TY - JOUR T1 - Health effects of late-career unemployment JF - Journal of Aging and Health Y1 - 2020 A1 - Maren W Voss A1 - Lori Wadsworth A1 - Wendy Church Birmingham A1 - Merryman, M. Beth A1 - Crabtree, Lisa A1 - Subasic, Kathy A1 - Hung, Man KW - Job loss KW - Retirement Planning and Satisfaction KW - Unemployment AB - Objective: Job loss has a demonstrated negative impact on physical and mental health. Involuntary retirement has also been linked to poorer physical and mental health outcomes. This study examined whether late-career unemployment is related to involuntary retirement and health declines postretirement. Method: Analysis was conducted using the 2000-2012 U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS) survey data with unemployment months regressed with demographic and baseline health measures on physical and mental health. Results: Individuals with late-career unemployment reported more involuntary retirement timing (47.0%) compared with those reporting no unemployment (27.9%). Late-career unemployment had no significant effect on self-reported physical health (β =.003, p =.84), but was significantly associated with lower levels of mental health (β =.039; p <.01). Conclusion: Self-reports of late-career unemployment are not associated with physical health in retirement, but unemployment is associated with involuntary retirement timing and mental health declines in retirement. Unemployment late in the working career should be addressed as a public mental health concern. VL - 32 UR - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0898264318806792 IS - 1 JO - J Aging Health ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Honest Labor Bears a Lovely Face: Will Late-Life Unemployment Impact Health and Satisfaction in Retirement? JF - J Occup Environ Med Y1 - 2017 A1 - Maren W Voss A1 - Wendy Church Birmingham A1 - Lori Wadsworth A1 - Wei Chen A1 - Bounsanga, Jerry A1 - Gu, Yushan A1 - Hung, Man KW - Age Factors KW - Aged KW - Chronic disease KW - depression KW - Female KW - Health Status KW - Health Surveys KW - Humans KW - Male KW - Mental Health KW - Middle Aged KW - Personal Satisfaction KW - Retirement KW - Unemployment KW - United States KW - Work AB -

OBJECTIVE: Unemployment among older adults during recessionary cycles has been tied to early retirement decisions and negative health outcomes. This study explored episodes of unemployment experienced between age 50 and retirement as predictors of retirement age and health outcomes.

METHODS: A total of 1540 participants from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study aged 50 years and older who transitioned from workforce to retirement were analyzed with descriptive statistics and multiple regression controlling for unemployment, demographics, and health status.

RESULTS: Late-life unemployment significantly related to earlier retirement age and lowered life satisfaction, independent of income effects. We found no main effect for late-life unemployment on physical health status.

CONCLUSIONS: Potential improvements in future life satisfaction might be gained if job search obstacles are removed for older unemployed adults, reducing reliance on involuntary early retirement as an income source.

VL - 59 UR - http://content.wkhealth.com/linkback/openurl?sid=WKPTLP:landingpage&an=00043764-900000000-98945 IS - 2 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28002355?dopt=Abstract JO - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine ER - TY - JOUR T1 - The relationship between family support; pain and depression in elderly with arthritis. JF - Psychol Health Med Y1 - 2017 A1 - Hung, Man A1 - Bounsanga, Jerry A1 - Maren W Voss A1 - Anthony B. Crum A1 - Wei Chen A1 - Wendy Church Birmingham KW - Aged KW - Aged, 80 and over KW - Aging KW - Arthralgia KW - Arthritis KW - depression KW - Family KW - Female KW - Humans KW - Male KW - Middle Aged KW - Social Support KW - United States AB -

The prevalence and chronic nature of arthritis make it the most common cause of disability among U.S.A adults. Family support reduces the negative impact of chronic conditions generally but its role in pain and depression for arthritic conditions is not well understood. A total of 844 males (35.0%) and 1567 females (65.0%) with arthritic conditions (n = 2411) were drawn from the 2012 Health and Retirement Study to examine the effect of family support on pain and depressive symptoms. Using regression analysis and controlling for age, ethnicity, gender, marital/educational status and employment/income, physical function/disability status, pain and antidepressant medications, and other clinical indicators of chronic health conditions, we examined the effects of family support (spouse, children, other) on pain and depression levels. Results indicated that depressive symptoms decreased significantly with strong family and spousal support (p < .05). Pain decreased as support levels increased, but was non-statistically significant. This study provides new insights into the relationship between family support, pain, and depression for individuals with arthritis. Future longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate family support and relationships over a wider spectrum of demographics.

VL - 22 UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27427504 IS - 1 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27427504?dopt=Abstract ER -