Participation in employer-sponsored wellness programs before and after retirement.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate wellness program participation before and after retirement.


METHODS
This retrospective cohort design compares 3 groups of employees: 1998-1999 retirees (N=6065), 1994-1995 retirees (N=5862), and 21,176 employees who were still active as of 2002. Participation was compared over 2 time periods for high-intensity and low-intensity programs.


RESULTS
Significantly different participation rates were found among the 3 groups specific to program intensity. Participation before retirement is associated with higher participation after retirement regardless of program intensity (OR=3.8 for overall participation).


CONCLUSIONS
Wellness programs can attract retirees, especially if they participated before retirement and are offered a variety of programs.
Yen
Louis
L
The University of Michigan Health Management Research Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1688, USA. louisyen@umich.edu
Schultz
Alyssa B
AB
McDonald
Timothy
T
Champagne
Laura
L
Edington
Dee W
DW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017047:Cost Sharing; D003710:Demography; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007750:Labor Unions; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors