Mergenthaler, Andreas; Cihlar, Volker (2018)
Ageing International 43(3): 336–355
DOI: 10.1007/s12126-017-9281-y
Paid work beyond retirement is a key potential of older adults in ageing societies. Although evidence on antecedents of bridge employment exists, consequences for partnership quality are not clear, especially for Germany. In this study we analyse how paid work after receiving an old age pension is associated with partnership quality in Germany and whether this is moderated by gender. We use the survey “Transitions and Old Age Potential (TOP)” as the basis for our analyses. Hierarchical binary logistic models were estimated, controlling for socio-demographic, socio-economic and retirement-related variables as well as the interaction between gender and bridge employment. Bridge employment was not directly associated with partnership quality. Rather, women who perform bridge employment have a lower chance of seeing their partnership as improved compared to men who were bridge employed. The evidence emphasises a gender perspective to better understand the consequence of paid work for marital quality in retirement.