Unemployment during working life and mental health of retirees: Results of a representative survey

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine differences in mental health and satisfaction with life in retired men and women depending on experienced unemployment during working life.

Method: Based on a representative survey, 1396 retirees in the age range of 60–92 years were interviewed face-to-face, assessing two screening instruments for anxiety and depression as well as the Questions on Life Satisfaction questionnaire. Among others, analyses of variance were used to test the differences between groups with distinct experiences of unemployment periods.

Results: Retirees with the experience of repeated unemployment – but not with one-time unemployment – during working life reported worse mental health and satisfaction with life. Calculated effect sizes were 0.53 for anxiety, 0.42 for depression and between 0.21 and 0.51 for satisfaction with different domains of daily life. Differences between men and women emerged, but similarities dominated. Participants with higher current household incomes were found to be less affected.

Conclusion: The experience of repeated unemployment periods during working life is associated with more psychosocial distress in retired men and women. Thus, unemployment may have serious negative implications even for persons retired already.

Keywords:

• unemployment
• anxiety
• depression
• representative survey