Abstract
BackgroundRetirement is a key life event, which is associated with changes in physical activity, however, there is limited evidence with regard to changes in physical activity that take place in post-retirement years. The aim of this study was to examine how leisure-time physical activity changes shortly after the transition to retirement and during the post-retirement years.MethodsThe phase 1 data were collected in 2000–2002 (n = 8960, response rate 67%) among 40–60-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland. Phase 2 was carried out in 2007 (n = 7332, response rate 83%) and phase 3 in 2012 (n = 6814, response rate 79%). Disability retirees and those under the age of 50 at baseline were excluded. This yielded 2902 participants. Most of the participants (79%) were women. The mean age of the participants was 54.4 in phase 1. Negative binomial models for repeated measurements with generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to calculate the incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). These indicated the changes in time spent in self-reported leisure-time physical activity among the retired compared with the continuously employed.ResultsOf the participants, 851 retired on the grounds of old age during the first period (phases 1–2), and 948 during the second period (phases 2–3). Change in physical activity was positive among those who retired during the first (IRR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.04–1.17) and second (IRR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.04–1.16) periods compared to the continuously employed. During the second period, there was little difference between those who had retired during the first one (IRR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.91–1.02) and the continuously employed.ConclusionsThe transition to statutory retirement was associated with an immediate increase in leisure-time physical activity, which nevertheless diminished during post-retirement years.
Highlights
Retirement is a key life event, which is associated with changes in physical activity, there is limited evidence with regard to changes in physical activity that take place in post-retirement years
Our study focuses on two questions: (1) Is transition to statutory retirement associated with similar changes in leisure-time physical activity in two consecutive followup periods? (2) How does leisure-time physical activity change over the post-retirement period?
A lower proportion of participants among the continuously employed reported limiting longstanding illness (LLI) during phase 1, but this difference almost disappeared during the follow-up
Summary
Retirement is a key life event, which is associated with changes in physical activity, there is limited evidence with regard to changes in physical activity that take place in post-retirement years. The aim of this study was to examine how leisure-time physical activity changes shortly after the transition to retirement and during the post-retirement years. Physical inactivity is common worldwide especially among people in older age groups, and activity tends to decrease as people get older. Inactivity and low levels of activity among older people are especially harmful from a public-health perspective. Changes in physical activity during the life course are associated with major life events and transitions, such as graduation, getting married, becoming a parent or retiring [4]. Previous studies have shown an association between the transition to statutory retirement and an increase in leisure-time physical activity [5,6,7,8,9]. There is still little evidence on whether post-retirement changes in physical activity are temporary or persistent. We are aware of only one study [11] which
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
