Ss43-03 Psychosocial Work Exposure and Intention to Retire

Abstract Introduction We studied psychosocial exposures at work and their association with intention to early retirement, separately among women and men working in the Finnish postal service. Methods A survey was conducted in 2016 and followed-up after two years. A questionnaire was sent to all workers aged ≥ 50 years and 44% (n=2096) responded (mean age 56.3, 40% women) at baseline. Employee’s intention to retire before official retirement was measured on a scale of 1-5 and dichotomized. The psychosocial exposures were defined by four composite variables: equality at work, flexibility at work, supportive work environment, and health or other reason. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals for association of quality of work community with intention to retire were calculated using log binomial regression models adjusted for age, occupational class, work ability and comorbidity. Results About one third of respondents intended to retire early with no significant gender difference in intention. Low equality at work (women OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.60-4.81; men 2.84, 1.80-4.48) and low flexibility at work (women 3.30, 1.94-5.60; men 2.91, 1.88-4.50) were associated with more likely intention to retire early. The latter was found less likely among women due to low supportive work environment (0.52, 0.31-0.89), and among men due to health or other reason (0.65, 043-0.98). Conclusion Intention to retire before the official age was associated with psychosocial work exposure and health. The results highlight the importance of the quality of work community and the promotion of work-related health in order to extend the working life of older employees.