Exposure to physical constraints at work increases the risk of chronic diseases in retirement by 32%, according to a study conducted in France.
Marisol Touraine launched the national week for retirees and the elderly on Monday. In a speech, the Minister of Health recalled that the government made it possible to “finally take into account the arduousness of professional activity”.
Since 2014, some employees who have arduous working conditions recognized by the State can train for another profession, continue part-time or leave earlier. In 2016, 500,000 employees thus benefited from their first points on a hardship account. And there is an urgent need to take care of these hard-working employees.
Indeed, when an employee has been exposed to a physical constraint for at least eight years (carrying heavy loads) or to several exposures for at least 4 years (night work, repetitive …) he is more likely to be in poor health at retirement age. This is what a survey presented Wednesday by Professor Thomas Barnay, an economist at the University of Paris-Est Créteil, measures.
+ 32% of chronic diseases
During a conference organized in Paris by the Demographic Transitions Economic Transitions Chair, he stressed that exposure to physical constraints increases the risk of chronic diseases by 32% and the probability of having to limit one’s activities to the retirement age. Fortunately for both sexes, physical strain plays no role in the mental health of retirees.
It is different for exposure to psychosocial risks (PSR). While they are not part of the factors of the arduousness account, they nevertheless have effects on subsequent physical health, but to a lesser extent.
The risk of activity limitation is only increased by 20% at retirement age. On the other hand, mental health is toast: the fact of having been exposed to RPS during his career (such as working under pressure, experiencing tensions with clients, etc.) explodes the risks for retirees: + 78% depressive episodes, + 92% generalized anxiety disorders.
Finally, the consumption of antidepressants is also skyrocketing (+ 52%) and women are more affected than men by these ailments. In figures, they have 2.4 times more anxiety disorders than men.
Without hardship, retirement is beneficial
The economist nevertheless recalled that working improves health, compared to not working, and the transition to retirement is “beneficial”. With a decrease in anxiety and depression, according to a second study (2). “That whatever the level of studies”, specifies Thomas Barnay contacted by Why actor. For women, on the other hand, the effect of the transition to retirement is “beneficial only on mental health”, he emphasizes.
The latter explains that “this is undoubtedly one of the reasons why it is the French who want to retire as early as possible (…) The other explanation is undoubtedly that they are also the Europeans who express the most lassitude at work with a very strong feeling of professional unease, ”he concludes. His work should be published by the end of the year.
(1) The survey uses two waves (2006 and 2010) of the Drees-Dares Health and Professional Journey survey, by isolating a panel of 3,210 retirees likely to have encountered difficult working conditions.
(2) The analysis of the effect of retirement on the health of retirees is based on a sample of 4,932 people aged 50 to 69 in 2010, retired or not.
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