• Mikaela B von Bonsdorff, Diana Kuh, Monika E von Bonsdorff, and Rachel Cooper.
• 1 Gerontology Research Center and Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä 2 Folkhälsan Research Center, Haartmansgatan 8 FI-00014 Helsingfors universitet mikaela.vonbonsdorff@jyu.fi.
• Eur J Public Health. 2016 Jun 1; 26 (3): 486-91.

BackgroundPrevious studies of the associations between unemployment and health have primarily focused on mental health and long-term associations have not often been explored. This study investigated if discontinuous employment in mid-career was related to self-reported physical and mental functioning at age 60-64 years.MethodsData come from the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development, a British cohort that has been followed-up since birth in 1946. A total of 2061 study members had data available on mid-career employment patterns and physical and mental functioning assessed using the Short Form 36 questionnaire at age 60-64. Employment patterns in mid-career were categorized into: (i) continuous employment; and discontinuous employment during; (ii) early period (ages 36-43); (iii) late period (ages 43-53); and 4) both periods.ResultsContinuous employment was reported by 63.3% of men and 38.7% of women, while 8.7% of men and 23.4% of women reported being in discontinuous employment during both early and late mid-career. When compared with those in continuous employment those in discontinuous employment during both early and late mid-career had poorer physical functioning, men adjusted β (difference in mean physical functioning T score) -3.84, 95% CI - 6.06 to - 1.63, P = 0.001 and women -3.62, 95% CI - 5.17 to - 2.08, P < 0.001. Findings were parallel but weaker for those in discontinuous employment during late mid-career. Discontinuous employment during both periods and particularly during late mid-career was associated with poorer mental functioning in early old age.ConclusionsDiscontinuous employment during mid-career was associated with poorer self-reported physical and mental functioning around the age of retirement.© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

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