Employment and earnings trajectories before and after sickness absence due to major depressive disorder: a nationwide case–control study

Abstract

ObjectivesTo examine employment and earnings trajectories before and after the first sickness absence period due to major depressive disorder (MDD).MethodsAll individuals (n=158 813) in Finland who had a first sickness absence period (lasting longer than 9 days) due to MDD between 2005 and 2015 were matched with one randomly selected individual of the same age and gender with no history of MDD. Employment status and earnings were measured using register-based data annually from 2005 to 2015. Generalised estimating equations were used to examine the trajectories of employment and earnings before and after MDD diagnosis in men and women separately.ResultsSickness absence due to MDD was associated with increased probability of non-employment during and after the year of the first sickness absence period. In men, but not in women, the probability of being employed was lower 5 years before the sickness absence period due to MDD. When compared with the individuals in the control group, men had around 34% and women 15% lower earnings 1 year, and 40% and 23%, respectively, 5 years, after the first sickness absence period due to MDD. More severe MDD and longer duration of sickness absence period were associated with lower probability of being employed.ConclusionsSickness absence due to MDD was associated with considerable reduction in employment and earnings losses. For men and individuals with more severe MDD, this reduction was before the first sickness period. This supports a reciprocal association between employment and earnings with MDD.

Socioeconomic position at the age of 30 and the later risk of a mental disorder: a nationwide population-based register study

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Prediction of Probable Major Depressive Disorder in the Taiwan Biobank: An Integrated Machine Learning and Genome-Wide Analysis Approach

“…In line with our study, it has been previously suggested that marital status (or relationship status) is associated with the development and severity of MDD [ 51 ]. A link between MDD and unemployment was reported in an international study [ 52 ] and a Finland study [ 53 ]. It has also been shown that MDD and smoking are highly correlated [ 54 , 55 ].…”

A longitudinal analysis of a work inclusion model for psychiatric patients in the Mental Health Departments of the city of Milan

“…This might partially explain our results, since psychiatric patients who were enrolled had been unemployed for a long time before this intervention took place, and presented with severe forms of psychiatric illness. A recent study (Hakulinen et al, 2021) of depressed patients found men experienced significantly higher rates of reduced employment and loss of earnings than women, even before the first period of illness, implying a deeper correlation between unemployment due to psychiatric issues and male gender. Moreover, the distribution of our sample may reflect the obstacles that still limit women’s access to the job market in Italy (50.1% employment rate for women vs. 68% employment rate for men – ISTAT, 2020).…”