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Age and Ageing Advance Access published online on May 27, 2009
Age and Ageing, doi:10.1093/ageing/afp089
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Continued work employment and volunteerism and mental well-being of older adults: Singapore longitudinal ageing studies

Andiara Schwingel1,2, Mathew M. Niti1,3, Catherine Tang1,4 and Tze Pin Ng1,3

1 Gerontology Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
2 Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
3 Department of Psychological Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
4 Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore

Address correspondence to: T. P. Ng, Department of Psychological Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074. Tel: (65) 67724514; Fax: (65) 67772191. Email: pcmngtp{at}nus.edu.sg

Objective: to examine the effect of late life engagement in continued work involvement or volunteer activities during retirement on mental well-being.

Methods: two waves of data from the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Studies were analyzed for 2,716 Singaporeans aged 55 or above at baseline and 1,754 at 2-year follow-up. Trained research nurses interviewed participants (non-volunteering retiree, volunteering retiree, and working seniors) on mental health status (geriatric depression scale, Mini Mental State Examination, positive mental wellbeing and life satisfaction).

Results: about 88% of seniors were retired (78% non-volunteering, 10% volunteering) and 12% were still working in paid employment or business. At baseline and 2 year follow up, and regardless of physical health status, volunteering retirees and working seniors gave significantly better MMSE cognitive performance scores, fewer depressive symptoms, and better mental well-being and life satisfaction than non-volunteering retirees.

Conclusion: the results of this study suggest that continued work involvement or volunteerism provides opportunities for social interaction and engagement and may be associated with enhanced mental well-being. Future research should clarify which specific aspects of volunteerism are related to long-term mental well-being.

Keywords: volunteerism, retirement, mental well-being, older adults, singapore, elderly

Received 31 July 2008; accepted in revised form 24 March 2009.


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