Mental retirement and health selection: Analyses from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Research has recently suggested that retirement may decrease cognitive engagement, resulting in cognitive aging. Few studies have systematically documented whether or how selectivity into retirement shapes the relationship between retirement and cognitive aging.

Methods

We draw on data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2012) to examine the relationship between cognition and retirement for 18,575 labor force participants. Longitudinal regression discontinuity modeling was used to examine performance and decline in episodic memory. Models differentiated three forms of selection bias: indirect and direct selection as well as reverse causation. To further interrogate the disuse hypothesis, we adjust for confounding from health and socioeconomic sources.

Re

SUBMITTER: Clouston SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5400287 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature