title: Depressive symptoms and early retirement intentions among Danish eldercare workers: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression increases the risk of disability pension and represents a health related strain that pushes people out of the labour market. Although early voluntary retirement is an important alternative to disability pension, few studies have examined whether depressive symptoms incur early voluntary retirement. This study examined whether depressive symptoms and changes in depressive symptoms over time were associated with early retirement intentions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a cross-sectional (n = 4041) and a prospective (n = 2444) population from a longitudinal study on employees of the Danish eldercare sector. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Major Depression Inventory and the impact of different levels of depressive symptoms (severe, moderately severe, moderate, mild and none) and changes in depressive symptoms (worsened, improved, unaffected) on early retirement intentions were analysed with multinomial logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the cross-sectional analysis all levels of depressive symptoms were significantly associated with retirement intentions before the age of 62 years. Similar associations were found prospectively. Depressive symptoms and worsened depressive symptoms in the two year period from baseline to follow-up were also significantly associated with early retirement intentions before age 62. The prospective associations lost statistical significance when controlling for early retirement intentions at baseline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The whole spectrum of depressive symptoms represents a health related strain that can incur intentions to retire early by early voluntary retirement. In order to change the intentions to retire early, the work related consequences of depressive symptoms should be addressed as early in the treatment process as possible.
authors.affiliation: The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersoe Parkallé 105, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark. man@nrcwe.dk.
authors.forename: Mette Andersen
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nexo
authors.affiliation: The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersoe Parkallé 105, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark. vbo@nrcwe.dk.
authors.forename: Vilhelm
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Borg
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 5, Post box 2099, DK-1014, Copenhagen K, Denmark. case@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Camilla Sandal
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Sejbaek
authors.affiliation: The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersoe Parkallé 105, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark. Isabella.Carneiro@phe.gov.uk.|Cancer Research UK partnership with the National Cancer Intelligence Network, Wellington House, 133-55 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG, U. K. Isabella.Carneiro@phe.gov.uk.
authors.forename: Isabella Gomes
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Danish Institute for Local and Regional Government Research. Koebmagergade 22, DK-1150, Copenhagen K, Denmark. pehj@kora.dk.
authors.forename: Pernille U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Hjarsbech
authors.affiliation: The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersoe Parkallé 105, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark. rer@nrcwe.dk.|Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Oester Farimagsgade 5, Post box 2099, DK-1014, Copenhagen K, Denmark. rer@nrcwe.dk.|Department of Psychology, Copenhagen University, Oester Farigmagsgade 2A, DK-1353, Copenhagen, Denmark. rer@nrcwe.dk.
authors.forename: Reiner
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rugulies
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010415:Pensions; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index