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Abstract :
[en] Objectives: Labor market participation has been demonstrated to be associated with higher later-life cognitive functioning through occupational complexity and other work characteristics preserving cognitive function. Congruently, labor market withdrawal has often been shown to be detrimental to cognitive health. However, evidence on labor market participation beyond age 65 with a cross-national perspective is scarce.
Methods: We harmonized data from population-representative longitudinal studies in South Korea and the United States (years 2006-2016; N=8033 and N=18785, respectively). Cognitive scores were obtained from MMSE scores in Korea and Telephone interviews for cognitive status in the US. This study used the weighted difference-in-differences method (Imai et al., 2021) to investigate cognitive changes of individuals transitioning from non-employment to employment and employment to non-employment against their counterfactual twin in terms of employment and confounder history.
Results: In total, 8033 period-person were observed from KLoSA (mean [s.d] age, 72.0[5.32] years, 41% female) and 18785 from HRS (73.0[5.66], 50% female, 14.4% African American) ≥65 years, with labor participation at least once during the observation window. Estimated effects of entry into the labor market were positive and statistically significant during the wave of transition and one wave after in South Korea. In the US, positive effects were found only in the subgroup analysis with high asset-level individuals. Both data found no general effects from the exit from the labor market. However, adverse effects were observed within low asset-level groups in the US.
Discussions: Findings suggest differences exist across countries and socioeconomic groups in the effects of employment transitions at age 65+ on cognitive health. Positive effects from labor participation in the South Korean context imply country-specific benefits of work at advanced ages on cognitive health. Heterogeneous effects based on asset-level in the US suggest group-specific benefits and costs of employment transitions at advanced ages on cognitive health.
References:
Imai, K., Kim, I. S, & Wang, E. (2021). Matching Methods for Causal Inference with Time-Series Cross-Sectional Data. American Journal of Political Sciences, Forthcoming. https://imai.fas.harvard
Funding text :
This work was supported by the European Research Council (grant agreement no. 803239, to Anja K. Leist). The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) is supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIAU01AG009740). The Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) data are provided by Korea Employment Information Service (KEIS); the study is funded by the Korean Ministry of Labor. Dr Muniz-Terrera acknowledges the support of the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation through funding for the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Ralph S. Licklider, D.O., Research Endowment in the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
