Posted on 10/12/2005 4:42:55 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
The idea of a long, relaxed retirement may appeal to many after a life of hard work, but the results of a new Swedish study show that it might not be such a good idea after all.
A joint project from the Karolinska Institute and Linköping University has revealed that people who retire early are twice as likely to die earlier than the rest of the population. The increased risk affects both men and women, noted Dagens Medicin, which got hold of the unpublished results.
For twelve years researchers have studied almost a quarter of a million people in the county of Östergötland who was aged 16 to 64 in 1984.
They found that the risk of dying early was 2.5 times higher among women who retired early and 2.8 times higher among men who retired early.
Women who were forced into an early pension before the age of 24 run the greatest risk: their chances of dying early are 14 times higher than the average.
The news will disturb the 60% of Swedes who in a recent survey said that they are eager to retire early.
Professor Kristina Alexandersson, who led the project, said she was surprised by the result. She told Dagens Medicin that it is normally muscular and skeletal diagnoses, along with depression, which result in early retirement - conditions which do not normally lead to death.
The precise risk of dying early is unclear.
Researchers offer two explanations. One is that the health factors which result in early retirement are many and complex. Another is that the social isolation of early retirement can have a negative influence on health.
I'm getting prepared for a second career. My son is in college, my daughter is in the eleventh grade. I don't plan on retiring, but I may go part time at some point.
Ummmm... of course in the very socialist state of Sweden where this bogus article was prepared, the WORST thing they could possibly have happen is to have people retiring early. The STATE needs everyone working as long as possible to support all the state's programs.
Had a neighbor retire just 6 months ago. He was in law enforcement for 35 years. He just dropped dead two months ago, exactly 4 months to the day after retiring. I recall him telling me he was bored as hell.
I've noticed this for a long time although I look at it differently. Those who work have the impetus to get up every morning and keep themselves in relative good health because they need to keep working. Once the need to work everyday disappears, many people ask their bodies to do less and wind up killing themselves in the process through weight gain, heart disease, etc.
I think of Paul "Bear" Bryant who coached football to a ripe old age and then died of a heart attack a year into retirement. I think some people just aren't meant to stop working.
BTW, I also see a correlation between occupations and length of life. It seems that if you swing your arms regularly and have few bosses, you will live longer. The celebrities I note who seem to have the longest average lifespans are professional golfers, orchestra conductors and movie directors. That's what I see that all three have in common.
Nearly everyone (retirees that is) that I know agree. They're all having more fun (and seem busier) than when they were working.
Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work.
It is an interesting study, but it has the opposite data than a report I saw.
Last year, I saw a paper circuilating around at work that showed the average number of monthly retirement checks that Boeing retirees drew, based on the age of retirement.
For those retiring at age 55 .... 300 monthly payments (25 years of retirement)
For those retiring at age 65 .... 18 monthly payments.
Now, like so many others in this thread, I suspect that there are far more things that go into this.
BUT ... I suspect that those who have active retired life - and those retiring at earlier ages might have developed major hobbies that keep the retirees busy!!
As for me ... I wish I had retired at 40, because based on the Boeing curve, I would live forever!
Now ... maybe the Swedish study was looking at people who were totally bored in retired life, and died off after retirement, regardless of age of retirement ... but I am skeptical. I think both Leo Carpathian & Rightone are both correct in their suppositions!
Mike
Ever go to a retirement community? The most boring bunch of people you ever want to meet. Their entire focus has been narrowed to the trivial or the crack pot. They're in storage. I talk to everyone, and believe me, the old guy who is still working as a janitor or driving a cab is more interesting than the former CEO living in retirement.
OK, keep your eye on me. I retired when I was 46 and now I'm 59. If I quit posting you can assume it's because I'm dead. =:0
LOL
Too bad you're not a Dim, you could post after you're dead.
They died of boredom.
How many people who "retire" early do so because of failing health and skew the mortality avergaes?
IMO, these types of studies are done in order to discourage people from retiring early in welfare states in order to cut down on the amount of money paid out to the retirees. Back in the 70s, I think it was, there was a study done on similar lines in the US and they were urging people not to draw there SS before they reached full retirement as they might die sooner.
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