@article {10131, title = {Alternative retirement paths and cognitive performance: Exploring the role of preretirement job complexity.}, journal = {The Gerontologist}, volume = {60}, year = {2020}, type = {Journal}, chapter = {460-471}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recent research suggests that working longer may be protective of cognitive functioning in later life, especially for workers in low complexity jobs. As postretirement work becomes increasingly popular, it is important to understand how various retirement pathways influence cognitive function. The present study examines cognitive changes as a function of job complexity in the context of different types of retirement transitions.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We use data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine change in cognitive function for workers who have held low, moderate, and high complexity jobs and move through distinct retirement pathways-retiring and returning to work, partial retirement-compared with those who fully retire or remain full-time workers. Inverse probability weighted regression adjustment (a propensity score method) is used to adjust for selection effects.

RESULTS: There are systematic variations in the relationships between work and cognitive performance as a function of job complexity and retirement pathways. All retirement pathways were associated with accelerated cognitive decline for workers in low complexity jobs. In contrast, for high complexity workers retirement was not associated with accelerated cognitive decline and retiring and returning to work was associated with modest improvement in cognitive functioning.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Both policy makers and individuals are beginning to embrace longer working lives which offer variety of potential benefits. Our findings suggest that continued full-time work also may be protective for cognitive health in workers who hold low complexity jobs.

}, keywords = {Cognitive Ability, Employment and Labor Force, Trajectories}, issn = {1758-5341}, doi = {10.1093/geront/gnz079}, url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31289823?dopt=Abstract}, author = {Dawn C Carr and Robert J. Willis and Ben Lennox Kail and Carstensen, Lisbeth} } @article {10940, title = {More than Selection Effects: Volunteering is Associated with Benefits in Cognitive Functioning}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology: Series B}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Volunteering is a lifestyle behavior that bolsters cognitive resilience. However, previous studies have not assessed the degree to which cognitive functioning is predictive of becoming a volunteer (i.e., selection into volunteering), and how this might contribute to superior cognitive performance observed among volunteers. The purpose of this brief report is to address the role of cognition-related selection into becoming a volunteer in the association between formal volunteering and two cognitive measures: (1) overall cognitive function, and (2) self-rated memory.The Health and Retirement Study was used to assess whether, net of cognitive selection into volunteering, formal volunteering is associated with cognitive function.Selection explained between 4.9\% and 29\% of the effect of volunteering on cognitive function (depending on the cognitive outcome and the level of volunteering). However, net of cognitive selection into volunteering, among all cognitive measures there are beneficial effects of formal volunteering on cognitive function.}, keywords = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, Cognition, Health Promotion, Volunteer activity}, isbn = {1079-5014}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbaa101}, author = {Ben Lennox Kail and Dawn C Carr} } @article {10388, title = {Structural Social Support and Changes in Depression during the Retirement Transition: "I Get by With a Little Help from My Friends".}, journal = {Journals of Gerontology Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences}, volume = {75}, year = {2020}, pages = {2040-2049}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated whether (a) retirement was associated with increased depressive symptoms, (b) four sources social support were associated with decreased depressive symptoms, and (c) whether the relationship between retirement and depressive symptoms varied across four sources social support.

METHOD: Health and Retirement Study data were used to assess whether four measures of structural support moderated the association between transitioning to full retirement (relative to remaining in full time work) and symptoms of depression.

RESULTS: Results from two stage mixed-effects multilevel models indicated (a) on average retirement was associated with a small but significant increase in depressive symptoms after adjusting for pre-retirement social support, (b) on average, social support not associated with changes in symptoms of depression, but (c) social support from friends moderates the association between retirement and symptoms of depression such that at low levels of social support, retirement was associated with a sizeable increase in depressive symptoms, but this association decreased as level of social support from friends increased.

DISCUSSION: Results suggest people with low levels of social support may benefit from actively cultivating friendships in retirement to help mitigate some of deleterious effects of retirement.

}, keywords = {depression, Retirement, Social Support}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbz126}, author = {Ben Lennox Kail and Dawn C Carr} } @article {9356, title = {Does Becoming A Volunteer Attenuate Loneliness Among Recently Widowed Older Adults?}, journal = {Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences \& Social Sciences}, volume = {73}, year = {2018}, pages = {501-510}, abstract = {

Objectives: Loneliness is a significant public health concern, particularly for those who have lost a spouse through widowhood. This study examines whether becoming a volunteer at the time of widowhood is associated with reduction of these risks.

Method: A pooled sample of 5,882 married adults age 51+, drawn from the 2006-2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, was used to estimate regression models of the relationship between becoming widowed (relative to staying continuously married) and loneliness, and whether the associated loneliness of having lost a spouse is moderated by starting to volunteer (<2 hr, 2+ hr/week).

Results: Our results show that for those who become widowed, loneliness is significantly higher than those who stay continuously married. However, starting to volunteer 2+ hr per week is related to attenuated loneliness among the widowed such that widows who volunteer at that intensity have levels of loneliness similar to those of continuously married individuals volunteering at the same intensity.

Discussion: This study suggests higher intensity volunteering may be a particularly important pathway for alleviating loneliness among older adults who have recently become widowed. Results are discussed in light of theory, future research, and potential interventions.

}, keywords = {Bereavement, Depressive symptoms, Loneliness, Volunteerism, Widowhood}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbx092}, author = {Dawn C Carr and Ben Lennox Kail and Matz-Costa, Christina and Yochai Z Shavit} } @article {9361, title = {The Relation of Volunteering and Subsequent Changes in Physical Disability in Older Adults.}, journal = {Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences \& Social Sciences}, volume = {73}, year = {2018}, pages = {511-521}, abstract = {

Objectives: To describe the association between initiating volunteering and changes in physical disability in older adults, and whether intensity and gender modify this relationship.

Methods: Employing propensity score weighted regression adjustment, we calculate changes in disability using a sample of U.S. adults (n = 7,135) in the Health and Retirement Study (1996-2012) not volunteering at baseline but later initiating volunteering (1-99 hr/year or 100+ hours per year) or remaining a nonvolunteer.

Results: Relative to continuous nonvolunteers, low-intensity volunteering is related to 34\% lower disability in the low-intensity group (average treatment effect [ATE] = -0.12) and 63\% lower in the higher-intensity group (ATE = -0.23). For men, progression was lower only in the highest intensity group (ATE = +0.02), but women experienced similarly less progression of disability (38\%-39\%) at either level of new engagement (ATE = -0.17 and -0.18).

Discussion: Initiating a new volunteer role in later life is related to decreased progression of disability, at low or high levels for women and only at higher levels for men. This study suggests that volunteer intervention programs may represent a major public health strategy to delay the progression of physical disability for older adults.

}, keywords = {Disabilities, Health Conditions and Status, Volunteerism}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbx102}, author = {Dawn C Carr and Ben Lennox Kail and John W Rowe} } @article {8492, title = {Successful Aging in the Context of the Disablement Process: Working and Volunteering as Moderators on the Association Between Chronic Conditions and Subsequent Functional Limitations.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {72}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 Mar 01}, pages = {340-350}, abstract = {

Objectives : This study evaluated the successful aging model by assessing the impact of two forms of productive engagement-working and volunteering-as potential interventions in the process of disablement.

Method : The Health and Retirement Study was used to (a) estimate two-stage selection equations of (i) currently working part time and full time and (ii) currently volunteering less than 100 hours and volunteering 100 hours or more per year (net of chronic health problems) and (b) assess whether, net of selection, working, and volunteering moderate the association between chronic conditions and subsequent functional limitations.

Results : Chronic conditions were associated with elevated levels of subsequent functional limitations, whereas both working and volunteering were associated with lower levels of subsequent functional limitations. Moreover, workers and volunteers of less than 100 hours per year experienced a reduction in the association of chronic conditions on subsequent functional limitations.

Discussion : This research highlights the role of productive engagement as a key element in successful aging. Not only do work and volunteering have direct associations with health outcomes themselves, but they also act as potential interventions in the process of disablement by attenuating the way in which chronic conditions are translated into subsequent functional limitations. This suggests that (a) future research should apply successful aging models to health processes as well as health outcomes and (b) policy makers should support social institutions that foster late-life productive engagement.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Disabled Persons, Employment, Female, Humans, Male, United States, Volunteers}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbw060}, url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27225973}, author = {Ben Lennox Kail and Dawn C Carr} } @article {8530, title = {Do Higher Levels of Resilience Buffer the Deleterious Impact of Chronic Illness on Disability in Later Life?}, journal = {Gerontologist}, volume = {56}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 06}, pages = {514-24}, abstract = {

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: In examining the ability of resilience, or the ability to navigate adversity in a manner that protects well-being, to buffer the impact of chronic disease onset on disability in later life, the authors tested 2 hypotheses: (a) People with greater levels of resilience will have lower levels of disability and (b) resilience will moderate the association between the onset of a new chronic condition and subsequent disability.

DESIGN AND METHODS: This study used a sample of 10,753 Americans between the ages of 51 and 98, derived from 3 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2010). Ordinary least squares regression was used to estimate the impact of resilience on changes in disability (measured as difficulty with activities of daily living [ADLs] and instrumental activities of daily living [IADLs]) over a 2-year period using a simplified resilience score.

RESULTS: Resilience protects against increases in ADL and IADL limitations that are often associated with aging. Resilience mitigates a considerable amount of the deleterious consequences related to the onset of chronic illness and subsequent disability.

IMPLICATIONS: Our results support our hypotheses and are consistent with claims that high levels of resilience can protect against the negative impact of disability in later life.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Chronic disease, Disability Evaluation, Disabled Persons, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Resilience, Psychological, Retirement, Surveys and Questionnaires}, issn = {1758-5341}, doi = {10.1093/geront/gnu068}, url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25063353}, author = {Lydia K Manning and Dawn C Carr and Ben Lennox Kail} } @article {7762, title = {The influence of unpaid work on the transition out of full-time paid work.}, journal = {Gerontologist}, volume = {53}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Feb}, pages = {92-101}, abstract = {

PURPOSE: Continued employment after retirement and engagement in unpaid work are both important ways of diminishing the negative economic effects of the retirement of baby boomer cohorts on society. Little research, however, examines the relationship between paid and unpaid work at the transition from full-time work. Using a resource perspective framework this study examines how engagement in unpaid work prior to and at the transition from full-time work influences whether individuals partially or fully retire.

DESIGN AND METHODS: This study used a sample of 2,236 Americans between the ages 50 and 68, who were interviewed between 1998 and 2008. Logistic regression was used to estimate transitioning into partial retirement (relative to full retirement) after leaving full-time work.

RESULTS: We found that the odds of transitioning into part-time work were increased by continuous volunteering (78\%) and reduced by starting parental (84\%), grandchild (41\%), and spousal (90\%) caregiving and unaffected by all other patterns of engagement in unpaid work.

IMPLICATIONS: Our findings suggest that volunteering is complementary with a transition to part-time work, and starting a new caregiving role at this transitioncreates a barrier to continued employment. In order to provide workers the opportunity to engage in the work force longer at the brink of retirement, it may be necessary to increase the support mechanisms for those who experience new caregiving responsibilities.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Employment, Female, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Logistic Models, Male, Middle Aged, Retirement, Salaries and Fringe Benefits, Volunteers, Work}, issn = {1758-5341}, doi = {10.1093/geront/gns080}, author = {Dawn C Carr and Ben Lennox Kail} }