Differences in physical activity and mental function according to the employment status of elderly Japanese

OBJECTIVES: In recent years, the employment statuses of the elderly have become more diverse, and it is important to investigate the differences in health status according to employment statuses. This study aimed to examine the differences in physical activity and mental function among elderly Japanese according to their employment status and to examine the differences between men and women. METHODS: This cross‐sectional study used an online questionnaire. The participants were persons aged ≥60 years. Data on their sociodemographic indicators, employment status, physical activity, and mental function were collected. They were classified into six groups according to their employment status: being employed, completely retired, re‐hired at the same workplace, re‐hired at a different workplace, early retirement, and working at a job without a mandatory retirement age. Differences in the surveyed items according to employment status were compared using the Kruskal‐Wallis test. RESULTS: The total number of participants in the analysis with complete responses was 1552 (1207 men and 345 women; mean age 67.8 ± 5.9 years). The results revealed that among men, those who were re‐hired at different workplaces had higher walking physical activity, and retirees and early retirees had longer sedentary time and lower sense of self‐usefulness. There was no clear difference among women according to their employment status. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that physical activity and mental function among older adults may differ according to their employment status, especially for men. Employment among the elderly may play an important role in maintaining their physical activity and mental function.