Bridge Employment: Jobs After Retirement

More and more people are finding themselves back in the work force post retirement. National studies show that fewer health related problems are suffered by those who continue to work versus those who choose full retirement. The American Psychological Association refers to this sort of transition as "bridge employment".

During a six year span over twelve thousand participants were interviewed every two years. The interview questions consisted of questions concerning their financial status, employment history, health, and continued work or retirement. Participants ranged in age from fifty to sixty. Some participants stayed in the same fields of work, while others sought employment in unfamiliar fields of expertise.

Health problems diagnosed by a physician were the only eligible illnesses considered in the research studies. People who worked in the same field as their lifetime careers showed better mental health than those who took post retirement jobs out of their field of expertise. The stress of learning a new career has been found to have a negative impact on financial security and mental health.

Bridge employment retirees were found to have a mental score that is over 30% higher than those who choose full retirement. Three quarters of men between the ages of 55 and 75 are in better health when they continue to work post retirement age than those who don't. More than seventy percent of women who continue to work are in better health, mentally and physically, than those who opt for full retirement.