Study: working after retirement improves life satisfaction

A new paper published in the Journal of Happiness Studies describes how continuing to work past retirement age affects life satisfaction and emotional well-being, and how these effects differ between men and women.

Researchers analysed data from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics Social Survey 2017-2020. The study included 3,326 women over the age of 62 and 2,003 men over the age of 67. The authors assessed the factors influencing the decision to work, distinguishing between full-time and part-time employment, and compared them with measures of life satisfaction and emotional well-being.

The results showed: working after retirement was generally positively associated with well-being, but the effect depended on gender and working conditions.

• Men working full-time reported higher life satisfaction and emotional well-being regardless of job type.

• Women showed an increase in life satisfaction only for high-status and well-paid positions, and this was not accompanied by an improvement in emotional well-being.

The authors attribute the gender difference to traditional social roles: for men, work is often a key element of self-identity, while women may find meaning and fulfilment in other areas.

Motives for continuing to work also differ. Both men and women with greater financial need are more likely to seek full-time employment. However, women with good career prospects also tend to work full-time, whereas in the absence of suitable employment they may obtain social interaction from other sources.

Part-time employment was found to be weaker associated with well-being, particularly for men. The researchers suggest that this may be due to the less stability or prestige of such jobs. Among older men, there were more of those who continued to work full-time, while women were more likely to choose part-time work.

Working after retirement did not show a negative effect on well-being, and in some cases improved it. However, the researchers note a possible 'self-selection' effect: healthy people are more likely to continue working, while those with health problems may perceive labour as an additional stressor.

Limitations of the study include a lack of detailed data on occupations and coverage of only the Jewish population in Israel, which may make it difficult to extend the findings to other countries and cultures.