The Long-term Relationship between Work Status Transitions and Depression among Older Workers: The Moderating Roles of Retrospective Characteristics of Employment Experiences

Objectives: This study was an exploration of the long-term relationship between changes in workforce participation and psychological well-being among Korean older adults. Methods: Using nationally representative data from 2006 to 2022, an estimate fixed-effects models was made to predict depression scores based on labor status transitions, analyzing 23,516 person-years of observations. Subsequent models were developed to examine multivariate interaction terms with retrospective properties of career history after controlling for potential confounding bias arising from time-invariant variables. Results: There were significant links between employment status changes and depression. Individuals who transitioned to full retirement or post-retirement work were at a higher risk of experiencing depression compared to those who continued working. Furthermore, findings revealed that the psychological benefits of delayed retirement were not found among agricultural and unskilled manual workers as well as workers in precarious jobs. Conclusions: The disparities in health outcomes associated with labor force transitions highlight the complexity of productive engagement among older adults, particularly in the context of limited public support for aging populations.