Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.This study is part of the Growing Older: Extending Quality of Life research programme funded by the ESRC. This project focuses on the relationship between paid employment and psychological well-being at older ages, addressing the research aims: Identification of the predictors of quality of life in older adults - particularly the role of paid work; Identification of the predictors of participation in paid work over age 50; Identification of mechanisms through which the influence of paid work on well-being may operate. Previous research indicates the psychological importance of paid work at below retirement age - though the outcomes of unemployment have rarely been studied at older ages. Research, which has taken place, often fails to note that voluntary lack of employment differs from enforced unemployment. In addition to the role of personal choice in employment status, as a predictor of well-being, there are other covariates which need to be accounted for, such as: age, health, gender and marital status. Differences in well-being between employment, unemployment and retirement might also be determined by the environmental features experienced in each of those roles.Main Topics:Topics covered in the data include: work history; physical and leisure-time activities; physical and psycological health; background and personal details; people in paid work; people not currently in paid work; economic situation; satisfaction with life. Standard Measures Major scales within the questionnaire include: Satisfaction with Life Scale (Deiner et al, 1985); Customised mental health scale constructed from: General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg, 1972) and Physical Health Scale SF-30 (Brazier et al, 1992); Context free 'vitamin' items (Warr); Raven's Progressive Matrices; Personality measure constructed with items from International Personality Item Pool; Participation in Activities Scale (Harlow and...