Academic Journal
Retirement timing, living arrangements and mental health: a multi-method investigation using Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe.
| Τίτλος: | Retirement timing, living arrangements and mental health: a multi-method investigation using Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Maddock J; University College London Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, UK.; Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, London, UK., Simmons C; Health & Care, European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research, Austria.; Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands., Wels J; Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, London, UK.; Health & Society Research Unit, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium., Patalay P; Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, London, UK.; Centre for Longitudinal Studies, University College London, London, UK. |
| Πηγή: | Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences [Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci] 2026 Aug 05; Vol. 35, pp. e47. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Aug 05. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Cambridge University Press Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101561091 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2045-7979 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 20457960 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Cambridge : Cambridge University Press |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Retirement*/psychology , Retirement*/statistics & numerical data , Mental Health*/statistics & numerical data , Depression*/epidemiology , Depression*/psychology , Aging*/psychology , Residence Characteristics*/statistics & numerical data, Europe/epidemiology ; Humans ; Female ; Male ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Health Surveys ; Time Factors |
| Περίληψη: | Aims: The relationship between retirement and mental health remains unclear, with mixed evidence likely driven by methodological challenges and heterogeneity across population subgroups. This study explores the relationship between retirement, time since retirement and mental health, focusing on differences between those living alone and cohabiting. Methods: We used data from 10,698 participants (48,815 observations) in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, waves 1-8, spanning 20 countries and 16 years. Participants were included if they were employed at baseline and retired during follow-up. We applied a triangulated approach using (1) multilevel linear spline models to examine trajectories and (2) fixed-effects instrumental variable analyses (IV) using statutory retirement age as an instrument to establish causal effects. The outcome was depressive symptoms measured using the EURO-D scale (higher scores indicate more depressive symptoms). Results: Multilevel spline models showed minimal change in depressive symptoms before retirement. At retirement, a small decline in EURO-D scores was indicated (-0.07 points per year [95% CI: -0.13 to -0.0003]), followed by an increase starting two years post-retirement (0.09 per year, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.16). IV analyses showed that retirement was associated with fewer depressive symptoms (-0.26, 95% CI: -0.45 to -0.07). Individuals living alone reported higher depressive symptoms, but cohabitation status did not moderate the relationship between retirement and mental health. Conclusions: Retirement is associated with a short-term reduction in depressive symptoms, but the effect diminishes over time. While individuals living alone consistently report higher depressive symptoms, cohabitation status does not moderate the retirement-mental health relationship. |
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| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: cohabitation status; health inequalities; mental health; retirement; triangulation |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260805 Date Completed: 20260805 Latest Revision: 20260813 |
| Update Code: | 20260814 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13444393 |
| DOI: | 10.1017/S2045796026100833 |
| PMID: | 42552948 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 2045-7979 |
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| DOI: | 10.1017/S2045796026100833 |