Social Participation during the Transition to Retirement: Findings on Work, Health and Physical Activity beyond Retirement from an Interview Study over the Course of 3 Years

The study aimed at (1) comparing pensioners and non-pensioners, and (2) testing mediators between physical activity (PA) and worked hours. An interview-study was conducted with N = 5,002 community-dwelling people aged 55-70 years (for T1). N = 2,501 (50%) were interviewed over 3 years (for T2). The less people worked, the more physically active they were. The relationship between PA and worked hours was mediated by life-investment and subjective health. Supporting PA may enable older individuals to work even after the adjustment to retirement. All initiatives may help lower the risk of early retirement and thereby achieve successful aging.