@article {6440, title = {Physical, Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Mediators of Activity Involvement and Health in Later Life.}, journal = {Res Aging}, volume = {38}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Oct}, pages = {791-815}, abstract = {

The current study tests the indirect effect of activity-related physical activity, cognitive activity, social interaction, and emotional exchange on the relationship between activity involvement and health (physical and emotional) in later life. Longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 5,442) were used to estimate a series of linear regression models. We found significant indirect effects for social interaction and benefit to others (emotional exchange) on emotional health (depressive symptoms) and indirect effects for use of body and benefit to others (physical) on physical health (frailty). The most potent indirect effect associated with emotional and physical health was experienced by those engaged in all four domains (use of body, use of mind, social interaction, and benefit to others). While effect sizes are small and results should be interpreted with caution, findings shed light on ways in which public health interventions aimed toward increasing role engagement in later life could be improved.

}, keywords = {Aged, depression, Efficiency, Employment, Exercise, Female, Health Status, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Quality of Life, Volunteers}, issn = {1552-7573}, doi = {10.1177/0164027515606182}, url = {http://roa.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/09/30/0164027515606182.abstract}, author = {Matz-Costa, Christina and Dawn C Carr and Tay K. McNamara and Jacquelyn Boone James} } @article {7603, title = {Volunteer transitions among older adults: the role of human, social, and cultural capital in later life.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {66}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Jul}, pages = {490-501}, publisher = {66B}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: We aim to understand how human, social, and cultural capitals are associated with the volunteer process, that is, engagement (starting), intensity (number of hours), and cessation (stopping), among older adults.

METHOD: Data from the 2000 through 2008 Health and Retirement Study and the 2001 through 2009 Consumption and Activity Mail Survey provide a sample of 4,526 respondents. Random-effects pooled time series analyses incorporate not only the presence of various types of capital but also the quality of that capital.

RESULTS: Human and cultural capitals were positively associated with increased volunteer involvement. Effects of social capital (relationships in the family, employment status, and the community) depended on the quality of the relationships, not necessarily on their presence alone.

DISCUSSION: Results suggest that bolstering older adults{\textquoteright} capitals, particularly among lower socioeconomic status groups, can increase volunteer engagement and intensity and reduce cessation. Additionally, a variety of organizational policies including respite programs for caregivers and employer policies allowing employees to reduce their work hours might indirectly affect participation rates and commitment. Potential pools of volunteers exist in families, workplaces, and religious organizations, but more research is necessary to identify how to recruit and retain individuals in social networks where volunteer participatory rates are low.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aging, Caregivers, Community Participation, Cost of Illness, Educational Status, Employment, Female, Health Status, Health Surveys, Humans, Likelihood Functions, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Multivariate Analysis, Religion and Psychology, Social Environment, Social Identification, Social Support, Socioeconomic factors, United States, Volunteers}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbr055}, author = {Tay K. McNamara and Guillermo Ernest Gonzales} } @article {6970, title = {Race, gender, and the retirement decisions of people ages 60 to 80: prospects for age integration in employment.}, journal = {Int J Aging Hum Dev}, volume = {59}, year = {2004}, month = {2004}, pages = {255-86}, publisher = {59}, abstract = {

UNLABELLED: Demographic projections have prompted concerns about the potential economic burden of an aging population. This article, drawing on the 1998 Health and Retirement Study, explores ways in which race, gender, and age moderate the effects of various factors on labor force participation among people ages 60 to 80. Key findings center on health, education, and non-wage income. First, the effect of low non-wage income is weaker at older ages due to higher levels of functional disability. Second, the effect of low education is stronger for women, who perceive their chances of finding employment as low. Third, the effect of health is weaker for blacks, as they are less likely to find steady employment regardless of health.

POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Employer flexibility in number of hours worked might make sense for workers close to retirement age, while job search and training programs might be preferable for workers past the typical retirement age.

}, keywords = {Age Distribution, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Black People, Educational Status, Employment, Female, Health Status, Humans, Income, Logistic Models, Male, Middle Aged, Retirement, Sex Distribution, White People}, issn = {0091-4150}, doi = {10.2190/GE24-03MX-U34P-AMNH}, author = {Tay K. McNamara and Williamson, John B.} } @article {5532, title = {The Role of Marital History, Early Retirement Benefits, and the Economic Status of Women}, number = {WP$\#$2003-1}, year = {2003}, institution = {Center for Retirement Research at Boston College}, address = {Boston}, abstract = {This article compares the relative economic status of women who take and postpone taking early Social Security benefits, with particular attention to the role of marital history. Marital history categories discussed include: lifelong marriages, marriages in which the woman had been previously divorced or widowed, divorced, widowed, and never married. The results presented here should be useful in evaluating the potential consequences of increasing the Earliest Entitlement Age (EEA). While increasing the EEA would not cause economic hardship for many, it may have adverse effects on divorced and widowed women who generally are at greater risk of poverty than married women. The economic effects of prior divorce or widowhood are reflected in the lower financial resources of women who remarry. ( 2003, by Tay K. McNamara, Regina O Grady-LeShane, and John B. Williamson.)}, keywords = {Adult children, Net Worth and Assets, Women and Minorities}, url = {https://crr.bc.edu/working-papers/the-role-of-marital-history-early-retirement-benefits-and-the-economic-status-of-women/}, author = {Tay K. McNamara and Regina O{\textquoteright}Grady-LeShane and Williamson, John B.} } @mastersthesis {5999, title = {The Role of Social Context in the Relationship Between Health and Retirement}, year = {2003}, month = {2003}, school = {Boston College}, abstract = {While many studies have evaluated the effects of health on the retirement decision, these studies have typically paid less attention to the multi-level nature of the context within which individuals and couples make retirement decisions. Using data from waves 1 (1992) through 5 (2000) of the Health and Retirement Study, the present study addresses the multi-level nature of social context and its effects on the relationship between health and retirement. In three linked subanalyses, particular attention was paid to how three core concepts of life course theory (i.e., the social clock, the interdependence of family and work trajectories, and the role of institutions in shaping inequalities) might help to clarify the relationship between health, retirement, and social context. The results of this study indicate that social context, as embodied by internalized norms, social groups, and institutional structures, moderates the relationship between retirement and poor health. More specifically, the analysis of the social clock (micro-level context) indicates that internalized expectations about the correct time to retire influence whether a nonworking person considers themselves retired. Workers in poor health are disproportionately likely to consider themselves "unretired", nonworking but not retired. The analysis of the interdependence of work and family (meso-level context) found that couples jointly evaluated the husbands{\textquoteright} and wives{\textquoteright} health statuses when making reverse retirement decisions, but not necessarily when making retirement decisions. The analysis of the role of institutions in shaping inequalities focused on the effects of employer policies beneficial to workers in poor health. The effects of two types of policies, employer flexibility in number of hours worked and employer provided health insurance, were examined. While it is not feasible for one study to address all aspects of social context, the present study highlights the relationship between health and retirement on several levels.}, keywords = {Adult children, Event History/Life Cycle, Health Conditions and Status, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction}, author = {Tay K. McNamara} } @article {5526, title = {The Effect of Unplanned Changes in Marital and Disability Status: Interrupted Trajectories and Labor }, number = {2002-5}, year = {2002}, institution = {Center for Retirement Research at Boston College}, address = {Boston}, abstract = {This study explored the effect of unplanned changes in disability and marital status on labor force participation for a sample of just under six thousand men and women born between 1931 and 1941. It was based on wave 1 (1992) through wave 4 (1998) of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data. Binomial hierarchical linear models were used to evaluate the change in the probability of working. Unplanned changes in disability and marital status had effects on labor force participation over and above the effects of the statuses themselves. These findings highlight the need for employer and government policies that minimize the stress that exists with unplanned events. Such policies might encourage higher labor force participation among workers who experience unplanned events that prompt them to exit the labor force earlier than they otherwise would have, with potentially adverse consequences for their subsequent socioeconomic status.}, keywords = {Adult children, Disabilities, Employment and Labor Force}, url = {https://crr.bc.edu/working-papers/the-effect-of-unplanned-changes-in-marital-and-disability-status-interrupted-trajectories-and-labor/}, author = {Williamson, John B. and Tay K. McNamara} } @article {5454, title = {Why Some Workers Remain in the Labor Force Beyond the Typical Age of Retirement}, number = {2001-09}, year = {2001}, institution = {Boston College Center for Retirement Research}, address = {Boston}, abstract = {This study explored the ways in which race, gender, and age moderated the effects of several determinants of labor force participation among people ages 60 to 80. The role of race, gender, and age in moderating the effect of various factors on labor force participation was examined using the 1998 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data. Binomial logistic regression models were used to evaluate the interaction between race, gender, age and other determinants of labor force participation. The effects of various factors on labor force participation differed by gender, race, and age. The negative effects of low education and poor health, respectively, were stronger for women and blacks. Also, the positive effect of low nonwage income was weaker for older workers, probably due partly to poorer health. Our findings suggest that different types of policies would help to encourage labor force participation among different groups. Because lack of access to employment may deter continued work among subgroups such as blacks and women with low education, job training or job search programs might provide incentives for employment in these groups. Additionally, employer flexibility regarding part-time work and work demands might make continued work attractive for more older workers.}, keywords = {Employment and Labor Force, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction}, url = {https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=290095}, author = {Williamson, John B. and Tay K. McNamara} }