Life Satisfaction and Emotional Well-being among Older Adults: Does Working after Retirement Age Matter??

Alisa C. Lewin () and Haya Stier ()
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Alisa C. Lewin: University of Haifa
Haya Stier: Tel Aviv University

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2025, vol. 26, issue 6, No 23, 20 pages

Abstract: Abstract Official retirement age is the age when people may start receiving their pension or social security benefits. This study examines motivations for working post-retirement age and its effects on older adults' life satisfaction and emotional well-being. Using Social Survey data collected by Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics for the years 2017-2020, this study selected individuals post retirement age (62 + for women, 67 + for men), and investigated factors associated with post-retirement work and its relationship with emotional well-being. The findings reveal gender differences: economic needs motivate men to work full-time after retirement, whereas good labour market prospects motivate women. People working after retirement age report better or similar outcomes than those not working. Full-time work is positively related to men's outcomes, regardless of job type, whereas working post-retirement age is related to women's satisfaction only if it is in lucrative occupations, and is not related to emotional well-being. Working after retirement age may help promote healthy aging and may facilitate the transition out of employment and into retirement, especially for men.

Keywords: Ageing; Older adults; Post retirement work; Life satisfaction; Emotional well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10902-025-00942-z

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