Whether or not your stress rises or decreases after retirement depends on the job you had prior to leaving the workforce, according to a new British study published recently. Those individuals who have low status ad low level jobs are more likely to experience more stress around the retirement process than co-workers in a higher-level position. Stress levels tended not to decrease for low level employees after retirement.
The study looked at the experiences of more than 1100 individuals and examined their cortisol rates. Levels of cortisol typically reached their high around 30 minutes after waking up in the morning but declined throughout the day, achieving the lowest level around bedtime. Stress, however, can disrupt that pattern significantly and high levels of cortisol have been tied to multiple chronic health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Cortisol levels were analyzed through saliva samples. The study identified that those individuals employed in the lowest status jobs had the highest levels of stress as indicated by daily cortisol slopes that were flatter than their peers. It also identified that the retirement process does not alter a difference in stress levels. While retirement was found to be associated with improved cortisol slopes, those in low status jobs did not typically reap that benefit.
Retirement planning should always be completed hand-in-hand with your estate planning goals. Contact a New Jersey estate planning lawyer today to learn more.