Work-life balance may look a little different for older adults compared to younger adults juggling work and children, but it’s still just as important for older individuals, according to a study.
The research, published in BMC Public Health on Dec. 6, determined that people over the age of 55 should have a modified work-life balance that takes into account aging, working and social engagement. Researchers wanted to see if a balance between work and social engagement could protect against depressive symptoms, specifically.
The team evaluated working hours, social engagement and depressive symptoms. Overtime was defined as working more than 55 hours per work. The team came up with several categories that showed working hours and social engagement. The participants were also broken up by age.
Compared to participants who put in up to 34 hours per week, people who worked 35 to 54 hours a week, or more than 55 hours a week or not at all were 1.34, 1.49 and 1.74 times more likely to have depressive symptoms, respectively.
Data came from 5,751 adults (2,492 men and 3,259 women) from Korea, where many older adults live in poverty and work into later life. Older adults who worked more hours were at a higher likelihood of experiencing depressive symptoms, the authors wrote. Those who worked longer but had a high level of social interaction didn’t experience depressive symptoms.
“Overall, the study findings suggested that working tends to have more positive effects than not working at all, and engaging sufficiently in informal social activities helps prevent depressive symptoms,” the authors wrote.
Among older adults, the lack of job demands and social engagement can trigger health issues including depression, the researchers wrote.
Working has positive effects on overall health and cognition, unemployment increases the risk of depression, the authors noted.
