Summary of findings 2. Summary of findings: primary outcomes ‐ contractual flexibility.
| Study | Intervention | Population and setting | Follow‐up period & final sample size | Primary outcomes | Summary findings |
| Calvo 2009 | Gradual/partial retirement | Health and Retirement Study, USA (a nationally representative biennial survey of older Americans and their spouses), 49.4% male | 24 months (1992 to 1994) Final sample n = 1389; 656 intervention 733 control |
Depression (Diener 1999; Frey 2002; Perreira 2005; Veenhoven 1991) | No significant changes in depression for either the partial or abrupt retirement groups between T1 and T2 Mean (Standard Deviation) Phased retirement T1 0.120 (0.326) T2 0.165 (0.371) Change in depression 0.044 (0.413) Control (abrupt retirement) T1 0.118 (0.322) T2 0.149 (0.357) Change in depression 0.032 (0.413) |
| de Vaus 2007 | Gradual/partial retirement | Australian Healthy Retirement Project % male (pathway and level of control): Abrupt/high 46.3% Abrupt/low 48.5% Gradual/high 63.9% Gradual/low 59.2% |
1998 to 2001 12, 24, 36 months Final sample n = 358; 138 intervention (gradual retirement), 220 control (abrupt retirement) |
General health: health Mental health: positive affect (Lawton 1992), negative affect (Lawton 1992), self‐image (Adelmann 1994; Rosenberg 1965; Scheier 1985) |
Beta coefficients and P values CHANGE IN HEALTH Pathway, T12 0.14 P < 0.01 Pathway, T36 0.04 Control/choice, T12 0.05 Control/choice, T36 0.06 Interaction Path & Con, T12 ‐0.12 Interaction Path & Con, T36 0.09 CHANGE IN POSITIVE AFFECT Pathway, T12 ‐0.04 Pathway, T36 0.03 Control/choice, T12 0.12 P < 0.01 Control/choice, T36 0.09 P < 0.05 Interaction Path & Con, T12 ‐0.06 Interaction Path & Con, T36 ‐0.38 P < 0.05 CHANGE IN NEGATIVE AFFECT Pathway, T12 ‐0.02 Pathway, T36 ‐0.02 Control/choice, T12 0.15 P < 0.01 Control/choice, T36 0.10 P < 0.01 Interaction Path & Con, T12 ‐0.38 P < 0.05 Interaction Path & Con, T36 0.05 CHANGE IN SELF‐IMAGE Pathway, T12 ‐0.02 Pathway, T36 ‐0.03 CONTROL OF PATHWAY Control/choice, T12 0.19 P < 0.001 Control/choice, T36 0.16 P < 0.001 Interaction Path & Con, T12 0.02 Interaction Path & Con, T36 ‐0.28 |
| Dooley 2000 | Inadequate employment (or underemployment) included involuntary part‐time contracts and those on a poverty wage | National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY), USA, 56.9% male | 24‐month follow up 1992 and 1994, final sample n = 5113 (subjects adequately employed in 1992 with complete data) Retention rate 89.2% in 1994 227 intervention (inadequately employed) 4437 control |
Psychological functioning, measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES‐D) | Becoming inadequately employed was associated with increased depression when compared with remaining adequately employed and after adjusting for depression at baseline and “contextual factors” (b = 0.67, Beta = 0.04, t = 2.80, P < 0.05). This association remained significant after controlling for family poverty status and marital status (b = 0.71, Beta = 0.04, t = 2.98, P < 0.05) |
| Rodriguez 2002 | Fixed‐term contract | Three years of data (1991 to 1993), Britain and Germany, Household Panel Comparability Project Britain 46% male Germany 47% male |
12‐month follow up (1992 to 1993) for change in employment status data Change from full or part‐time employed with permanent contract in 1992 to full/part‐time with no permanent contract in 1993 Comparison = permanent contract in both years Britain: 103 intervention, 3613 control Germany: 75 intervention, 4075 control |
Perceived health status (Benyamin 1999; Idler 1997) | In both Britain and Germany no statistically significant differences were noted in perceived health status (likelihood of reporting of fair, poor or very poor health) in those moving from permanent contract at baseline to fixed‐term or no contract at follow up when compared with those with permanent contracts at both time points Odds ratio (CI), reference permanent contract at both time points UK No permanent contract at follow up 0.73 (0.42 to 1.28) Germany No permanent contract at follow up 0.81 (0.44 to 1.53) |