What Factors Affect the Evolution of the Wife’s Mental Health After the Husband’s Retirement? Evidence From a Population-Based Nationwide Survey in Japan
Background: The “retired husband syndrome” refers to the negative impact of the husband’s retirement on the wife’s health. This study provided new insights by examining whether and to what extent the wife’s social participation, interactions with her husband, and job status prior to her husband’s re...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Japan Epidemiological Association
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Epidemiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jea/31/5/31_JE20200071/_pdf |
| Summary: | Background: The “retired husband syndrome” refers to the negative impact of the husband’s retirement on the wife’s health. This study provided new insights by examining whether and to what extent the wife’s social participation, interactions with her husband, and job status prior to her husband’s retirement affected the evolution of her mental health after her husband’s retirement. Methods: We collected data from a 12-wave nationwide panel survey conducted from 2005 to 2016, starting with individuals aged 50–59 years. Focusing on 3,794 female respondents whose
husbands retired during the survey period, we applied random-effects linear regression models to investigate the evolution of their mental health as measured by the Kessler 6 (K6) score (range, 0–24; Mean, 3.41;
standard deviation, 4.11) during the 5 years after their husbands’
retirement. Results: On average, the wife’s K6 score rose by 0.18
(95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08–0.28), 0.18 (95% CI, 0.03–0.34), and 0.19 (95% CI, −0.02 to 0.43) in the first 3 years, respectively, after the husband’s retirement, before declining toward the baseline level. However, the wife’s active social participation, intense interactions with her husband, and absence of paid employment before her husband’s retirement prevented her mental health
from deteriorating. Conclusion: The results suggest the limited relevance
of the “retired husband syndrome” among middle-aged Japanese couples. The effects of a husband’s retirement on the wife’s mental health depended heavily on her prior behavior. |
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| ISSN: | 0917-5040 1349-9092 |