Investigating the Influence of Working Status Changes on Physical Activity and Non-Communicable Diseases in Korean Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Insights from a Longitudinal Panel Study

Abstract

Purpose The primary aim of the present study was to comprehensively elucidate the intricate interplay between alterations in working status, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), and physical activity (PA) among Korean middle-aged and older adults, employing a longitudinal panel study design. Methods This study analyzed longitudinal data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2006–2020) with 40,808 participants aged 45 years and older. Changes in working status were categorized, focusing on (1) yes – yes (e.g., indicative of sustained employment), (2) yes – no (e.g., denoting a transition from employment to non-employment), (3) no – yes (e.g., representing a shift from non-employment to employment), and (4) no – no (reflecting a continual non-employment status). The study examined prevalent NCDs (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases) and their association with working status and PA using a chi-square test and random-effect multinomial logistic regression. Results Individuals currently employed (adjusted RRR = 0.688, p = 0.000) or transitioning to employment (adjusted RRR = 0.755, p = 0.000) had a heightened risk of physical inactivity. Those engaged in work exhibited an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases (yes – yes: adjusted RRR = 1.653, p = 0.000; no – yes: adjusted RRR = 1.168, p = 0.000) and diabetes (yes – yes: adjusted RRR = 1.535, p = 0.000; no – yes: adjusted RRR = 1.124, p = 0.000) compared to those never employed. Furthermore, current workers demonstrated a heightened risk of cancer (yes – yes: adjusted RRR = 1.871, p = 0.000; no – yes: adjusted RRR = 1.089, p = 0.014) and chronic respiratory diseases (yes – yes: adjusted RRR = 1.467, p = 0.000; no – yes: adjusted RRR = 1.121, p = 0.029) than those never employed during the survey. Conclusion This longitudinal study revealed that individuals engaged in or transitioning to employment displayed a reduced likelihood of regular PA. Moreover, those with work history, transitioning, or consistently working, exhibited increased vulnerability to all NCDs compared to those without work experience.