title: Is being in paid work beyond state pension age beneficial for health? Evidence from England using a life-course approach.
abstract: Given the current policy emphasis in many Western societies on extending working lives, we investigated the health effects of being in paid work beyond state pension age (SPA). Until now, work has largely focused on the health of those who exit the labour force early.
  
  
  
  Our data come from waves 2-4 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, including the life history interview at wave 3. Using logistic and linear regression models, we assessed the longitudinal associations between being in paid work beyond SPA and 3 measures of health (depression, a latent measure of somatic health and sleep disturbance) among men aged 65-74 and women aged 60-69. Our analyses controlled for baseline health and socioeconomic characteristics, as well as for work histories and health in adulthood and childhood.
  
  
  
  Approximately a quarter of women and 15% of men were in paid work beyond SPA. Descriptive bivariate analyses suggested that men and women in paid work were more likely to report better health at follow-up. However, once baseline socioeconomic characteristics as well as adulthood and baseline health and labour market histories were accounted for, the health benefits of working beyond SPA were no longer significant.
  
  
  
  Potential health benefits of working beyond SPA need to be considered in the light of the fact that those who report good health and are more socioeconomically advantaged are more likely to be working beyond SPA to begin with.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Policy, The London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6154-1845
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Gessa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Gerontology, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Laurie M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Corna
authors.affiliation: Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Loretta G
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3243-0262
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Platts
authors.affiliation: Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Worts
authors.affiliation: Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McDonough
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology & Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sacker
authors.affiliation: School of Social Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Price
authors.affiliation: Institute of Gerontology, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Glaser
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010415:Pensions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012179:Retirement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: AGEING; EMPLOYMENT; HEALTH STATUS; LONGITUDINAL STUDIES; OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH