Retirement, age, gender and mental health: findings from the 45 and Up Study

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the relationships of retirement and reasons for retirement with psychological distress in men and women at the age of 45–79 years.

Method: Data from 202,584 Australians participating in the large-scale 45 and Up Study was used. Psychological distress was measured by the Kessler psychological distress scale. Associations between different work status and reasons for retirement with psychological distress were assessed for men and women at different ages using logistic regression.

Results: Being fully retired or unemployed was associated with the high levels of psychological distress compared to being in paid work for men and women aged 45–64 (p < 0.0001), and for men aged 65–74 years (p ≤ 0.0014). At the age of 75–79 years, there was no difference in psychological distress between different work statuses. Among retirees, retirement due to ill health, being made redundant or caring duty was associated with the high level of psychological distress.

Conclusion: The association between work and mental health underscores the importance of policies and strategies to encourage and enable people to continue in the workforce after age 55, particularly for men. Important reasons for retirement with worse mental health outcomes include redundancy, ill health and needing to care for family or a friend. These circumstances will affect whether a person can continue working and their risk of poor mental health, and both considerations should be addressed in developing approaches for maintaining older workers or assisting them with their retirement transition.

Keywords:

• mental health
• retirement
• gender
• age
• reasons for retirement

Acknowledgements

This research was completed using data collected through the 45 and Up Study (www.saxinstitute.org.au). The 45 and Up Study is managed by the Sax Institute in collaboration with major partner Cancer Council NSW; and partners: the National Heart Foundation of Australia (NSW Division); NSW Ministry of Health; beyond blue; Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Family and Community Services; the Australian Red Cross Blood Service; and Uniting Care Ageing. We thank the many thousands of people participating in the 45 and Up Study.

We thank Louise Thomas and Cassie Curryer from the Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, the University of Newcastle, for assistance with manuscript preparation. This research was also supported by infrastructure and staff of the Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, who are members of the Hunter Medical Research Institute.

The full list of SEEF investigators include: Sandra Bailey, Hilary Bambrick, Emily Banks, Adrian Bauman (PI), John Beard, Dorothy Broom, Julie Byles, Judith Clark, Mark Harris, Bin Jalaludin, Louisa Jorm, Tony McMichael, Don Nutbeam, Sally Redman, Bryan Rodgers, Deborah Schofield.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council Preventive Health Care and Strengthening Australia's Social and Economic Fabric Research Program [grant number 402810] with project title ‘Understanding the impact of social, economic and geographic disadvantage on the health of Australians in mid to later life: where are the opportunities for prevention?’