Retirement boosts mental health, but not for all.
Retirement boosts mental health, but income and job type shape outcomes.
Why it matters
- Retirement can improve mental health, but not uniformly.
- Income, gender, and job demands influence post-retirement well-being.
By the numbers
- Study analyzed 17 years of data from 1,538 retirees.
- Low-income group saw initial mental health boost, then decline after ~2.5 years.
- High-income group showed no change before/after retirement but a spike during retirement year.
The big picture
- Mental health benefits of retirement vary by socioeconomic factors.
- Targeted support could help vulnerable groups post-retirement.
What they're saying
- Comments note the link between money and happiness.
- Some suggest health status at retirement may also play a role.
- Questions raised about high-income retirees continuing part-time work.
Caveats
- Small high-income group and gender imbalance in low-income group may skew results.
- Findings based on Dutch pension system; may not apply globally.
- Did not differentiate between voluntary and forced retirement.
What’s next
- Further research needed on voluntary vs. involuntary retirement.
- Policies and interventions could be tailored based on these findings.