lower job satisfaction and lower influence at work. For older workers with a chronic disease (n=1185), the presence of work–family conflict was also associated with a higher risk of voluntary early retirement, whereas for those with no chronic disease (n=676), a poorer relationship with colleagues was an additional determinant. Higher emotional demands, a higher work pace and higher quantitative demands were not significantly associated with voluntary early retirement for either group. None of the interaction terms was found to be statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusions: Determinants associated with voluntary early retirement did not significantly differ between older workers with or without a chronic disease in Denmark. We conclude that several health-related, work-related and social factors are important for prolonged labour force participation of older workers (with and without a chronic disease).10 p

Work factors facilitating working beyond state pension age: Prospective cohort study with register follow-up

Objectives: The demographic changes in Europe underline the need for an extension of working lives. This study investigates the importance of physical work demands and psychosocial work factors for working beyond the state pension age (65 years). Methods: We combined data from three cohorts of the general working population in Denmark (DWECS 2005 and 2010, and DANES 2008), where actively employed workers aged 55-59 years replied to questionnaires about work environment and were followed until the age of 66 years in the Danish AMRun register of paid employment. Using logistic regression analyses, we calculated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between physical and psychosocial work factors and working beyond state pension age, adjusted for age, sex, cohort, cohabiting, sector, income, vocational education, working hours, lifestyle, and previous sickness absence. Results: Of the 2884 workers aged 55-59 years, 1023 (35.5%) worked beyond the state pension age. Higher physical work demands was associated with a lower likelihood (PR 0.69, 95% CI 0.58-0.82) and a good psychosocial work environment was associated with higher likelihood (average of 7 items: PR 1.81, 95% CI 1.49-2.20) of working beyond state pension age. Stratified analyses did not change the overall pattern, ie, a good overall psychosocial work environment - as well as several specific psychosocial factors - increased the likelihood of working beyond state pension age, both for those with physically active and seated work. Conclusion: While high physical work demands was a barrier, a good psychosocial work environment seems to facilitate working beyond state pension age, also for those with physically active work