Working After Age 65: Mental Health and Work Participation
Author Information
Author(s): Martikainen Aleksiina, Alexanderson Kristina, Svedberg Pia, Farrants Kristin
Primary Institution: Karolinska Institutet
Hypothesis
How do prior mental health-related sickness absence and disability pension affect labor market participation after age 65?
Conclusion
Prior mental health issues slightly hinder women's ability to continue working after age 65, but this effect is not seen in men or in older age groups.
Supporting Evidence
- Approximately 80% of participants remained in paid work at least some time during follow-up.
- 41% of participants worked throughout the follow-up period.
- Mental sickness absence and disability pension were less common than somatic sickness absence and disability pension.
Takeaway
This study looked at how mental health problems affect older people’s ability to keep working, finding that women with mental health issues are less likely to work after 65.
Methodology
A prospective population-based cohort study using nationwide register microdata and Cox proportional hazard regression.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in self-reported mental health status and socioeconomic factors.
Limitations
The study may not account for all factors influencing work participation beyond mental health.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged 65-69 and ≥70, living in Sweden in 2014.
Statistical Information
P-Value
HR 1.09
Confidence Interval
95%CI 1.06-1.13
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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