How Late-Life Working Affects Depression Among Retirement-Aged Workers? An Examination of the Influence Paths of Job-Related (Non-Job-Related) Physical Activity and Social Contact

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates the influence paths that late career participation affects depression of older workers.

Method: The data of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2018) are used. Those who have reached the statutory retirement age in China (>60 years for males/>55 years for females) are investigated.

Results: Late career participation may positively affect job-related physical activity and social contact (2.110 and 0.028, P < 0.01) and negatively affect non-job-related physical activity (-0.343, P < 0.01). Besides, job-related physical activity may exacerbate depression symptoms among older workers (0.017, P < 0.01), whereas non-job-related physical activity and social contact may alleviate it (-0.015 and -0.038, P < 0.01).

Conclusions: Late career participation could be associated with depression through different pathways involving job-related (and non-job-related) physical activity and social contact. The overall impact of late career participation on depression would depend on which influence pathway is dominant.