Do you enjoy work?

[Bruce Wayne]

Recent research by the British Medical Journal has suggested that taking early retirement doesn't actually lengthen your life expectancy.

Is this an example that work is good for you or is it merely that those who retire early often do so on health grounds?

[PRICEPLUS]

Maybe it is more a function of liking what you do as opposed to doing what you like.

[sweeps]

Does the research say whether there is any correlation between early retirement and longevity? It would be interesting to see if taking early retirement reduces your life expectancy.

[Miz Pat]

What I have noticed is that many people, especially men, base their worth on the fact that they work. When they lose the sense of self-esteem from bringing in an income, they slide downhill.

Also, someone who is depressed may miss the control of being in a work environment and not keep themselves active after retiring.

[barbara L]

I don't like my job and in 15 years I'll have been there 35 years and I'm hoping to retire at 55. I think I am in more danger to my health driving back and forth to work, breathing in exhaust fumes and dodging overly aggressive drivers than being at work and dealing with the stress there. And yes, it might be a control thing. My blood pressure rises whenever I'm running late because of an accident or road construction. At least I have a little bit of control over my circumstances while I'm at work.

I work with statistics every day and it is very easy to manipulate figures. For instance one of the reasons so many people die after retiring can be disability, however; another reason could be that they studied men over 65 that retired between the ages of 60 and 65. If the study group were men age 50 to 65, the results could have been far different. Then don't forget to add in the normal life expectancy, nutrition, access to medical care, marriage, divorce and death of a spouse - wow what a difference! You also need to know who the statistics are for.

I hope that if I retire early I'll have more time to do the things I want to do. Hopefully that alone will add a year or two to my life.

[Bruce Wayne]

Originally Posted by Sweepsplayer

Does the research say whether there is any correlation between early retirement and longevity? It would be interesting to see if taking early retirement reduces your life expectancy.

Yes it did make that connection:

"Research for the British Medical Journal has shown that people who retire at 55 are nearly twice as likely to die in the first ten years after they finish work as those who work on to 65. "

[sweeps]

Interesting.

Assuming the correlation is true, I would propose that it isn't retiring early that causes an early death. It's possible that people overextend themselves in high-paying, high-stress jobs to make enough money to retire 10 years early.

[abowers]

Originally Posted by Sweepsplayer

Interesting.

Assuming the correlation is true, I would propose that it isn't retiring early that causes an early death. It's possible that people overextend themselves in high-paying, high-stress jobs to make enough money to retire 10 years early.

I agree. People who really enjoy their jobs would tend to work longer I think (I'm thinking of a High School English teacher who was in her late 60's and claimed she doesn't use an alarm because she is excited to get up and teach every day).

[Moi?]

No not really, though it's quite easy and my bosses are lovely, it is also mind-numbingly boring.

However, I do enjoy watching my savings grow and grow!

[Luv2shop]

No but it pays the bills