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Working hours and depression in the HEAF cohort
D Tomic1, S D'Angelo2,3, K Walker-Bone1,2,3
1Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3188, Australia.
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
|October 7, 2025
Summary
Working fewer hours (<20) or moderate hours (20-35) increased depression risk in older adults, particularly those financially comfortable or of intermediate status. Depression also influenced men
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Occupational Health
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Long working hours and unemployment negatively impact mental well-being.
- Current policies encourage extended working lives for adults.
- Older workers face unique challenges balancing work and health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the two-way relationship between working hours and depression in older employees.
- To analyze how working hours influence the onset of depression.
- To examine how pre-existing depression affects working hour decisions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Health and Employment After Fifty (HEAF) study (n=3866).
- Included adults aged 50-64 years with annual questionnaires until 2019.
- Employed Poisson regression to assess associations between working hours, financial status, and depression (CES-D score ≥16).
Main Results:
- 32% of older workers without baseline depression developed it.
- Working <20 hours (financially comfortable) and 20-35 hours (intermediate financial status) increased depression risk.
- Among depressed men of intermediate financial status, there was a higher likelihood of reducing hours or stopping work.
Conclusions:
- Depression is prevalent in older workers, with risk influenced by working hours and financial situation.
- Understanding the link between leaving work and depression is crucial.
- Targeted strategies are needed to support older adults in maintaining employment.
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