Logo image
Back
The effect of retirement on health behaviours: Evidence from Brazil
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The effect of retirement on health behaviours: Evidence from Brazil

Luan Vinicius Bernardelli, Wander Plassa, Michael Alexander Kortt and Michael B. Charles
PloS one, Vol.20(12), pp.1-23
16/12/2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0338539
PMID: 41401153
pdf
The effect of retirement on health behaviours1.24 MBDownloadView
Published (Version of record) Open CC BY V4.0
url
The effect of retirement on health behavioursView
Published (Version of record) Open CC BY V4.0

Related links

Metrics

1 Record Views

Abstract

Objective: This study investigates the impact of retirement on health behaviours in Brazil in light of rising life expectancy and recent pension age reforms, focusing on how retirement affects well-being in a middle-income country. Methods: Using data from the 2013 and 2019 Brazilian National Health Surveys (PNS), this study analyses health behaviours among 54,741 individuals aged 50-80. Health behaviours (alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity, sleep medication use, and diet) were measured using binary and continuous variables. Retirement status was defined as receiving a pension and not working, with Brazil's minimum retirement age used as an instrumental variable to address endogeneity. Probit and IV probit models for binary outcomes and OLS and IV OLS models for continuous outcomes were estimated, with statistical tests supporting instrument strength and endogeneity. Results: The findings reveal a positive relationship between retirement and improvements in health behaviours. In the IV probit models, retirement is associated with increased physical exercise (beta = 0.393, p < 0.05) and healthier eating habits (beta = 0.371, p < 0.05). Men are less likely than women to reduce smoking. Retirement is linked to greater time spent engaging in physical exercise, reductions in alcohol consumption and smoking, together with healthier eating habits. Conclusion: These results have significant policy implications, underscoring the need to consider the potential long-term public health effects of increasing the retirement age, as it could result in higher public health burdens.

Details

Logo image