Retirement transitions and spouse disability: effects on depressive symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of type of retirement (forced, early, abrupt) and spouse's disability on longitudinal change in depressive symptoms.


METHODS
The analyses rely on Waves 1-4 of the Health and Retirement Survey (N = 2,649). Generalized estimating equations models with bootstrapped standard errors and adjustment for survey design and non-independence of dyad members estimate effects of retirement, type of retirement, and spouse's disability on depressive symptoms, controlling for relevant covariates.


RESULTS
The results suggest that depressive symptoms increase when retirement is abrupt and perceived as too early or forced. Women retirees who stopped employment and were either forced into retirement or perceived their retirement as too early report significantly more depressive symptoms with increasing spouse activities of daily living (ADLs) limitations. There is no similar effect for men. In contrast, for working retirees who retired on time, depressive symptoms decrease with increasing spouse ADLs.


CONCLUSIONS
These results highlight the importance of retirement context on postretirement well-being. They suggest that both type of retirement transition and marital contexts such as spouse's disability influence postretirement well-being, and these effects differ by gender.
Szinovacz
Maximiliane E
ME
Glennan Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 825 Fairfax Ave., Hofheimer Hall, Rm. 201, Norfolk, VA 23507-1912, USA. maxres@visi.net
Davey
Adam
A
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003710:Demography; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012179:Retirement; D018454:Spouses; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires