European Study Finds Improvement in Functional Status Across Labor Market Groups During Pandemic Year

A recent comprehensive study published in the European Journal of Public Health has explored how the functional status of Europeans aged 55-69 evolved between 2004 and 2022, with a focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The research analyzed data from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), encompassing approximately 245,000 observations across nine measurement waves.

The findings revealed that, contrary to expectations, there were no significant overall changes in the functional status of older working-aged Europeans during this period. Notably, functional limitations among men showed a slight increase, while no change was observed among women. Importantly, the study highlighted that individuals unemployed faced higher chances of functional limitations—being 60% more likely for women and 88% for men compared to employed counterparts.

Surprisingly, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the likelihood of functional limitations actually decreased across all labor market groups, especially in countries with moderate restrictions. This counterintuitive outcome suggests that Europeans aged 55–69 may have adopted positive lifestyle changes during this period. However, these improvements largely reverted in the subsequent year.

The researchers also discussed how restrictions might have altered daily activities, making them less physically demanding, which could influence the measurement of functional limitations via the Global Activity Limitation Index (GALI). They emphasized that further investigation is necessary to understand these initial improvements fully.

Overall, the study underscores the importance of targeted health and employment policies to support aging populations, especially those unemployed, and to promote healthy lifestyles even during challenging times like a pandemic.