Physical activity changes among adults aged 50-70 in transition out of full-time employment

Conference abstract: Research has been conducted on the physical activity (PA) of older adults transitioning into full retirement, however transition into an alternative employment status (i.e. semi-retired) may also impact PA. PURPOSE: To determine the magnitude and direction of change in PA that coincides with transitions out of full-time (FT) employment status. METHODS: Data were derived from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative source of longitudinal data on older adults in the US. Participants (n=5754, age 50-70) employed FT at baseline were included in the study. PA and employment status were self-reported at baseline (2004, 2006, 2008) and at follow-up (2006, 2008, 2010). PA variables included leisure-time and work-related activities, stratified by frequency (≥2 days/week versus <2 days/week) and intensity: light (LT), moderate (MOD), vigorous (VIG). Transitions out of FT included working part-time (PT), retired (RET), semi-retired (S-RET), unemployed (UN), and disabled (DIS). Logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the degree of change in, and intensity of, PA associated with transitions out of FT. RESULTS: MOD PA decreased for those who remained in FT between baseline and follow-up (OR) 0.95, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 0.91, 0.99). PA across all intensities was highest in those transitioning from FT to PT at baseline (VIG OR 1.41 95%CI 1.23, 1.61; MOD OR 1.28 95%CI 1.12, 1.46; LT OR 1.29 95%CI 1.12, 1.49). Those transitioning to UN were already among the least physically active at baseline irrespective of intensity. Those transitioning to RET were also already among the least active (VIG OR 0.71 95%CI 0.61, 0.81; MOD OR 0.80 95%CI 0.71, 0.90; LT OR 0.96 95%CI 0.85, 1.10). Declines in PA were reported for those transitioning to PT (p>0.05) and to DIS (VIG OR 0.29 95%CI 0.14, 0.64; MOD OR 0.56 95%CI 0.33, 0.95; LT OR 0.34 95%CI 0.19, 0.63). In contrast, PA of all intensities increased among participants transitioning to S-RET (p>0.05) and RET (VIG OR 1.28 95%CI 1.09, 1.51; MOD OR 1.24 95%CI 1.07, 1.43; LT 1.11 95%CI 0.95; 1.29). CONCLUSION: Change in PA among older adults transitioning out of FT varies considerably. Interventions should be aimed at promoting MOD PA among people transitioning from FT to PT or UN, and PA of all intensities to those transitioning to DIS.