Abstract

This study aimed to search for scientific evidence published in analytical studies which address elderly workers’ retirement postponement factors. An integrative literature review was performed searching for papers in Virtual Health Library (BVS) and SciELO databases from January 2009 to March 2018. Twelve papers were selected following consensus by independent reviewers, generating two categories: National Literature and International Literature. We chose this subject because the phenomenon of population aging entails different social and economic impacts between developed and developing nations, such as Brazil. In the analysis of the results, we found that elderly retirement decision involves a variety of personal, organizational and other factors (legislative, cultural, socio-political, technological). In conclusion, we note scarcity of studies on the subject, with exclusive samples of older adults in both categories, as well as that the greater or lesser relevance of a given factor will depend on the life context of each worker. Moreover, since retirement decision is a dynamic process, there is a shortage of longitudinal studies that need to be met with more robust national surveys of the elderly population.

Key words
Retirement; Older adult; Aging; Workers; Employment

Introduction

Global population aging has been occurring rapidly as a result of the fall in fertility rate in several regions and higher life expectancy¹1 Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS). Resumo Relatório Mundial de envelhecimento e saúde. Genebra: OMS; 2015.^,22 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Estudos e pesquisas, informação demográfica e socioeconômica. Síntese de Indicadores Sociais: uma análise das condições de vida da população brasileira 2016. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2016.. In developing countries, the phenomenon of population aging has taken place in a relatively short time, and social gains have not adequately accounted for the majority of the population³3 Godinho MR, Ferreira AP. Aposentadoria no contexto de Reforma Previdenciária: análise descritiva em uma instituição de ensino superior. Saúde Debate 2017; 41(115):1007-1019.^,44 Neumann LTV, Albert SM. Aging in Brazil. Gerontologist 2018; 58(4):611-617..

In Brazil, the pace of population aging is relevant. With an estimate of the United Nations population projection, the proportion of the elderly population in the country should increase from 11.7% to 23.5% within 24.3 years from 2015²2 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Estudos e pesquisas, informação demográfica e socioeconômica. Síntese de Indicadores Sociais: uma análise das condições de vida da população brasileira 2016. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2016..

The greater longevity, that is, the increase in the mean number of years to be lived by the population should be considered for planning the social security system, which includes social assistance, health and social security²2 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Estudos e pesquisas, informação demográfica e socioeconômica. Síntese de Indicadores Sociais: uma análise das condições de vida da população brasileira 2016. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2016.^,44 Neumann LTV, Albert SM. Aging in Brazil. Gerontologist 2018; 58(4):611-617.. Currently, extending the working life of older workers is a priority on the agenda of many Western countries that seek to increase retirement ages in line with increased longevity⁵5 Solinge HV, Henkens K. Living longer, working longer? The impact of subjective life expectancy on retirement intentions and behavior. Eur J Public Health 2010; 20(1):47-51. and the social need of workers to extend their working lives⁶6 Nicolaisen M, Thorsen K, Eriksen SH. Jump into the void? Factors related to a preferred retirement age: Gender, social interests, and leisure activities. Int J Aging Hum Dev 2012; 75(3):239-271.^,77 Wind A, Pas S, Blatter BM, Beek AJ. A life course perspective on working beyond retirement-results from a longitudinal study in the Netherlands. BMC Public Health 2016; 16:499.. However, the actual labor market exit age is determined by the structural factor of this market and the social security system, as well as by the economic conditions, preferences and individual conditions⁸8 Cho J, Lee A, Woo K. A comparative study on retirement process in Korea, Germany, and the United States: Identifying determinants of retirement process. Int J Aging Hum Dev 2016; 83(4):441-467..

Moreover, it is essential to consider the age factor as the one that stands out the most in the labor relationships, especially concerning the elderly workers⁹9 Gurgel MA. O direito ao trabalho, a conquista e a preparação para aposentadoria. In Alcântara AO, Camarano AA, Giacomin KC, organizadores. Política nacional do idoso: Velhas e novas questões. Rio de Janeiro: IPEA; 2016. p. 225-240.. Age is also an important variable to explain activity rates, so a consequence of population aging is the aging of the economically active population (EAP). Thus, since proportionally fewer young people enter the labor market, workers will have to remain longer in the economic activity to offset this unbalance. This extended working life may be necessary for the elderly, not least because of the income generated, but also because of the prominence of work in human sociability¹⁰10 Camarano AA, Kanso S, Fernandes D. Brasil envelhece antes e pós-PNI. In Alcântara AO, Camarano AA, Giacomin KC, organizadores. Política nacional do idoso: Velhas e novas questões. Rio de Janeiro: IPEA; 2016. p. 63-106..

Concerning the Western world, work is one of the substrates of self-esteem, personal identity and the individual’s sense of utility¹¹11 Fôlha FAS, Novo LF. Aposentadoria: significações e dificuldades no período de transição a essa nova etapa da vida. In: Anais do XI Colóquio Internacional Sobre Gestão Universitária Na América Do Sul. II Congresso Internacional Iglu Florianópolis. Santa Catarina: UFSC; 2011. p.1-13.. Therefore, in a predominantly capitalist society, work finds itself in a prioritized space in people’s lives. Moreover, in this society that values only those who produce, a retired older adult can show negative feelings for the loss of the professional role¹²12 Moreira JO, Barros FMB, Silva JM. Aposentadoria e exercício profissional: um encontro possível para os professores de uma universidade católica. Psicol Argumento 2014; 32(79):123-130..

Regarding the dependency ratio, this is an indicator to measure the relative participation of the potentially inactive population segment, which should be sustained by the portion of the potentially productive population. Thus, the age group of the population defined as economically dependent/inactive comprises individuals younger than 15 years and those aged 60 and over, while the potentially productive/active segment includes those aged between 15 and 59 years²2 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Estudos e pesquisas, informação demográfica e socioeconômica. Síntese de Indicadores Sociais: uma análise das condições de vida da população brasileira 2016. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2016..

It is relevant to comment that this indicator may not necessarily reflect the economic dependency ratio, due to circumstantial factors that affect the labor market, not considering several situations. Thus, the most important ones are the incorporation of young people, the permanence of the elderly or the exclusion of people of productive age¹⁰10 Camarano AA, Kanso S, Fernandes D. Brasil envelhece antes e pós-PNI. In Alcântara AO, Camarano AA, Giacomin KC, organizadores. Política nacional do idoso: Velhas e novas questões. Rio de Janeiro: IPEA; 2016. p. 63-106..

According to data of the Tenth section of the Situation Charter of April 2018 available on the website of the Institute of Applied Economic Research, Brazilian older adults are the least representative portion of the total employed population. However, this proportion has increased, up from 6.3% to 7.8% in the period from 2012 to 2018¹³13 Lameiras MAP, Sandro SC, Corseuil CHL, Ramos LRA. Mercado de Trabalho. Carta de Conjuntura - 2018 - 2º Trimestre - nº 39 [Internet]. Brasília: IPEA; 2018. [acessado 2018 Set 02]. Disponível em: http://www.ipea.gov.br/portal/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32921&Itemid=3
http://www.ipea.gov.br/portal/index.php?... .

This may be a consequence of population aging and a possible change in the behavioral pattern of older workers about their decisions regarding retirement, which must be ratified in the future. The increase of these older workers is probably due to a possible change in the behavior of Brazilians in this age group over their decisions to remain in the labor market¹³13 Lameiras MAP, Sandro SC, Corseuil CHL, Ramos LRA. Mercado de Trabalho. Carta de Conjuntura - 2018 - 2º Trimestre - nº 39 [Internet]. Brasília: IPEA; 2018. [acessado 2018 Set 02]. Disponível em: http://www.ipea.gov.br/portal/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32921&Itemid=3
http://www.ipea.gov.br/portal/index.php?... .

In Brazil, older adults have played an increasing role in the composition of household income. Information from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) of 2013 showed that 65% of this population was the primary source of income of their households and that 15.6% of elderly retirees and pensioners worked to supplement income⁴4 Neumann LTV, Albert SM. Aging in Brazil. Gerontologist 2018; 58(4):611-617.^,1414 Ribas F. As prioridades que devem orientar as políticas para o envelhecimento. Portal do Envelhecimento 2016 [Internet]. [acessado 2018 Maio 30]. Disponível em: https://www.portaldoenvelhecimento.com.br/asprioridades-que-devem-orientar-as-politicas-para-oenvelhecimento/
https://www.portaldoenvelhecimento.com.b... .

Thus, we must consider the various factors that can intervene in the work-retirement decision, which entails three possible paths: definitive retirement, postponement of retirement with work in the same job, or work after retirement¹⁵15 Macêdo LSS, Bendassolli PF, Torres TL. Representações Sociais da Aposentadoria e Intenção de Continua Trabalhando. Psicol Soc 2017; 29:e145010.. Therefore, retirement does not always represent a break with the world of work⁷7 Wind A, Pas S, Blatter BM, Beek AJ. A life course perspective on working beyond retirement-results from a longitudinal study in the Netherlands. BMC Public Health 2016; 16:499.^,1212 Moreira JO, Barros FMB, Silva JM. Aposentadoria e exercício profissional: um encontro possível para os professores de uma universidade católica. Psicol Argumento 2014; 32(79):123-130.. Older employees are increasingly accepting bridge employment, which occurs when older workers take paid employment after retirement from their primary career⁷7 Wind A, Pas S, Blatter BM, Beek AJ. A life course perspective on working beyond retirement-results from a longitudinal study in the Netherlands. BMC Public Health 2016; 16:499.^,1616 Bennett MM, Beehr TA, Lepisto LR. A longitudinal study of work after retirement: examining predictors of bridge employment, continued career employment, and retirement. Int J Aging Hum Dev 2016; 83(3):228-255..

According to the literature, the determinants of postponement of retirement among the older adults may involve personal aspects⁶6 Nicolaisen M, Thorsen K, Eriksen SH. Jump into the void? Factors related to a preferred retirement age: Gender, social interests, and leisure activities. Int J Aging Hum Dev 2012; 75(3):239-271.^,1717 Pires AS, Ribeiro LV, Souza NVDO, Sá CMS, Gonçalves FGA, Santos DM. A permanência no mundo do trabalho de profissionais de enfermagem com possibilidade de aposentadoria. Cien Cuid Saude 2013; 12(2):338-345.^,1818 Figueira DAM, Haddad MCL, Gvozd R, Pissinati PSCP. A tomada de decisão da aposentadoria influenciada pelas relações familiares e laborais. Rev Bras Geriatr Gerontol 2017; 20(2):207-215., work-related aspects⁷7 Wind A, Pas S, Blatter BM, Beek AJ. A life course perspective on working beyond retirement-results from a longitudinal study in the Netherlands. BMC Public Health 2016; 16:499.^,88 Cho J, Lee A, Woo K. A comparative study on retirement process in Korea, Germany, and the United States: Identifying determinants of retirement process. Int J Aging Hum Dev 2016; 83(4):441-467. and other external aspects that encompass the socio-political context, legislation, culture and new technologies¹⁹19 Oakman J, Howie L. How can organisations influence their older employees’ decision of when to retire? Work 2013; 45(3):389-397.^,2020 Alcover C, Topa G, Fernández JJ. La gestión organizacional de los trabajadores mayores y los procesos de mantenimiento, prolongación y salida de la vida laboral. Papeles Psicólogo 2014; 35(2):91-98.. Finally, although the worker has the option to choose whether or not to retire, the decision is conditioned by the limits and opportunities the world provides²¹21 Barbosa LM, França L, Murta SG. Projetos de Vida, Valores e Ação Comprometida. In: Murta SG. Educação para aposentadoria: promoção de saúde e desenvolvimento na Administração Pública Federal. Brasília: Cead/fub; 2014. p.225-239..

Understanding why and knowing the factors that keep older workers in organizations extending their working lives will help managers and society understand older people better and formulate public policies in favor of this age group. Thus, the higher interest must be towards making professional life more sustainable for people²²22 Nilsson K, Hydbom A, Rylander L. How are self-rated health and diagnosed disease related to early or deferred retirement? A cross-sectional study of employees aged 55-64. BMC Public Health 2016; 16(1):886-894.. Also, it is vital that work continuity could be thought from the perspective of well-being provided by the very nature of work and the environment in which these people find themselves¹²12 Moreira JO, Barros FMB, Silva JM. Aposentadoria e exercício profissional: um encontro possível para os professores de uma universidade católica. Psicol Argumento 2014; 32(79):123-130..

On the other hand, while political decisions in many countries plan to raise the official retirement age in the coming decades, little research has been conducted on the factors that influence the intention of older employees to continue working after the normal retirement age²³23 Have M, Dorsselaer S, Graaf R. Associations of work and health-related characteristics with intention to continue working after the age of 65 years. Eur J Public Health 2014; 25(1):122-124.. Considering the increased longevity, studies focused on older adults and their participation in the world of work are relevant. These data will help clarify the theme by increasing the knowledge about this recent phenomenon, which is extending the working life with older adults remaining in the institutions, as well as encourage other research, stir reflections and originate actions geared to the well-being and improved quality of life of Brazilian elderly workers, improving their work context.

Given these considerations, this study was carried out through an integrative review of the literature on this subject. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the published scientific evidence that portrays the factors related to the postponement of retirement by elderly workers.

Methods

This is a descriptive study of integrative review of literature, whose method facilitates the search, critical analysis and synthesis of the knowledge produced on the subject investigated and may include studies of several methodologies. Thus, it allows the identification of knowledge gaps, guidance for future research and the incorporation of the applicability of significant results in practice²⁴24 Mendes KDS, Silveira RCCP, Galvão CM. Revisão integrativa: método de pesquisa para a incorporação de evidências na saúde e na enfermagem. Texto Contexto Enferm 2008; 17(4):758-764.

25 Souza MT, Silva MD, Carvalho R. Revisão integrativa: o que é e como fazer Integrative review: what is it? How to do it? Einstein 2010; 8(1 Pt 1):102-106.^-2626 Botelho LLR, Cunha CCA, Macedo M. O método da revisão integrativa nos estudos organizacionais. Gestão Soc 2011; 5(11):122-136..

The following steps were followedto accomplish this integrative review: 1) Identification of the theme and elaboration of the guiding question of the research; 2) Establishment of the inclusion and exclusion criteria and search in the database; 3) Categorization of selected studies; 4) Evaluation of studies included in the review; 5) Analysis and interpretation of results; and 6) Presentation of the review and synthesis of knowledge²³23 Have M, Dorsselaer S, Graaf R. Associations of work and health-related characteristics with intention to continue working after the age of 65 years. Eur J Public Health 2014; 25(1):122-124..

The following guiding question was elaborated from the theme: What are the scientific pieces of evidence published in the last nine years that portray the factors related to the postponement of retirement by the elderly workers (60 years or more)? The papers were selected in March 2018 in the following databases: Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and Virtual Health Library (BVS). The latter encompasses the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Latin American and Caribbean Scientific and Technical Literature (LILACS), Index Psicologia (Index Psico), Spanish Bibliographical Index of Health Sciences (IBECS), Nursing Database (BDENF) and National Information Center of Medical Sciences of Cuba (CUMED).

References were searched with MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) and DeSC (Health Sciences Descriptors) controlled descriptors intermediated by the Boolean operators “AND” and “OR”, and, thus, the search strategies occurred with the following key in the advanced search: Retirement OR Jubilación OR Aposentadoria AND Aged OR Anciano OR Idoso OR “Aged, 80 and over” OR “Anciano de 80 o más anos” OR “Idoso de 80 anos ou mais”. We opted for this broad key because the searches on other keys were not fruitful when we included uncontrolled descriptors such as “Retirement age”; “Retirement decision”; “Older workers”; Postpone; Postponement; Postponing; Procrastinate, among others.

The following inclusion criteria for selection of references were established: original paper whose full text is available online and with content about factors that lead the elderly to postpone retirement; published in a scientific journal in English, Spanish and Portuguese in the period 01/01/2009-22/04/2018.

It is relevant to consider that due to the low availability of papers with an exclusive sample of older adults, this integrative review considered works mixed with seniors and older or mature workers (40 years and over). Review papers, theses, dissertations, books, editorials, reviews and government documents were excluded.

Initially, papers were selected by two independent reviewers, who read titles, abstracts and keywords carefully to verify adequacy to inclusion and exclusion criteria. After removing duplicate papers, a new screening was performed with full-text reading, eliminating those that did not include the defined objectives and selecting the papers for review after consensus among reviewers.

In the third step of the review, we used an instrument recommended and validated by Ursi²⁷27 Ursi ES. Prevenção de lesões de pele no perioperatório: revisão integrativa da literatura [dissertação]. Universidade de São Paulo: Ribeirão Preto; 2005. to extract the data of the selected papers, which enabledthe synthesis of each one, preserving their differences²⁶26 Botelho LLR, Cunha CCA, Macedo M. O método da revisão integrativa nos estudos organizacionais. Gestão Soc 2011; 5(11):122-136..

We then proceeded to evaluate the methodological rigor through an instrument adapted from the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) of the Public Health Resource Unit (PHRU), prepared by the University of Oxford²⁷27 Ursi ES. Prevenção de lesões de pele no perioperatório: revisão integrativa da literatura [dissertação]. Universidade de São Paulo: Ribeirão Preto; 2005.. This adapted tool had 10 items (maximum 10 points), and ranking works with the following scores: 6-10 points, good methodological quality and reduced bias; and minimum 5 points, satisfactory methodological quality with increased risk of bias (Table 1).

In the studies, an instrument of the US Agency for Healthcare and Research and Quality (AHRQ) was also applied. In this review, we followed Stillwell et al.²⁸28 Stillwell S, Melnyk BM, Fineout-Overholt E, Williamson K. Evidence-Based Practice: Step by step. Am J Nurs 2010; 110(5):41-47., who rank hierarchically by seven levels of evidence according to the research design (Table 2).

Next, the papers were categorized and analyzed, followed by the synthesis and interpretations of the results. Finally, the synthesis of the knowledge with a discussion of the results and proposals for future studies was performed.

Results

Initially, the search in the databases found 13,795 productions, of which – after filtering using the criteria of inclusion of language, years and type of document – 11,338 papers were eliminated. After reading the titles, abstracts and keywords of the remaining 2,457 works and exclusion of duplicates, 53 papers were left for full-text reading, of which 41 did not meet the eligibility criteria, leaving 12 in the final selection that underpinned this review (Figure 1).

The twelve papers were submitted to the instrument recommended by Ursi²⁷27 Ursi ES. Prevenção de lesões de pele no perioperatório: revisão integrativa da literatura [dissertação]. Universidade de São Paulo: Ribeirão Preto; 2005. to gather and synthesize the critical information, and following categorization of the papers. All the papers had a score ≥ 7 according to a critical analysis using CASP, showing the good quality of the methodology employed with reduced bias²⁹29 Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP): Making sense of evidence. London: Oxford; 2002..

The analysis of the studies allowed the construction of two categories: national literature and international literature. Categorization is justified because the former has several similar characteristics such as language; they were conducted in a developing country with vast social inequalities, and where people aged 60 and over are considered older adults. On the other hand, the international papers found (all in English) derive from developed countries, most of them with high Human Development Indexes (HDI), and where older adults are those who aged 65 years and over.

Tables 3 and 4 show the synthesis of the characterization and other relevant information of the selected studies by categorization of national and international literature, respectively.

National Literature

All papers in this category were classified as level VI of evidence because they showed evidence derived from a single descriptive or qualitative study²⁸28 Stillwell S, Melnyk BM, Fineout-Overholt E, Williamson K. Evidence-Based Practice: Step by step. Am J Nurs 2010; 110(5):41-47..

Research by Menezes and França³⁰30 Menezes G, França LH. Preditores da decisão da aposentadoria por servidores públicos federais. Rev Psicol Organizações Trabalho 2012; 12(3):315-328. investigated variables in the retirement decision in public servants aged between 45 and 67 years. Through multiple logistic regression analyses, these authors found that age, job perception, working hours’ flexibility, and job control predict the decision to postpone retirement. It is worth mentioning two findings. First, only 25% of the participants chose to work in retirement for income supplementation, and second, the variable high life expectancy was not significant.

Pires et al.¹⁷17 Pires AS, Ribeiro LV, Souza NVDO, Sá CMS, Gonçalves FGA, Santos DM. A permanência no mundo do trabalho de profissionais de enfermagem com possibilidade de aposentadoria. Cien Cuid Saude 2013; 12(2):338-345. conducted a study on senior nursing professionals with the possibility of retirement, whose results showed that the financial factor was the leading influencer to stay in the job. Other factors found by these authors were: appreciation of the work environment and own activities; work was a strategy against idleness and residential space; positive perception regarding work, and negative perception about retirement.

Authors Figueira et al.¹⁸18 Figueira DAM, Haddad MCL, Gvozd R, Pissinati PSCP. A tomada de decisão da aposentadoria influenciada pelas relações familiares e laborais. Rev Bras Geriatr Gerontol 2017; 20(2):207-215. showed that in a pre-retired group, in the age range of 48-60 years, family and work experiences influence retirement decision-making, and depending on the context, may lead to its postponement or not.

The study by Macêdo et al.¹⁵15 Macêdo LSS, Bendassolli PF, Torres TL. Representações Sociais da Aposentadoria e Intenção de Continua Trabalhando. Psicol Soc 2017; 29:e145010. was carried out with 283 public servants, aged between 48 and 69 years, who could retire or were less than five years from retirement. The results revealed that the decision to postpone retirement occurred to employees who perceived themselves as working, with no replacement activities, and a non-attractive domestic environment.

International Literature

All the papers in this category were located in MEDLINE, five of which were classified as evidence IV by evidence from well-delineated longitudinal studies, while the other three were classified with evidence VI by evidence from a single qualitative or descriptive study²⁸28 Stillwell S, Melnyk BM, Fineout-Overholt E, Williamson K. Evidence-Based Practice: Step by step. Am J Nurs 2010; 110(5):41-47..

Solinge and Henkes⁵5 Solinge HV, Henkens K. Living longer, working longer? The impact of subjective life expectancy on retirement intentions and behavior. Eur J Public Health 2010; 20(1):47-51. conducted a research with two collections (2001 and 2006/2007) of random samples with public officials and four Dutch multinational companies, aged 50 years and over. In this study, the results suggest that workers with high perceived life expectancy and to work longer are unable to achieve their intentions.

Nilsson et al.³¹31 Nilsson K, Hydbom A, Rylander L. Factors influencing the decision to extend working life or retire. Scand J Work Environ Health 2011; 37(6):473-480. conducted a study in Sweden with health sector employees age 55-64 years, and among the conclusions emphasized that mental and physical work environment, work rhythm, skill and competence were essential factors in determining whether older workers believed they could work up to 65 years of age or older.

In Finland, Perkiö-Mäkelä and Hirvonen³²32 Perkiö-Mäkelä M, Hirvonen M. Physical workload and thoughts of retirement. Work 2012; 41(1):303-306. in a large sample of employees aged 45-63 years showed that they considered continuing to work when there was a low physical workload associated with one or more of the following factors: good health, financial gains, significant and challenging work, and flexible workload.

Authors Oakamana and Howie¹⁹19 Oakman J, Howie L. How can organisations influence their older employees’ decision of when to retire? Work 2013; 45(3):389-397. conducted a study on focus groups of 42 senior civil servants (over 40) in Australia and found that flexible working conditions and environments and exciting and challenging work are critical factors to extending working life.

Thorsen et al.³³33 Thorsen SV, Jensen PH, Bjørner JB. Psychosocial work environment and retirement age: a prospective study of 1876 senior employees. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2016; 89(6):891-900. research with four-year follow-up with participants in Denmark’s early retirement scheme was concentrated in the 60-64 age bracket that could retire. They concluded that high job satisfaction and positive psychosocial working conditions could cause older employees to postpone retirement.

Wind et al.⁷7 Wind A, Pas S, Blatter BM, Beek AJ. A life course perspective on working beyond retirement-results from a longitudinal study in the Netherlands. BMC Public Health 2016; 16:499. found in a sample of Dutch retirees aged 57-67 that work motivation, physical health, household financial situation and volunteering played an essential role in working beyond retirement.

Hofäcker and Naumann³⁴34 Hofäcker D, Naumann E. The emerging trend of work beyond retirement age in Germany. Increasing social inequality? Z Gerontol Geriatr 2015; 48(5):473-479. analyzed data from three available rounds (years 1996, 2002 and 2011) of the German Aging Survey (DEAS), which is a national cross-sectional longitudinal study of the population aged 40 and over. The results showed that the change in the political paradigm of the German early retirement modified the employment behavior of older workers, with an increased working time. These authors suggest that the probability of the most educated and less educated workers to work beyond the retirement age converge in quantitative terms; however, the reasons differ because the former wish voluntarily while the latter are motivated by financial necessity. The conclusion of the study reveals that the motivating factor of choosing to continue working beyond retirement can reinforce social inequalities.

Cho et al.⁸8 Cho J, Lee A, Woo K. A comparative study on retirement process in Korea, Germany, and the United States: Identifying determinants of retirement process. Int J Aging Hum Dev 2016; 83(4):441-467. conducted an eight-year longitudinal study to identify the determinants of the retirement process in wage earners over 50 years of age using a comparison of data from South Korea, Germany and US. Statistics showed that more than 40% of employees worked after retirement in the three countries.

The empirical analysis of this Korean study showed that the receipt of smaller pensions leads to postponement of retirement or work after retirement. Germany has a well-funded social security system that allows older people with low schooling to be more likely to retire. In contrast, Korean older adults receive negligible retirement pensions that they cannot get out of paid work, even if they wished so. In the US, no statistically significant impact was found between public pensions and the interaction of occupation with an education level. This result can be explained because Americans believe that public pensions are more targeted to low-income classes, while corporate pensions prevail for most workers⁸8 Cho J, Lee A, Woo K. A comparative study on retirement process in Korea, Germany, and the United States: Identifying determinants of retirement process. Int J Aging Hum Dev 2016; 83(4):441-467..

Discussion

In the search for references in the databases, among the 12 papers selected, only the one carried out by Pires et al.¹⁷17 Pires AS, Ribeiro LV, Souza NVDO, Sá CMS, Gonçalves FGA, Santos DM. A permanência no mundo do trabalho de profissionais de enfermagem com possibilidade de aposentadoria. Cien Cuid Saude 2013; 12(2):338-345. in Brazil comprised only elderly workers. Thus, there was a shortage of scientific publications in the Brazilian and global setting on factors of postponement of the retirement bysenior workers with a sample of only senior individuals by the WHO chronological criteria³⁵35 Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS). Envelhecimento ativo: uma política de saúde / World Health Organization; tradução Suzana Gontijo. Brasília: OPAS; 2005..

Regarding the research methods used, the papers of this review evidenced a predominance of qualitative methods in the Brazilian literature and quantitative methods in the international scope. In the latter, we emphasize sets of research with robust samples and longitudinal studies that strengthen them. This finding corroborates the reports on the lack of national studies using longitudinal research methods³⁶36 Leandro-França C, Murta SG. Fatores de risco e de proteção na adaptação à aposentadoria. Psicol Argumento 2014; 32(76):33-43.. On the other hand, as a strength for national research, the authors Hofäcker and Naumann³⁴34 Hofäcker D, Naumann E. The emerging trend of work beyond retirement age in Germany. Increasing social inequality? Z Gerontol Geriatr 2015; 48(5):473-479. report that quantitative research possibly reaches its analytical limits and that complex thematic such as a retirement decision are benefited and captured by qualitative approaches better⁴4 Neumann LTV, Albert SM. Aging in Brazil. Gerontologist 2018; 58(4):611-617..

Similar to what is already consolidated in the world literature, most of the papers selected evidenced an agreement with the variable health or subjective perception of health status as a predictor for the final retirement. In the study carried out in Finland, the results showed that health itself was stated as a reason to consider continuous work beyond the official retirement age, especially by employees with a high physical workload³²32 Perkiö-Mäkelä M, Hirvonen M. Physical workload and thoughts of retirement. Work 2012; 41(1):303-306.. However, Swedish work reports that although people need good health and good ability to work, the economy seemed to be more critical than health status among study respondents³¹31 Nilsson K, Hydbom A, Rylander L. Factors influencing the decision to extend working life or retire. Scand J Work Environ Health 2011; 37(6):473-480..

According to Stafford et al.³⁷37 Stafford M, Cooper R, Cadar D, Carr E, Murray E, Richards M, Stansfeld S, Zaninotto P, Head J, Kuh D. Physical and cognitive capability in mid-adulthood as determinants of retirement and extended working life in a British cohort study. Scand J Work Environ Health 2017; 43(1):15-23., education and occupational status may confuse or modify the association between physical or cognitive ability and retirement. These authors report that less educated workers or lower-status jobs may be less able to make adaptations at work, while tasks involving higher-status jobs tend to require a higher educational level and may require a higher level of cognitive ability³⁷37 Stafford M, Cooper R, Cadar D, Carr E, Murray E, Richards M, Stansfeld S, Zaninotto P, Head J, Kuh D. Physical and cognitive capability in mid-adulthood as determinants of retirement and extended working life in a British cohort study. Scand J Work Environ Health 2017; 43(1):15-23.. This report is compatible with the findings of this integrative review. Indeed, in the results of the study by Wind et al.⁷7 Wind A, Pas S, Blatter BM, Beek AJ. A life course perspective on working beyond retirement-results from a longitudinal study in the Netherlands. BMC Public Health 2016; 16:499., the authors identified that the educational level could only partially explain which factors predicted to work beyond retirement.

Moreover, the German study considered that the reasons for working beyond retirement differed by education, and this was considered one of the main determinants of social inequality³⁴34 Hofäcker D, Naumann E. The emerging trend of work beyond retirement age in Germany. Increasing social inequality? Z Gerontol Geriatr 2015; 48(5):473-479.. The authors of this research further claim that the emerging trend of work beyond retirement reinforces social inequalities, since lower-educated workers may not be able to meet the demands or even benefit from policies that encourage prolonged working life. That is, in contrast to highly skilled workers, the retirement decision of low-educated workers is mainly driven by economic needs and is often not compatible with the level of employment or the ability to work longer³⁴34 Hofäcker D, Naumann E. The emerging trend of work beyond retirement age in Germany. Increasing social inequality? Z Gerontol Geriatr 2015; 48(5):473-479..

The Korean study examined the determinants of the retirement process by comparing three developed countries with different national labor markets and social institutions. The empirical analysis in this research showed that a small public pension leads to a later retirement, and suggests that the level of schooling exerts positive or negative correlation according to the level of welfare and financing of the national social security⁸8 Cho J, Lee A, Woo K. A comparative study on retirement process in Korea, Germany, and the United States: Identifying determinants of retirement process. Int J Aging Hum Dev 2016; 83(4):441-467..

The results of the research by Menezes and França³⁰30 Menezes G, França LH. Preditores da decisão da aposentadoria por servidores públicos federais. Rev Psicol Organizações Trabalho 2012; 12(3):315-328. did not confirm the findings of the authors Solinge and Henkes⁵5 Solinge HV, Henkens K. Living longer, working longer? The impact of subjective life expectancy on retirement intentions and behavior. Eur J Public Health 2010; 20(1):47-51. that the subjective life expectancy influences the intention of the workers’ retirement decision since this variable was not statistically significant. However, one strength of the Dutch work with a longitudinal design was the possibility of examining retirement intentions together with the actual retirement behavior. These authors suggest that some older workers may have little control over the time of retirement or retirement is not always voluntary.

An interesting finding to be highlighted in the national study by Menezes and França³⁰30 Menezes G, França LH. Preditores da decisão da aposentadoria por servidores públicos federais. Rev Psicol Organizações Trabalho 2012; 12(3):315-328. was that only 25% of the participants stated that they would continue to work for economic reasons, showing that the option to work in retirement is not always stimulated by the need to supplement incomes³⁰30 Menezes G, França LH. Preditores da decisão da aposentadoria por servidores públicos federais. Rev Psicol Organizações Trabalho 2012; 12(3):315-328..

About life partners and close friends, both national papers and those of other countries showed a consistent performance of these factors concerning whether older workers want to postpone retirement and have a positive or negative correlation as per the experience of each.

Analyzing the conclusions of the researches of the two categories, we can observe that they are in agreement with regard to the various work-related factors that affect the decision of older workers to continue working beyond the retirement age, such as motivation at work, commitment to career, job perception, flexible working hours, job requirements, job control, satisfaction with their functions and valuation, development possibilities, positive management relationships, good community and enjoyable working environment, without age discrimination, among others.In the Danish study, it is relevant to consider that high job satisfaction was the strongest psychosocial predictor of late retirement³³33 Thorsen SV, Jensen PH, Bjørner JB. Psychosocial work environment and retirement age: a prospective study of 1876 senior employees. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2016; 89(6):891-900.. The Australian study recommends a regular review of employee performance and satisfaction to maximize productivity and retention of older workers¹⁹19 Oakman J, Howie L. How can organisations influence their older employees’ decision of when to retire? Work 2013; 45(3):389-397..

Final considerations

Despite being a worldwide phenomenon, population aging brings about different social and economic impacts between developed and developing nations, such as Brazil. Age transition is occurring rapidly in terms of national status, without the population having reached the social achievements and real improvement of living conditions³3 Godinho MR, Ferreira AP. Aposentadoria no contexto de Reforma Previdenciária: análise descritiva em uma instituição de ensino superior. Saúde Debate 2017; 41(115):1007-1019.. Therefore, one questions the generalization of the international results to the Brazilian population, considering that HDI levels, social security rules, social, political and economic conditions are different from other countries³⁶36 Leandro-França C, Murta SG. Fatores de risco e de proteção na adaptação à aposentadoria. Psicol Argumento 2014; 32(76):33-43..

Furthermore, the cross-sectional nature of national surveys did not facilitate the dynamic analysis of the determinants of postponement of retirement since participants were only asked about the process. Also, follow-up studies were not performed to verify whether the intentions mentioned will turn into real behavior at the time of retirement²³23 Have M, Dorsselaer S, Graaf R. Associations of work and health-related characteristics with intention to continue working after the age of 65 years. Eur J Public Health 2014; 25(1):122-124.. We can conclude that the lack of cohort studies in this area is a gap that must be bridged with more robust national studies.

Based on the considerations made, further studies are required on the expectations of Brazilian senior workers regarding retirement, a better understanding of the aging process, the factors that determine the participation of professional life in old age and that affect the decisions about the extended professional life.

Moreover, the strategies of retaining the workforce in the profession must be combined with improved working conditions, which is a determining factor for the permanence of these workers³⁸38 Macêdo MLAF, Pires DEP, Cavalcante CAA. Aposentadoria na Enfermagem: Uma Revisão de Literatura. REME 2014; 18(4):979-985.. If rulers encourage older workers to postpone retirement, on the other hand, they must provide the necessary support to those who wish to retire¹⁵15 Macêdo LSS, Bendassolli PF, Torres TL. Representações Sociais da Aposentadoria e Intenção de Continua Trabalhando. Psicol Soc 2017; 29:e145010.. However, according to Haddad³⁹39 Haddad EGM. Prefácio. In: Costa JS, Del-Masso MCS, Soares N, Paiva SOC, organizadores. Aproximações e ensaios sobre a velhice. Franca: UNESP-FCHS; 2017. p. 14-16., although the aging population is increasing worldwide, the economic model exerts power over all borders and governments and does not make investments to improve social protection systems for older adults³⁹39 Haddad EGM. Prefácio. In: Costa JS, Del-Masso MCS, Soares N, Paiva SOC, organizadores. Aproximações e ensaios sobre a velhice. Franca: UNESP-FCHS; 2017. p. 14-16..

References

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