Earlier Retirement for People with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
Experiencing frequent musculoskeletal pain is linked with early retirement, according to a study published in the journal PLOS ONE (March 2024). Previous studies have shown higher rates of absenteeism, reduced working capacity and reduced income among people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. For the current study, researchers examined data on 1,156 adults ages 50 and older. Over 14 years, 1,073 of them retired from work. Participants who complained of musculoskeletal pain tended to retire earlier than those who did not have chronic pain. Chronic pain predicted early retirement to a similar extent as work dissatisfaction, not receiving the recognition people felt they deserved, higher social status and being female. The researchers noted that “for people to remain in the workforce in good health, pain needs to be addressed.”
