Retirement linked to better sleep patterns: Study

The study conducted by Finnish, Swedish, English, American, and French researchers analyzed the sleep patterns of workers and retirees of the French national gas and electricity company (Electricité de France-Gaz de France).

The researchers stated, “This study is the first to examine the trajectories in sleep disturbances before and after retirement over an extended time window…. Findings suggest that this general improvement in sleep is likely to result from the removal of work-related demands and stress rather than from actual health benefits of retirement."

Sleep habits and patterns studies
The researchers studied sleep patterns in 14,714 employees for seven years before retirement and seven years after retirement.

The study included 11,581 men and 3,133 women with an average age of 55 years who reported sleep disturbances at least once before and once after the year of retirement.

They were all questioned on their health, lifestyle, along with social and occupational factors.

Nearly 35 percent of the subjects had worked in night shifts, 17 percent were prone to depression.

However, all the participants had enjoyed a good job security while they were employed. And after retirement, they received pensions--at least 80-percent of their salary.

Observations by the researchers
Although the study revealed a general increase in erratic sleep patterns related to age.
However, overall, the level of sleep disturbances among the participants was significantly lower after retirement.

The rate of fitful sleep of the subjects dropped from 24.2 percent in the year prior to retirement, to 17.8 in the year following it.

The researchers noted that after seven years of retirement the disturbance in sleep was 26 percent lower than in the seven years prior to retiring.

Less erratic sleep was more evident in men, managers with a demanding job profile, those depressed or fatigued due to night shift.

The only exception to enhanced sleep disturbances was observed in the 4 per cent who retired early due to health related problems. These people had a 46 per cent increased risk of sleep disturbances after retiring.

Financial security linked to pleasant sleep
Jussi Vahtera, professor in the department of public health at the University of Turku in Finland, lead author of the study stated, "We believe these findings are largely applicable in situations where financial incentives not to retire are relatively weak."

However, the researchers stated the findings of the study may not be applicable to the retirees who lack financial stability and are laden with stress.

"In countries and positions where there is no proper pension level to guarantee financial security beyond working age, however, retirement may be followed by severe stress disturbing sleep even more than before retirement,” said Jussi Vahtera.

The study is published in the journal Sleep.