Retirement and Mental Health

Abstract

Suggestions for creating opportunities that enhance well-being are discussed.

Trajectories of mental health before and after old-age and disability retirement: a register-based study on purchases of psychotropic drugs

“…The purchases of antidepressants decreased. This is consistent with the hypothesis that relieving work-related stress may lead to improved mental health after retirement (21). Moreover, with retirement, one's life situation profoundly changes, and -if managing everyday life becomes easier -symptoms of illness may alleviate and become less disturbing.…”

“I want to break free”. The role of working conditions on retirement expectations and decisions

“…Drentea (2002) argues that work is alienating and retirement liberating, because retirees experience less anxiety and distress. Early exits from the labour market are more frequently observed, in fact, among employees who have physically demanding or monotonous/repetitive jobs (Henkens and Tazelaar 1994).…”

Bridge employment and retirees’ health: A longitudinal investigation.

“…Some researchers showed that retirement resulted in more psychological symptoms because of the discontinuity of their employment status (e.g., Bosse et al, 1987), whereas working was better than retirement because it was associated with a higher sense of control (Drentea, 2007). On the other hand, retirement has also been shown to be associated with an improvement in positive affect and mental health because of less anxiety and stress from work (e.g., Drentea, 2007;Mein et al, 2003). Accordingly, although continuing workers have the opportunity to maintain their work role identity and higher levels of social contact, they may experience higher levels of stress from work.…”

“…From a methodological perspective, many previous studies conducted on retirement and bridge employment status have relied on cross-sectional research designs (e.g., Drentea, 2007;Kim & Feldman, 2000;Weckerle & Shultz, 1999). Although crosssectional designs may be useful in identifying group differences in preferences for retirement or bridge employment, it is difficult to make sound causal inferences based on such findings (Feldman, 1994;Shultz, 2003).…”