{"title":"Retirement, reemployment, and bio-psycho-social health among older adults in Taiwan","authors":"Wei-Hsuan Yen , Wan-Ju Cheng , Shu-Chun Chuang , I-Chien Wu , Hsing-Yi Chang , Chiu-Wen Cheng , Wei-Ting Tseng , Chih-Cheng Hsu , Chao Agnes Hsiung , Chi-Shin Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.maturitas.2025.108649","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study examined the associations between retirement, reemployment, and health outcomes—covering physical, mental, and social domains—among middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>Data were drawn from the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan (HALST), with 4015 participants (mean age 68.2 ± 7.7) and two waves of follow-up. We applied difference-in-differences analyses to evaluate the effects of retirement and reemployment on health outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Main outcome measures</h3><div>Quality of life was assessed using the 12-item Short Form (SF-12) survey. Physical health was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and Fried's frailty criteria. Mental health was measured via the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), CES-D scale, and self-reported insomnia. Social networks were also evaluated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Newly retired individuals, especially men and those under 65, experienced declines in physical health, including lower SF-12 physical scores (−1.62), poorer SPPB performance (−0.52), and greater risk of frailty (1.66). In contrast, reemployment, particularly full-time, was linked to better physical health (SF-12 1.78; SPPB 0.39), with stronger effects among women and older adults. Part-time reemployment was associated with enhanced social networks, though physical gains were limited. No consistent mental health effects were observed, except for higher depressive symptoms in those retiring for non-voluntary reasons.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Retirement was linked to physical health decline, while reemployment, especially full-time, offered protective effects. Policies should be tailored to the diverse needs of retirees, accounting for age, gender, and reasons for retirement, to support healthier aging across populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51120,"journal":{"name":"Maturitas","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 108649"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Maturitas","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378512225004578","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives
This study examined the associations between retirement, reemployment, and health outcomes—covering physical, mental, and social domains—among middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan.
Study design
Data were drawn from the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan (HALST), with 4015 participants (mean age 68.2 ± 7.7) and two waves of follow-up. We applied difference-in-differences analyses to evaluate the effects of retirement and reemployment on health outcomes.
Main outcome measures
Quality of life was assessed using the 12-item Short Form (SF-12) survey. Physical health was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and Fried's frailty criteria. Mental health was measured via the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), CES-D scale, and self-reported insomnia. Social networks were also evaluated.
Results
Newly retired individuals, especially men and those under 65, experienced declines in physical health, including lower SF-12 physical scores (−1.62), poorer SPPB performance (−0.52), and greater risk of frailty (1.66). In contrast, reemployment, particularly full-time, was linked to better physical health (SF-12 1.78; SPPB 0.39), with stronger effects among women and older adults. Part-time reemployment was associated with enhanced social networks, though physical gains were limited. No consistent mental health effects were observed, except for higher depressive symptoms in those retiring for non-voluntary reasons.
Conclusions
Retirement was linked to physical health decline, while reemployment, especially full-time, offered protective effects. Policies should be tailored to the diverse needs of retirees, accounting for age, gender, and reasons for retirement, to support healthier aging across populations.
期刊介绍:
Maturitas is an international multidisciplinary peer reviewed scientific journal of midlife health and beyond publishing original research, reviews, consensus statements and guidelines, and mini-reviews. The journal provides a forum for all aspects of postreproductive health in both genders ranging from basic science to health and social care.
Topic areas include:• Aging• Alternative and Complementary medicines• Arthritis and Bone Health• Cancer• Cardiovascular Health• Cognitive and Physical Functioning• Epidemiology, health and social care• Gynecology/ Reproductive Endocrinology• Nutrition/ Obesity Diabetes/ Metabolic Syndrome• Menopause, Ovarian Aging• Mental Health• Pharmacology• Sexuality• Quality of Life