[Postretirement employment and quality of life [QOL] indicators]

ABSTRACT

The number of elderly persons in our country [more than 7.8% of Iran population] is increasing more and more. Tehran province has the most number of retired with male to female ratio 2/1. So, in the field of [quality of life] [QOL] increasing needs for giving care [physical and socioeconomic] to these groups have been appeared. In view of the aging process in our population there is a need to identify effective methods to prevent disadvantageous effects of this trend. The main purpose of this research was assessment and comparing of health-related quality of life [HRQOL] between retired staffs and labors. Also the effect of postretirement employment on HRQOL was explored. This study was carried out cross-sectionally and with the participation of 80 retired labor men and 80 retired staff men in Tehran University of medical science. The main purpose of this research was assessment and comparing of QOL items between retired staffs and labors. Also the effect of postretirement employment on QOL items was explored. Other variables such as; age, marriage status, education grade, house ownership were assessed too. In this research, we studied QOL variables in terms of quantitative and used t test. Finding showed that in retired staffs and labors, there was significant difference between quality of life variables. In other word, in staff group in comparison with labors group, there was better state from aspect of physical function, role- physical limitation, general health, social function, mental health, role-emotional limitation, total scores of physical health, mental health and quality of life. These differences were significant. There was a significant relationship between postretirement employment and quality of life [QOL] variables such as physical function, role- physical limitation, role-emotional limitation, vitality, total scores of physical health, mental health and quality of life. Quality of life in elderly and retirees has relationship with all aspect of health and been influenced by many factors such as economic, mental, physical and social factors. So, based to these conclusions and similar studies, we can go toward quality of life promotion and increasing of community participations. Doing educational, cultural planning and policy making base upon real needs of elderly and retired can be mentioned. The overall improvement of self-reported QOL among elderly people suggests that the onset of disabilities could be postponed, especially if health-related circumstances were more evenly distributed at the start of or even before retirement age. These results suggest we should design appropriate programs to increase elderly people's interaction with others and establish new social networks for them which may enhance a sense of positive self-concept