Rosanne Schaap

35 The effects of exit from work on health across different socioeconomic groups Studies reported a higher increase in physical health among employees in higher socioeconomic groups as opposed to lower socioeconomic groups (33) and a higher decrease among employees in lower socioeconomic groups as opposed to higher socioeconomic groups after early/statutory retirement (40). One study investigated physical health after unemployment and reported a higher decrease in physical health among employees in lower socioeconomic groups as opposed to higher socioeconomic groups (30). One study investigated physical health after disability pension, but found no differences across socioeconomic groups (33). Mental health Six studies investigated mental health after early/statutory retirement, of which three studies found differences across socioeconomic groups (28, 33, 37). One study found that mental health remained equal in lower socioeconomic groups and increased in higher socioeconomic groups after early/statutory retirement (37). Other studies reported that the decrease in mental health was larger in lower socioeconomic groups compared to higher socioeconomic groups (28), or that the increase in mental health was larger in higher socioeconomic groups compared to lower socioeconomic groups (33). One study investigated mental health after unemployment and found that mental health decreased in lower socioeconomic groups and increased in higher socioeconomic groups (29). Two studies investigated mental health after disability pension (33, 46). One study reported that mental health decreased in lower socioeconomic groups and increased in higher socioeconomic groups (46). Conversely, one study reported a decrease in mental health among employees in higher socioeconomic groups compared to no change in lower socioeconomic groups (33). Health behaviour Six studies measured health behaviour after early/statutory retirement, of which three studies found differences (17, 27, 31, 34, 45). One study reported an increase in BMI among employees in lower socioeconomic groups compared to no change among employees in higher socioeconomic groups (17, 31, 45). Other studies reported an improvement in physical activity among higher socioeconomic groups, compared to a decrease or no change among lower socioeconomic groups (27, 34). 2

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