THE EFFECTS OF RETIREMENT ON HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE OF RETIREMENT-AGED ADULTS FOR FOUR MARITAL STATUS SUBGROUPS

Abstract

This study identifies differences in the effects of retirement on physical and mental health, measured as health-related quality of life (HRQOL), across marital status subgroups for the retirement-aged population from 2005 to 2016. The study conducts a Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) regression analysis using cross-sectional and time series data drawn from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The empirical results suggest that retirement is negatively associated with physical health outcomes, whereas it is positively associated with mental health outcomes. Divorced men who are retired are likely to experience 2.028 more physically unhealthy days per month than divorced men who are employed. Widowed and never-married women who are retired are likely to experience 2.208 and 2.203 more physically unhealthy days, respectively, than their employed counterparts. These retired females in the respective marital status subgroups exhibit the strongest negative effects of retirement on physical health. Divorced respondents who are retired are likely to experience 1.478 and 1.129 more mentally unhealthy days per month for males and females, respectively, compared to those who are employed. In conclusion, the study finds significant disparities in the effects of retirement on HRQOL, particularly in physical and mental health outcomes across marital status groups.

Data:
Received: 9 Apr 2020
Revised: 21 May 2020
Accepted: 6 Jun 2020
Published: 20 Jun 2020