RETIREMENT, QUALITY OF LIFE AND HEALTH
There are several studies on retirement’s impact on life and health habits, and the results are not uniform. These scientific studies indicate that retirement can affect healthy lifestyles through various mechanisms, such as:
- the increase in leisure time,
- no limitations,
- change in social contacts,
- changes in stress and lifestyle habits.
They point out that there are usually differences depending on the following factors:
- Voluntary retirement versus compulsory retirement.
- Age
- Family situation
- Economic situation
- Health condition
- Personality
- Attitude, the optimistic are better and increase survival.
- Social relationships, those who have them improve their quality of life and survival.
Likely, people who have had greater well-being during the working period will also have greater well-being in retirement, but, on the other hand, it is not clear that retirement is an apparent cause of well-being. However, in general terms, several studies support that retirement is beneficial for health in general, more evident for mental health (for example, there is less depression), not being so clear that it improves physical health.
No studies specifically analyze the relationship between practising hobbies and quality of life in retirees. There is a study carried out in the United Kingdom in which they indicate that 70% of those over 60 embark on a new hobby. Although the reason is not apparent, they comment that those who follow a hobby “enjoy life more”. On the other hand, it has been pointed out that retirees with a better quality of life have less cognitive deterioration with age.
In the next post, we will continue commenting on the effect of hobbies on retirees’ health.
