Health-related behaviour in relation to transition into age retirement: An observational study based on HUNT3

OBJECTIVES: In western countries, more years are being spent in age retirement. The transition phase into age retirement may be important for physical and mental health in the years following retirement. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether age retirement is associated with changes in the level of physical activity, smoking habits and alcohol habits. DESIGN: Using data on self-reported health-related behaviour from a population-based study (The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3)) linked to registry data on age retirement, participants who retired within two years prior to and two years after participating in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (N = 2,197) were compared. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2,197 participants were included. SETTING: Population-based study in Norway. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Registry data on age retirement. RESULTS: No systematic differences in alcohol consumption, smoking or physical activity over the strata defined by time before or after age retirement were identified. CONCLUSION: The current and previous findings do not suggest that transition into age retirement changes health-related behaviours. However, there is probably merit in investigating complicating factors related to the retirement process, such as degree of voluntariness, as these factors may influence the impact of age retirement on health behaviours.