Is there really a right time to retire? And if you have the opportunity to take early retirement, why not take advantage of it? On the threshold of 60, many repeat it to themselves. However, a new study throws some red flags on this decision, since retiring earlier than expected could worsen your mental health.
A recent article published in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization suggests that early retirement may accelerate cognitive decline in late adulthood. “Retirement support program beneficiaries we studied for this study report low levels of social engagement, with significantly lower rates of volunteering and social interaction than those who did not benefit from the program,” said the author. principal Plamen Nikoloveconomics assistant at the Binghamton University, State University of New Yorkin a press release on the study taken up by Fox News. “And this tells us that, among older adults, increased social isolation is strongly linked to faster cognitive decline.”
How the study of cognitive functioning was conducted
The study was carried out through the analysis of members of a pension program introduced in rural areas of China to fight poverty in old age. Is called New Rural Pension Scheme (NRPS) and is voluntary, meaning you are not obligated to participate. “The basic feature is that at the age of 60, people can take advantage of these benefits, including an advance monetary salary with respect to retirement age» explained Nikolov. “Therefore, it is not necessary to retire early to have this kind of economic advantage, but many still retire earlier than they would have done without the program”.
The researchers, who conducted the analysis to see how retirement plans affect cognitive performance using a cognitive survey called Chinese Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS), found that program participants reported reduced rates of regular drinking compared to the previous year, but also lower rates of volunteerism and social interaction than non-recipients. What’s more, they noticed that increased social isolation was strongly associated with faster cognitive decline.
The study concluded that the negative influence of early retirement on mental activities and social engagement outweighed the protective health benefit.
The importance of active engagement and social relationships
Specifically, the researchers were able to study how the decision to retire might impact cognition by comparing two groups: one made up of people of similar age and socioeconomic characteristics participating in the retirement program and another group of people with similar characteristics in areas where no similar program existed. Individuals in areas with the retirement program scored significantly lower than individuals living in areas that do not offer the program.
These results were surprising, according to the study, because they were similar to the results of the same phenomenon in higher income countries or areas, such as America, England and the European Union. “When you’re busy, you actively use your brain and, in this sense, going to work helps mental abilities, just as going to the gym improves physical fitness,” said Nikolov. The study also highlights the benefits of interacting with other people as you age. “When we interact with other people, there are at least two aspects that are important,” she added. The first is thesocial interaction, since «social connection can generate positive feedback in terms of social, emotional and physical well-being. The second advantage is that a increased interaction with friends and family enhances mental and intellectual stimulation».
Ultimately, it emerges that, in the elderly, what matters and determines better health may not coincide with what determines better cognition. “We hope that our findings can influence the way retirees set up their lives, opening them to a more holistic perspective and with a greater focus on social engagement, active volunteering and participation in activities that promote mental training” , concluded Nikolov.
Ultimately always keeping in mind that social commitment and relationships are the most important factors in determining cognitive performance in old age.
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Source: Vanity Fair
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