Paid Employment and Mental Health in 65-74-Year-Olds: Analysis of National Data From 2000, 2007 and 2014

Overview

Journal Int J Geriatr Psychiatry

Specialties Geriatrics
Psychiatry

Date 2024 Sep 26

PMID 39327228

Authors

Gayan Perera

Karen Glaser

Giorgio Di Gessa

Robert Stewart

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Employment rates for people aged 65 and over have been changing rapidly in many countries, but little is known about associations of employment status with mental health status and their stability over time. We therefore investigated mental health associations with employment status in 65-74-year-olds in three national samples.

Methods: The data for these analyses were drawn from three national surveys of psychiatric morbidity among adults in England living in private households carried out in 2000, 2007, and 2014. Employment status was the primary exposure of interest. Common mental disorder (CMD) and constituent symptoms were ascertained identically in the three surveys from the revised Clinical Interview Schedule. Covariates included identical demographic, social and physical health measures.

Results: A significant association between non-employment and CMD was present in 2007 (odds ratio 2.66 [95% CI: 1.02-7.83]) but there was no significant association between non-employment and CMD in 2000 or 2014. The largest attenuation in the association between non-employment and CMD was seen when adjusted for physical health related factors. In combined samples, non-employment was most strongly associated with self-reported cognitive difficulties (OR 1.25, 1.01-1.61), depressive ideas (1.30, 1.01-1.67), worry (1.30, 1.01-1.68), and anxiety (1.27, 1.00-1.64) as constituent CMD symptoms.

Conclusion: Evidence is still unclear whether employment after statutory retirement ages is associated with better mental health, and associations may be symptom-specific. In the light of policies to encourage older workers to remain active in the labour market, more research is needed into the interrelationships between paid work and mental health, as well as other outcomes.

References

Rohwedder S, Willis R . Mental Retirement. J Econ Perspect. 2010; 24(1):119-138. PMC: 2958696. DOI: 10.1257/jep.24.1.119. View

Mein G, Martikainen P, Stansfeld S, Brunner E, Fuhrer R, Marmot M . Predictors of early retirement in British civil servants. Age Ageing. 2001; 29(6):529-36. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/29.6.529. View

Monden C . Current and lifetime exposure to working conditions. Do they explain educational differences in subjective health?. Soc Sci Med. 2005; 60(11):2465-76. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.11.017. View

Atchley R . A continuity theory of normal aging. Gerontologist. 1989; 29(2):183-90. DOI: 10.1093/geront/29.2.183. View

Di Gessa G, Corna L, Price D, Glaser K . The decision to work after state pension age and how it affects quality of life: evidence from a 6-year English panel study. Age Ageing. 2018; 47(3):450-457. PMC: 5920338. DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afx181. View

Xie L, Yao Y, Tang L, Zhang S, Yang H, Zhang S . Effect of Working After Retirement on the Mental Health of Older People: Evidence From China. Front Psychiatry. 2021; 12:731378. PMC: 8505967. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.731378. View

Clarke P, Marshall V, House J, Lantz P . The Social Structuring of Mental Health over the Adult Life Course: Advancing Theory in the Sociology of Aging. Soc Forces. 2011; 89(4):1287-1313. PMC: 3210581. DOI: 10.1353/sof.2011.0036. View

Olesen S, Butterworth P, Rodgers B . Is poor mental health a risk factor for retirement? Findings from a longitudinal population survey. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2011; 47(5):735-44. DOI: 10.1007/s00127-011-0375-7. View

Mandal B, Roe B . Job loss, retirement and the mental health of older Americans. J Ment Health Policy Econ. 2008; 11(4):167-76. View

10.

Abdeta T, Birhanu A, Kibret H, Alemu A, Bayu K, Bogale K . Prevalence of common mental disorders and associated factors among adults living in Harari regional state, eastern Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study. Front Psychiatry. 2023; 14:1183797. PMC: 10372418. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1183797. View

11.

Villamil E, Huppert F, Melzer D . Low prevalence of depression and anxiety is linked to statutory retirement ages rather than personal work exit: a national survey. Psychol Med. 2006; 36(7):999-1009. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291706007719. View

12.

Butterworth P, Pymont C, Rodgers B, Windsor T, Anstey K . Factors that explain the poorer mental health of caregivers: Results from a community survey of older Australians. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2010; 44(7):616-24. DOI: 10.3109/00048671003620202. View

13.

Alavinia S, Burdorf A . Unemployment and retirement and ill-health: a cross-sectional analysis across European countries. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2008; 82(1):39-45. PMC: 2467501. DOI: 10.1007/s00420-008-0304-6. View

14.

Dow B, Meyer C . Caring and retirement: crossroads and consequences. Int J Health Serv. 2010; 40(4):645-65. DOI: 10.2190/HS.40.4.e. View

15.

Ross C, Drentea P . Consequences of retirement activities for distress and the sense of personal control. J Health Soc Behav. 1999; 39(4):317-34. View

16.

Cornish R, John A, Boyd A, Tilling K, Macleod J . Defining adolescent common mental disorders using electronic primary care data: a comparison with outcomes measured using the CIS-R. BMJ Open. 2016; 6(12):e013167. PMC: 5168670. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013167. View

17.

Whitley E, Popham F . Leaving the labour market later in life: how does it impact on mechanisms for health?. Occup Environ Med. 2017; 74(12):877-886. PMC: 5740548. DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2016-104258. View

18.

Byles J, Robinson I, Banks E, Gibson R, Leigh L, Rodgers B . Psychological distress and comorbid physical conditions: disease or disability?. Depress Anxiety. 2013; 31(6):524-32. DOI: 10.1002/da.22162. View

19.

Butterworth P, Gill S, Rodgers B, Anstey K, Villamil E, Melzer D . Retirement and mental health: analysis of the Australian national survey of mental health and well-being. Soc Sci Med. 2005; 62(5):1179-91. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.07.013. View

20.

Vo K, Forder P, Tavener M, Rodgers B, Banks E, Bauman A . Retirement, age, gender and mental health: findings from the 45 and Up Study. Aging Ment Health. 2014; 19(7):647-57. DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2014.962002. View