Retirement, reemployment, and bio-psycho-social health among older adults in Taiwan

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.