The study, published in the British Medical Journal, involved more than 3,500 employees working for Shell Oil in Texas. The workers retired at 55, 60 or 65 and were monitored for up to 26 years to see what effect their age at retirement had on their life-span. Factors such as gender and socioeconomic status were taken into account.
They found that workers who retired at the age of 55 had a significantly higher mortality compared with those who worked until 65.
In fact, the death rate was almost twice as high in the first ten years after retirement at 55 compared with those who continued to work. [Scotsman, Oct 21 2005]
All work and no play is bad, but all play and no work is much worse.
9 reactions:
nyikes, sabi ko pa naman by 30 eh gusto ko na mag-retire sa aking napiling industry hahaha!
what about us doctors? Do we retire?
I have always believed that my father's retirement caused his demise. He report for work even on Sundays when he was still working. When he reached the age of 65, he was forced to retire and what follows was having to stay in the house and sit all day tending to our sari-sari store which I believe was too boring for him. Well, at least that's my theory. So, I guess, retiring should also be accompanied with fruitful activity. What do you think?
My father retired this summer at the age of 69. I hope that study is right.
I think if you continue to do something that will stimulate both your mind and body, it is ok to retire early. Remember, Mike Jordan? He retired many times, only to come back repeatedly. The thing is, you must not stop feeding your mind and body with stimuli. We were not created to hibernate forever, Eye and Tito Rolly.
Doctors never retire, Rygel...unless you want to shift careers.
Keep him busy and active, Beajerry. :)
I am thinking of retirement as I feel worn out over the many years of continuous work. But before I do so, I must work out a plan about what I intend to do to keep myself meaningfully occupied so that I won't end up being mentally decadent.
Not just mentally, Bayi. You must also create a programme that will prevent you to be physically inactive.
Does this study control for the possibility that people retired early because they were sick?
Good question. Thanks, Ed. Yes, they did adjust for those workers who retired at 55 because of failing health. Here's a link to the full text of the study.
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