The impact of involuntary exit from employment in later life on the risk of major depression and being prescribed anti-depressant medication

Abstract

Objectives: Involuntary employment exit in later life has been shown to be a risk factor for poor physical and mental health. This study aims to examine the relationship between involuntary employment exit in later life and subsequent risk of reporting major depression or being prescribed anti-depressant medication (ADM).

Method: Data were drawn from four waves of the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH). This is a nationally representative longitudinal cohort survey of persons employed in Sweden in 2003 and 2005. The sample was restricted to respondents who had exited the labour market aged 50+ years between 2006 and 2012 (N = 1433). Major depression was measured using the Symptom Checklist Core Depression Scale (SCL-CD₆). Prescription ADM redeemed from a pharmacy was based on the National Prescribed Drug Register.

Results: After controlling for socio-demographic variables, health, health behaviours, and baseline depression, involuntary employment exit was associated with an increased risk of reporting major depression (OR 3.16; CI 1.32–7.61) and becoming newly prescribed ADM (HR 2.08; CI 1.03–4.21) compared to voluntary employment exit.

Conclusion: Involuntary employment exit represents a risk for subsequent depression in later life. Mental health and social services ought to consider identifying these individuals for possible intervention programs to reduce the burden of depression in later life.

Keywords:

• psychological and social aspects
• depression
• general

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare [grant number 2010-1142].