title: How do retirement dynamics influence mental well-being in later life? A 10-year panel study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Empirical studies have consistently shown the negative impact of involuntary retirement on mental well-being. However, few studies have thus far investigated the degree to which post-retirement work affects late-life outcomes. The present study improves our understanding of the impact of retirement on the self-efficacy and life satisfaction among older adults by focusing on the combined impact of retirement voluntariness and participation in post-retirement work.
  
  
  METHODS
  By using panel data on retirement behavior in the Netherlands, we estimate fixed effects and multilevel models to explain (intra-)individual changes in self-efficacy and life satisfaction over a 10-year period in which most participants made the transition to retirement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicate that involuntary retirement is associated with decreases in both self-efficacy and life satisfaction in later life. Whereas involuntary retirees who participate in bridge jobs show no changes in life satisfaction, those involuntary retirees without bridge jobs experience a decline in life satisfaction. In addition, we found enhanced levels of life satisfaction for voluntary retirees in bridge employment. The association with self-efficacy was less pronounced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the characteristics of the retirement process influence changes in mental well-being in later life. Specifically, bridge employment alleviates the negative consequences of involuntary retirement and even seems to enhance post-retirement well-being for voluntary retirees.
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI-KNAW),University of Groningen (UMGC-RUG), PO Box 11650, 2502 AR, The Hague, The Netherlands. dingemans@nidi.nl.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dingemans
authors.forename: Kène
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Henkens
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy