Participation in Employer-Sponsored Wellness Programs Before and After Retirement

• Published in: American journal of health behavior Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 27 - 38
• Main Authors: Yen, Louis, Schultz, Alyssa B., McDonald, Timothy, Champagne, Laura, Edington, Dee W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States PNG Publications 01.01.2006
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Consumer Behavior - statistics & numerical data; Cost Sharing; Demography; Employment - psychology; Employment - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health Behavior; Health Care Costs; Health Promotion; Health Promotion - utilization; Humans; Labor Unions; Male; Michigan; Middle Aged; Occupational Health Services - utilization; Program Participation; Retirees; Retirement - psychology; Retirement - statistics & numerical data; Retrospective Studies; Socioeconomic Factors; Worksite Wellness; Michigan
• ISSN: 1087-3244; 1945-7359
• DOI: 10.5993/AJHB.30.1.3

Objectives: To evaluate wellness program participation before and after retirement. Methods: This retrospective cohort design compares 3 groups of employees: 1998-1999 retirees (N=6065), 1994-1995 retirees (N=5862), and 21, 176 employees who were still active as of 2002. Participation was compared over 2 time periods for high-intensity and low-intensity programs. Results: Significantly different participation rates were found among the 3 groups specific to program intensity. Participation before retirement is associated with higher participation after retirement regardless of program intensity (OR=3.8 for overall participation).Conclusions: Wellness programs can attract retirees, especially if they participated before retirement and are offered a variety of programs.