Per Erik Solem

Working Conditions and Early Retirement: A Prospective Study of Retirement Behavior

This article investigates the impact of working conditions on individual retirement for 270 occupations. It combines survey data for estimates of job strains, census data for occupations, and income and social insurance/security data, for the transition from work to retirement for 19,114 Norwegian employees between the ages of 60 and 67. Retirement was identified by a drop in work-related income and studied both jointly and separately for disability and nondisability retirement, including four types of disability. Data were analyzed using logistic regression (competing risk) “duration” models. Findings indicate that disability retirement is related to physical job strains. Among men, both pathways of early retirement are related to low autonomy in job tasks. Furthermore, psychological job stress may reduce nondisability retirement. The findings are discussed in relation to (1) the prospect of reducing early retirement by changing working conditions and (2) who will gain from certain changes in pension systems.

A conceptual analysis of Ageism

Presently the research on ageism is marked by numerous more or less diffuse definitions of the concept of ageism. Many studies investigate both the causes and consequences of ageism without a clear definition of the phenomenon. As a consequence the area is characterized by diverging research results which are hard to re-test and to compare. It is therefore difficult to obtain a framework on ageism.This article offers a conceptual clarification of ageism. Based on a review of the existing literature, a new definition of ageism is introduced. This definition is more explicit and complex than previous definitions. This has two purposes. Firstly, its clarity constitutes the foundation for higher reliability and validity in future research about ageism. Secondly, its complexity offers a new way of systemizing theories on ageism.

Do spouses coordinate their work exits? A combined survey and register analysis from Norway.

Research on spouses’ joint work exits is scarce, although household factors such as spouses’ work status, marital quality, and caregiving burdens are likely to affect seniors’ work engagement. We therefore examine whether the work exit probability of one spouse affects that of the other. Discrete-time hazard regression analyses of survey data linked to later registry information including all gainfully employed married respondents aged 50–74 with a working spouse (N = 1,764) were used to assess subsequent work exits. A spouse’s work exit is a strong predictor of a respondent’s work exit (hazard ratio 3.1, 95% confidence interval [2.5, 4.0]). Educational attainment, poor marital quality, and spouses’ health and care needs do not predict work exits. Surprisingly, no gender differences are observed. Research on larger survey samples to distinguish different work exit routes and reasons for spouses’ joint work exits appears warranted. To account for cultural and welfare state characteristics, cross-national studies ought to be undertaken.

Changes in Health and Health Behavior Associated With Retirement

Objectives: While poor health contributes to early work exits, it is less clear how early work exits affect health. This study therefore examines changes in health associated with retirement. Method: Survey data from gainfully employed individuals aged 57 to 66 in 2002 were used to assess changes in health status and behaviors associated with retirement (49%) 5 years later (N = 546). Results: Compared with workers, retirees were more likely to report improvements in mental health (odds ratio [OR] = 1.67), and less likely to report mental health deteriorations (OR = 0.56). Retirees were more likely to both increase (OR = 2.03) and reduce (OR = 1.87) their alcohol intake, and to increase physical activity (OR = 2.01) and lose weight (OR = 1.75). Discussion: As welfare states aim to extend working life to counteract repercussions of population aging, findings on possible health benefits for retirees may warrant more focus on the pros and cons of a prolonged working life.

Ageism and age discrimination in working life

Abstract The current demographic shifts call for prolongation of working life and postponed retirement in most industrialized nations. The success of policies promoting this, depends on a range of factors, one of them is the amount of ageism and age discrimination in working life. This article explores the cognitive, affective and behavioural aspects of ageism in working life in Norway. Data are from the Norwegian Senior Policy Barometer 2013 consisting of two national samples, one of 1003 employed persons, and one of 751 managers in private and public companies. The results show that the conceptions of older workers are in some ways quite positive, as managers think of workers above age 50 as performing at least as well as younger workers. Yet, managers tend to hesitate to call in applicants in their late 50s, to job interviews. This hesitation is correlated with less liking for recruiting “seniors” and “older workers”, indicating that the affective element of ageism needs attention in prevention of age discrimination. Contact and knowledge may have positive effects, since managers are ranking “seniors” and “older workers” higher for retention than for recruitment. As the public sector is becoming more similar to the private sector in market orientation, the relatively good position of older workers in the public sector may become challenged. Further research should explore the strategies of age blindness versus age diversity celebration for promotion of employment among older citizens.

Alderisme, aldring og sosial deltakelse

Solem, P.E. (2005). Ageism, ageing and social participation. Nordisk Psykologi, 57, 1, 47–63. Negative attitudes towards older people, internalised stereotypes and ageism are possible obstacles for social participation. Older people might by being visible in society, represent reminders of the decay of ageing and the finitude of life. Industrialisation and globalisation of economy have in addition made older people less needed. These are examples of social cultural explanations of reduced social activity with age. The relevance of such explanations is supported by the fact that the activity of older persons is less visible the farther out in society we move. Politics and working life are arenas with particularly few older actors. However, the reduced social participation has to be considered as effects of factors both in the person and in the environment, and in the interplay between the ageing individual and a changing society. Theories focusing on this interplay, on proactive adaptations to change and on personal control and autonomy are discussed.