Self-Rated Health and Disability Retirement
Author Information
Author(s): Pietiläinen Olli, Laaksonen Mikko, Rahkonen Ossi, Lahelma Eero
Primary Institution: Department of Public Health, Hjelt Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Hypothesis
Does self-rated health predict disability retirement, and can ill-health and working conditions explain this association?
Conclusion
Self-rated health is a strong predictor of disability retirement, partly explained by ill-health and working conditions.
Supporting Evidence
- Less than good self-rated health predicted disability retirement with a hazard ratio of 4.60 for women and 3.83 for men.
- Ill-health and physical working conditions partly explained the association between self-rated health and disability retirement.
- Limiting longstanding illness was the strongest explanatory factor for all-cause disability retirement.
Takeaway
If people think their health is not good, they are more likely to stop working because of health problems. This study shows that how people feel about their health can help predict if they will retire early due to disability.
Methodology
The study used survey data from municipal employees aged 40-60 and linked it to national pension registers to analyze disability retirement events.
Potential Biases
Non-response and declining linkage to external registers may introduce bias.
Limitations
The study sample may not be fully representative of the entire population of Finland due to non-response and linkage issues.
Participant Demographics
Municipal employees aged 40-60 years, with a response rate of 67% and 80% of respondents being women.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI 3.84–5.51 for women, 95% CI 2.64–5.56 for men
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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