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Browsing SWORD Deposit by Author "Adawi, Anfal"
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Item Open Access The Impact Of Retirement On Well-Being In Canada(2025-07-23) Adawi, Anfal; Ida Ferrara & Sadia Mariam MalikThis dissertation investigates the effects of retirement on various dimensions of well-being, including psychological, general, physical, and mental health, among Canada's aging population. The primary objective of the study is to explore how retirement influences life satisfaction (psychological well-being), general health, physical health, and mental well-being. The dissertation is divided into three main parts: the first examines life satisfaction using the 2008–2009 Canadian Community Health Survey – Healthy Aging (CCHS), a cross-sectional dataset; the second explores life satisfaction using the longitudinal Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA); and the third focuses on the effects of retirement on general, physical, and mental health using CLSA data. To address self-selection, reverse causality, and unobserved heterogeneity, the research employs econometric techniques, including instrumental variables, fixed effects models, difference-in-differences analysis, and fuzzy regression discontinuity design (FRDD). These methods provide reliable causal estimates while controlling for factors such as age, gender, marital status, education, income, and health status. The findings show that retirement has a positive and significant effect on life satisfaction, after controlling for a wide set of socioeconomic and demographic factors, with this effect remaining robust across both cross-sectional and longitudinal data. Retirement also improves general and mental health, likely due to reduced work-related stress and increased opportunities for social engagement. However, physical activity levels decline after retirement, reflecting reduced occupational movement. These health effects vary by retirement type, voluntariness, and sociodemographic factors, with complete and voluntary retirement offering the most substantial benefits. General health improves in the short term, while mental health gains become more pronounced over time. Additional analysis highlights that men experience greater improvements in mental health, while women report better general health. Higher education levels amplify the positive effects of retirement across all health outcomes, including physical activity. Social support and engagement consistently enhance well-being, while household and regional factors play a minimal role. These findings carry important policy implications, highlighting the need for flexible retirement options and programs that promote physical activity and social engagement. As Canada’s population ages, these insights can inform policies that foster healthy aging and improve retirees’ overall quality of life.