Socioeconomic and Psychosocial Adversity in Midlife and Depressive Symptoms Post Retirement: A 21-year Follow-up of the Whitehall II Study

Abstract

ObjectiveWe examined whether socioeconomic and psychosocial adversity in midlife predicts post-retirement depressive symptoms.Design and SettingA prospective cohort study of British civil servants who responded to a self-administered questionnaire in middle-age and at older ages, 21 years later.ParticipantsThe study sample consisted of 3,939 Whitehall II Study participants (2,789 men, 1,150 women; mean age 67.6 years at follow-up) who were employed at baseline and retired at follow-up.MeasurementsMidlife adversity was assessed by self-reported socioeconomic adversity (low occupational position; poor standard of living) and psychosocial adversity (high job strain; few close relationships). Symptoms of depression post-retirement were measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale.ResultsAfter adjustment for sociodemographic and health-related covariates at baseline and follow-up, there were strong associations between midlife adversities and post-retirement depressive symptoms: low occupational position (odds ratio [OR]: 1.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15–2.51), poor standard of living (OR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.66–3.39), high job strain (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.09–2.14), and few close relationships (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.12–2.03). The strength of the associations between socioeconomic, psychosocial, work-related, or non-work related exposures and depressive symptoms was similar.ConclusionsRobust associations from observational data suggest that several socioeconomic and psychosocial risk factors for symptoms of depression post-retirement can be detected already in midlife.

On the quality of adjustment to retirement: The longitudinal role of personality traits and generativity

“…Burr et al, 2011), or depression (e.g. Virtanen et al, 2014). The use of a bidimensional measure, focused on hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing, is of particular significance in understanding the quality of retirement adjustment, a life transition that could affect several dimensions of life, and could be managed therefore in different ways resulting in different outcomes.…”

“…Burr, Santo, & Pushkar, 2011; Bye & Pushkar, 2009), depression (e.g. Butterworth et al, 2006; Kubicek et al, 2011; Virtanen et al, 2014) or emotional wellbeing (e.g. Coursolle, Sweeney, Raymo, & Ho, 2010).…”

Does postponing retirement affect cognitive function? A counterfactual experiment to disentangle life course risk factors

“…Those who retire might subsequently experience an increase in depressive symptoms and/or comorbidities that partially explain the effect of retirement on cognitive decline. Thus, we examine whether depressive symptoms or comorbidities, which are associated with both labor force participation and cognitive function (Calvo et al 2013;Fonseca et al 2014;González et al 2008;Virtanen et al 2015), operate as mediators.…”

Fertility trajectories and later-life depression among parents in England

“…Identified current and life course socio-demographic factors associated with depressive symptoms in mid-and later adulthood include childhood circumstances, level of education, adult socio-economic resources, partnership status, social support, and physical health (Fiske et al 2009;Virtanen et al 2015). Fertility trajectories intersect with all these factors, and theoretical frameworks from several disciplinary traditions suggest that the tempo and quantum of fertility may be directly or indirectly related to later-life depression.…”