Determinants and effects on well-beings of productive activities in late-middle-aged and aged Japanese: Longitudinal analysis of two representative panels

Abstract

The present study aimed at identifying determinants and effects on well-beings of productive activities in late-middle-aged and aged Japanese. Two representative panels (J-HRS aged 55-64 years and J-AHEAD aged 70 years and over) were utilized for longitudinal analysis. Paid labor in both sexes and unpaid labor at home in women tended to decrease over time. In both sexes, an inverse correlation was found between longitudinal changes of paid labor and other categories of productive activities. Age (inversely), and being self-employed or family members employed (directly) significantly related to longitudinal changes of paid labor. Education had a significantly direct relation to volunteer work in men alone. Depressive symptoms were likely to be attenuated by paid labor in men and unpaid labor at home in women. Total amount of time for all productive activities had significantly favorable effects on outcomes of ADL and cognitive ability, and survivorship. These relationships were U-shaped with most favorable effects found at eight hours a day.