Depressive symptoms and early retirement intentions among Danish eldercare workers: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses

TY - JOUR

T1 - Depressive symptoms and early retirement intentions among Danish eldercare workers

T2 - Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses

AU - Nexo, Mette Andersen

AU - Borg, Vilhelm

AU - Sejbaek, Camilla Sandal

AU - Carneiro, Isabella Gomes

AU - Hjarsbech, Pernille U

AU - Rugulies, Reiner

PY - 2015/7/17

Y1 - 2015/7/17

N2 - BACKGROUND: Depression increases the risk of disability pension and represents a health related strain that pushes people out of the labour market. Although early voluntary retirement is an important alternative to disability pension, few studies have examined whether depressive symptoms incur early voluntary retirement. This study examined whether depressive symptoms and changes in depressive symptoms over time were associated with early retirement intentions.METHODS: We used a cross-sectional (n = 4041) and a prospective (n = 2444) population from a longitudinal study on employees of the Danish eldercare sector. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Major Depression Inventory and the impact of different levels of depressive symptoms (severe, moderately severe, moderate, mild and none) and changes in depressive symptoms (worsened, improved, unaffected) on early retirement intentions were analysed with multinomial logistic regression.RESULTS: In the cross-sectional analysis all levels of depressive symptoms were significantly associated with retirement intentions before the age of 62 years. Similar associations were found prospectively. Depressive symptoms and worsened depressive symptoms in the two year period from baseline to follow-up were also significantly associated with early retirement intentions before age 62. The prospective associations lost statistical significance when controlling for early retirement intentions at baseline.CONCLUSIONS: The whole spectrum of depressive symptoms represents a health related strain that can incur intentions to retire early by early voluntary retirement. In order to change the intentions to retire early, the work related consequences of depressive symptoms should be addressed as early in the treatment process as possible.

AB - BACKGROUND: Depression increases the risk of disability pension and represents a health related strain that pushes people out of the labour market. Although early voluntary retirement is an important alternative to disability pension, few studies have examined whether depressive symptoms incur early voluntary retirement. This study examined whether depressive symptoms and changes in depressive symptoms over time were associated with early retirement intentions.METHODS: We used a cross-sectional (n = 4041) and a prospective (n = 2444) population from a longitudinal study on employees of the Danish eldercare sector. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Major Depression Inventory and the impact of different levels of depressive symptoms (severe, moderately severe, moderate, mild and none) and changes in depressive symptoms (worsened, improved, unaffected) on early retirement intentions were analysed with multinomial logistic regression.RESULTS: In the cross-sectional analysis all levels of depressive symptoms were significantly associated with retirement intentions before the age of 62 years. Similar associations were found prospectively. Depressive symptoms and worsened depressive symptoms in the two year period from baseline to follow-up were also significantly associated with early retirement intentions before age 62. The prospective associations lost statistical significance when controlling for early retirement intentions at baseline.CONCLUSIONS: The whole spectrum of depressive symptoms represents a health related strain that can incur intentions to retire early by early voluntary retirement. In order to change the intentions to retire early, the work related consequences of depressive symptoms should be addressed as early in the treatment process as possible.

KW - Age Factors

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Denmark

KW - Depressive Disorder, Major

KW - Female

KW - Health Status

KW - Humans

KW - Intention

KW - Logistic Models

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Pensions

KW - Prospective Studies

KW - Retirement

KW - Severity of Illness Index

U2 - 10.1186/s12889-015-1973-1

DO - 10.1186/s12889-015-1973-1

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26184519

SN - 1471-2458

VL - 15

SP - 1

EP - 8

JO - BMC Public Health

JF - BMC Public Health

IS - 667

ER -