Effects of voluntary/involuntary retirement on their own and spouses' depressive symptoms

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of our study was to elucidate the effect of voluntary/involuntary retirement on individuals’ and spouses’ depressive symptoms using the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). MethodsThis study used a sample derived from the first- to fourth-wave cohort datasets of KLoSA, which was conducted in 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, we analyzed a total of 6706 subjects. Information about employment status, the short-form Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale, and covariates (age, property, household income, perceived health status and medical disability) were obtained. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the effects of voluntary/involuntary retirement on individuals’ and spouses’ depressive symptoms. ResultsThe voluntary/involuntary retirement groups showed significantly more depressive symptoms than the working group in wave 1–4, and the same results were revealed in the spouse's retirement and job loss measures. The hazard ratios of depressive symptoms of the voluntary/involuntary retirement groups were 1.26–1.31 during the 6year follow-up period. The wives’ risk of depressive symptoms was also significantly increased if their husbands voluntarily retired (HR=1.35, 95% CI=1.10–1.65). ConclusionDuring the 6year follow-up study, Voluntary/involuntary retirement increased the risk of depressive symptoms in a Korean elderly population. Furthermore, husbands’ voluntary retirement increased wives’ risk of depressive symptoms.