Intention to Retire in Employees over 50 Years. What is the Role of Work Ability and Work Life Satisfaction?

Abstract

Background: We investigated work ability and trajectories of work life satisfaction (WLS) as predictors of intention to retire (ITR) before the statutory age. Methods: Participants were Finnish postal service employees, who responded to surveys in 2016 and 2018 (n = 1466). Survey measures included ITR, work ability and WLS. Mixture modelling was used to identify trajectories of WLS. A generalized linear model was used to determine the measures of association (Risk Ratios, RR; 95% Confidence Intervals, CI) between exposures (work ability and WLS) and ITR. Results: Approximately 40% of respondents indicated ITR. Four distinct trajectories of WLS were identified: high (33%), moderate (35%), decreasing (23%) and low (9%). Participants with poor work ability (RR 1.79, 95% CI 1.40–2.29) and decreasing WLS (1.29, 1.13–1.46) were more likely to indicate an ITR early compared to the participants with excellent/good work ability and high WLS. Job control mediated the relationship between ITR and work ability (9.3%) and WLS (14.7%). Job support also played a similar role (14% and 20.6%). Conclusions: Work ability and WLS are important contributors to the retirement intentions of employees. Ensuring workers have appropriate support and control over their work are mechanisms through which organisations may encourage employees to remain at work for longer.

Psychometric Properties of the Work Ability Index in Health Centre Workers in Spain

“…Different studies have shown that low levels of work ability, measured through the WAI, are associated with long-term sickness absence [ 42 ], intentions to retire early [ 43 ], early exit from work [ 15 ], and other health outcomes [ 44 ].…”

Trajectories of work ability from mid-life to pensionable age and their association with retirement timing

“…Previous studies have mainly focused on premature exit from working life and found that decreased work ability predicts early retirement among aging employees 4,[9][10][11] . We found that "Stable excellent" and "Stable high" trajectories over 16 years prior to retirement were associated with a higher likelihood of extended employment when compared with "Low" and "Declining" trajectory of work ability even after taking into account age, sex, occupation, marital status and self-reported health.…”

“…Maintenance of good work ability, which includes physical and mental capacities, across the life course, is suggested to be essential factor in extending working life 2 . Indeed, decreased work ability has been highlighted as the predictor of early retirement among aging employees 4,[9][10][11] . Furthermore, American workers with low and declining work ability were more likely to become unemployed before retirement or retire prematurely 6 .…”

Mediational Occupational Risk Factors Pertaining to Work Ability According to Age, Gender and Professional Job Type

“…The ability to work should be considered an important characteristic of human health and well-being [2]. A number of studies show that low levels of work ability are among the key determinants of long-term sickness absence [3], intentions to retire early [4] and early exit from work [5], and is associated with health outcomes both during working life and following retirement [6][7][8][9].…”