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. 2016 Sep;71(5):849-56.
doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbv026. Epub 2015 May 14.

Effects of Preretirement Work Complexity and Postretirement Leisure Activity on Cognitive Aging

Ross Andel  1 , Deborah Finkel  2 , Nancy L Pedersen  3
Affiliations

Effects of Preretirement Work Complexity and Postretirement Leisure Activity on Cognitive Aging

Ross Andel et al. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2016 Sep.

Abstract

Objectives: We examined the influence of postretirement leisure activity on longitudinal associations between work complexity in main lifetime occupation and trajectories of cognitive change before and after retirement.

Methods: Information on complexity of work with data, people, and things, leisure activity participation in older adulthood, and four cognitive factors (verbal, spatial, memory, and speed) was available from 421 individuals in the longitudinal Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging. Participants were followed for an average of 14.2 years (SD = 7.1 years) and up to 23 years across eight cognitive assessments. Most of the sample (88.6%) completed at least three cognitive assessments.

Results: Results of growth curve analyses indicated that higher complexity of work with people significantly attenuated cognitive aging in verbal skills, memory, and speed of processing controlling for age, sex, and education. When leisure activity was added, greater cognitive and physical leisure activity was associated with reduced cognitive aging in verbal skills, speed of processing, and memory (for cognitive activity only).

Discussion: Engagement in cognitive or physical leisure activities in older adulthood may compensate for cognitive disadvantage potentially imposed by working in occupations that offer fewer cognitive challenges. These results may provide a platform to encourage leisure activity participation in those retiring from less complex occupations.

Keywords: Cognitive aging; Growth curve analysis; Leisure activity; Retirement; Work complexity.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Age trajectories for the verbal factor with occupational complexity with people as a covariate and either the physical leisure factor (upper panel) or the cognitive leisure factor as covariates (lower panel).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Age trajectories for the memory factor with occupational complexity with people as a covariate and the cognitive leisure factor as covariates.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Age trajectories for the Speed factor with occupational complexity with people as a covariate and either the physical leisure factor (upper panel) or the cognitive leisure factor as covariates (lower panel).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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