This chapter is based on a study of the effects of different exit routes from working life on the... more This chapter is based on a study of the effects of different exit routes from working life on the individual worker's self-esteem. We compared three exit routes, retirement or exit on disability pension (lifelong option based on medical evaluation), retirement or exit on optional age pension (available between age 62 and 66), and ordinary old age pension (taking effect between 67 and 70 years of age). The hypotheses were tested on data from a panel study of a random sample of Norwegian workforce that conducted two measurements five years apart. Self-esteem was measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The results revealed that, compared to those remaining at work, exiting on disability pension led to reduced self-esteem, while exiting on optional early pension or ordinary old age pension showed similar trends, although the differences were not significant for these groups. Exit on disability pension seemed to be a more negative experience for the individual, probably threatening the " self-maintenance motive " or the " motive of self-worth ". The findings present a unique contribution to the research on self-esteem and exit from working life.
The article reviews Norwegian and international research on aging and work; causes of early exit,... more The article reviews Norwegian and international research on aging and work; causes of early exit,attitudes towards older workers, aging and work performance, and trends of changes in working life.Workers seem to have become too old to work at increasingly younger ages. Recent and futuredemographic changes call for initiatives to keep older workers in the work force. In many countriesfavourable early retirement arrangements are reversed in order to stop pulling older workers prematurelyout of work. The other main group of factors causing early exit, the push factors in the work environment,have until recently attracted less attention. Even if older workers in general seem to be no less effectivethan younger workers, employers prefer to recruit younger workers, and to dismiss older workers whenreducing the staff. However, employers’ cognitions of older workes’ performance is quite nuanced. Thereseems to be an emotional ambivalence where negative feelings are less openly expressed, sti...
ABSTRACTThe purpose is to study how spouses of persons with dementia cope with losses and caregiv... more ABSTRACTThe purpose is to study how spouses of persons with dementia cope with losses and caregiving tasks during thedementia process and how their coping is related to the individual's and the couple's history of attachment. Thesample consists of 28 couples where one of the spouses has dementia. The caregiving spouses, aged 60-87, areinterviewed at an early stage of dementia and are followed up every 6-9 months over a periode of three years.The life situation is continually changing, and coping methods are repeatedly challenged. Coping with lossesand readjustments are dependent upon their need of the partner to feel safe. Different patterns of attachment behaviourare seen. Compulsive caregiving spouses attend to their spouse beyond their needs. Spouses in anxiousattachment often panic and try to fight back the symptoms of dementia. A pattern of compulsive self-sufficiencymanifests itself as arguing or withdrawal from the partner. Secure attachment makes it easier to accept ...
While poor health contributes to early work exits, it is less clear how early work exits affect h... more While poor health contributes to early work exits, it is less clear how early work exits affect health. This study therefore examines changes in health associated with retirement. Survey data from gainfully employed individuals aged 57 to 66 in 2002 were used to assess changes in health status and behaviors associated with retirement (49%) 5 years later (N = 546). Compared with workers, retirees were more likely to report improvements in mental health (odds ratio [OR] = 1.67), and less likely to report mental health deteriorations (OR = 0.56). Retirees were more likely to both increase (OR = 2.03) and reduce (OR = 1.87) their alcohol intake, and to increase physical activity (OR = 2.01) and lose weight (OR = 1.75). As welfare states aim to extend working life to counteract repercussions of population aging, findings on possible health benefits for retirees may warrant more focus on the pros and cons of a prolonged working life.
This chapter is based on a study of the effects of different exit routes from working life on the... more This chapter is based on a study of the effects of different exit routes from working life on the individual worker's self-esteem. We compared three exit routes, retirement or exit on disability pension (lifelong option based on medical evaluation), retirement or exit on optional age pension (available between age 62 and 66), and ordinary old age pension (taking effect between 67 and 70 years of age). The hypotheses were tested on data from a panel study of a random sample of Norwegian workforce that conducted two measurements five years apart. Self-esteem was measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. The results revealed that, compared to those remaining at work, exiting on disability pension led to reduced self-esteem, while exiting on optional early pension or ordinary old age pension showed similar trends, although the differences were not significant for these groups. Exit on disability pension seemed to be a more negative experience for the individual, probably threatening the " self-maintenance motive " or the " motive of self-worth ". The findings present a unique contribution to the research on self-esteem and exit from working life.
The article reviews Norwegian and international research on aging and work; causes of early exit,... more The article reviews Norwegian and international research on aging and work; causes of early exit,attitudes towards older workers, aging and work performance, and trends of changes in working life.Workers seem to have become too old to work at increasingly younger ages. Recent and futuredemographic changes call for initiatives to keep older workers in the work force. In many countriesfavourable early retirement arrangements are reversed in order to stop pulling older workers prematurelyout of work. The other main group of factors causing early exit, the push factors in the work environment,have until recently attracted less attention. Even if older workers in general seem to be no less effectivethan younger workers, employers prefer to recruit younger workers, and to dismiss older workers whenreducing the staff. However, employers’ cognitions of older workes’ performance is quite nuanced. Thereseems to be an emotional ambivalence where negative feelings are less openly expressed, sti...
ABSTRACTThe purpose is to study how spouses of persons with dementia cope with losses and caregiv... more ABSTRACTThe purpose is to study how spouses of persons with dementia cope with losses and caregiving tasks during thedementia process and how their coping is related to the individual's and the couple's history of attachment. Thesample consists of 28 couples where one of the spouses has dementia. The caregiving spouses, aged 60-87, areinterviewed at an early stage of dementia and are followed up every 6-9 months over a periode of three years.The life situation is continually changing, and coping methods are repeatedly challenged. Coping with lossesand readjustments are dependent upon their need of the partner to feel safe. Different patterns of attachment behaviourare seen. Compulsive caregiving spouses attend to their spouse beyond their needs. Spouses in anxiousattachment often panic and try to fight back the symptoms of dementia. A pattern of compulsive self-sufficiencymanifests itself as arguing or withdrawal from the partner. Secure attachment makes it easier to accept ...
While poor health contributes to early work exits, it is less clear how early work exits affect h... more While poor health contributes to early work exits, it is less clear how early work exits affect health. This study therefore examines changes in health associated with retirement. Survey data from gainfully employed individuals aged 57 to 66 in 2002 were used to assess changes in health status and behaviors associated with retirement (49%) 5 years later (N = 546). Compared with workers, retirees were more likely to report improvements in mental health (odds ratio [OR] = 1.67), and less likely to report mental health deteriorations (OR = 0.56). Retirees were more likely to both increase (OR = 2.03) and reduce (OR = 1.87) their alcohol intake, and to increase physical activity (OR = 2.01) and lose weight (OR = 1.75). As welfare states aim to extend working life to counteract repercussions of population aging, findings on possible health benefits for retirees may warrant more focus on the pros and cons of a prolonged working life.
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Papers by Per Erik Solem