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Multimorbidity and intention to retire: a cross-sectional study on 14 European countries

  • Original article
  • Published:
International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objectives

To describe the association between multimorbidity and intention of retirement in Europe and to understand whether this relationship is modified by the working environment and disability integration policies.

Methods

Participants were 11,790 employees aged 50–65 years old who responded to the sixth wave of SHARE project (2015). We modelled intention of retirement as a function of multimorbidity, adjusting for age, gender, education level, and household income by means of logistic models with country fixed effects. We then included the working conditions and an integration policy indicator as potential effect modifiers.

Results

Overall, 36.6% of participants reported multimorbidity and 56.1% were willing to retire earlier. Multimorbidity was significantly associated with intention of retirement (OR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.37–1.84). Unfavourable working conditions were positively related to the intention to retire (OR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.53–2.58), while the integration policy was unrelated (OR = 1.84, 95% CI 0.80–4.23). Both did not modify the studied association (interaction terms: OR = 1.14, 95% CI 0.77–1.67, and OR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.58–1.24, respectively).

Conclusions

Multimorbidity is associated with intention of retirement in Europe. This association was unaltered by working conditions and integration policies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Avenida Padre Cruz, Lisbon, Portugal

    Pedro A. Laires, M. Serrano-Alarcón & J. Perelman

  2. Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), Lisbon, Portugal

    Pedro A. Laires, H. Canhão & J. Perelman

  3. CEDOC EpiDoC Unit, NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    H. Canhão

Authors
  1. Pedro A. Laires
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  2. M. Serrano-Alarcón
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  3. H. Canhão
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  4. J. Perelman
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Correspondence to Pedro A. Laires.

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Laires, P.A., Serrano-Alarcón, M., Canhão, H. et al. Multimorbidity and intention to retire: a cross-sectional study on 14 European countries. Int J Public Health 65, 187–195 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-019-01322-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-019-01322-0

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