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

The 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).

This 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.

The 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).

During 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.