Quality of work, well-being, and intended early retirement of older employees--baseline results from the SHARE Study

TLDR

A high proportion of older employees retire early, highlighting the need to understand psychosocial work factors that may influence this trend. This study investigates how indicators of poor psychosocial quality of work are associated with intended premature retirement among older employees in 10 European countries. Baseline SHARE data from 3523 men and 3318 women were analysed with logistic regression to examine the links between effort–reward imbalance, low control, well‑being measures, and intended early retirement. Effort–reward imbalance (OR 1.72) and low control (OR 1.51) were independently associated with higher odds of intended early retirement, underscoring the role of poor psychosocial work quality and reduced well‑being in premature exit.

Abstract

Background: Given the challenge of a high proportion of older employees who retire early from work we analyse associations of indicators of a poor psychosocial quality of work with intended premature departure from work in a large sample of older male and female employees in 10 European countries. Methods: Baseline data from the ‘Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe’ (SHARE) were obtained from 3523 men and 3318 women in 10 European countries. Data on intended early retirement, four measures of well-being (self-rated health, depressive symptoms, general symptom load, and quality of life), and quality of work (effort–reward imbalance; low control at work) were obtained from structured interviews and questionnaires. Country-specific and total samples are analysed, using logistic regression analysis. Results: Poor quality of work is significantly associated with intended early retirement. After adjustment for well-being odds ratios (OR) of effort–reward imbalance [OR 1.72 (1.43–2.08)] and low control at work [OR 1.51 (1.27–1.80)] on intended early retirement are observed. Poor quality of work and reduced well-being are independently associated with the intention to retire from work. Conclusion: The consistent association of a poor psychosocial quality of work with intended early retirement among older employees across all European countries under study calls for improved investments into better quality of work, in particular increased control and an appropriate balance between efforts spent and rewards received at work.