Working Fewer Hours May Increase Depression Risk in Older Adults, Study Finds
A new study from researchers at the University of Southampton has revealed an intriguing and somewhat counterintuitive finding: older adults who work fewer hours—especially those who are financially comfortable—may face a higher risk of depression. The study challenges the common belief that working less automatically leads to better mental health and highlights the complex relationship between work, money, and well-being later in life.
What the Study Looked At
The research, published in the journal Occupational Medicine, examined how working hours relate to depression among people aged 50 to 64 in the United Kingdom. It drew data from the large, ongoing Health and Employment After Fifty (HEAF) cohort, which tracks the health, employment, and social circumstances of thousands of older adults.
Participants completed a baseline questionnaire in 2013–2014 and follow-up surveys every year until 2019. These questionnaires gathered information about:
- Working hours (categorized as less than 20 hours per week, 20–35, 35–40, and over 40 hours)
- Depression levels, measured using a validated depression scale (CES-D)
- Demographic and socioeconomic details such as age, gender, marital status, education, housing situation, and financial comfort
- Work-related factors like job type, shift work, job satisfaction, and physical job demands
Researchers also examined reverse associations—whether people who were already depressed at the beginning of the study were more likely to reduce their working hours or stop working altogether over time.
Who Took Part
The study originally recruited 8,314 participants, but after excluding those who already had depression at the start and those with missing data, 3,866 participants were included in the main analysis.
Here’s how their working hours broke down:
- 40% worked 35–40 hours per week
- 26% worked more than 40 hours
- 22% worked 20–35 hours
- 12% worked fewer than 20 hours
Interestingly, people working less than 20 hours were more likely to be female, over 60, and homeowners who reported being financially comfortable. Meanwhile, those working longer hours tended to be men in senior or technical positions and had higher rates of overweight or obesity and alcohol consumption.
Across all participants, the overall rate of new depression cases during follow-up was about 32%.
The Findings: Working Less Can Sometimes Hurt Mental Health
The study found that the risk of depression varied depending on both financial comfort and working hours.
- Financially comfortable participants working less than 20 hours per week had a significantly higher risk of developing depression compared to those working 35–40 hours a week.
- Among those with intermediate financial status, working 20–35 hours per week was also linked to a higher risk of depression.
- For people struggling financially, there was no clear association between working hours and depression.
- Working more than 40 hours per week was not associated with higher depression risk in this older population.
When the researchers looked at the data by occupation and gender, they found that female managers and senior officials working part-time (20–35 hours) faced a particularly high risk of depression compared to those working full-time.
The reverse analysis added another layer: people who already had depression at the start of the study were more likely to reduce their working hours or leave work entirely during the follow-up period. In particular, depressed men with intermediate financial status were more likely to cut back on work than non-depressed men in the same income group.
What Might Be Behind This Pattern?
The authors suggest several explanations for why working less could be linked to depression in some older adults:
- Mismatch between desired and actual work hours: People who want to work more but can’t—due to health issues, job market limitations, or forced part-time roles—might feel a loss of purpose or identity.
- Role and identity changes: For some men, working fewer hours could be tied to losing the traditional “breadwinner” role, affecting their self-esteem and sense of usefulness.
- Caregiving pressures: For some women, part-time work might coincide with care responsibilities—for grandchildren or elderly relatives—which can add emotional strain and fatigue.
- Underemployment: Working fewer hours than one prefers can lead to boredom, financial worry, or social isolation, all of which contribute to poorer mental health.
On the other hand, the study found no increased risk of depression among those working long hours. The researchers note that older adults who continue to work longer hours might do so because they enjoy their jobs, hold senior roles, or derive a strong sense of purpose from their work—all of which can protect against depression.
Why These Results Matter
Governments in many countries, including the UK, have been encouraging older adults to stay in the workforce longer, partly to reduce pension and healthcare costs. However, the study suggests that simply keeping people in jobs isn’t enough—the quality and balance of work matter just as much.
This research indicates that not all reduced work is beneficial. While flexible or part-time work can offer freedom and lower stress, for some older adults, it may also increase loneliness, reduce structure, and limit social engagement, all of which are key factors for good mental health.
The findings also emphasize that financial context plays a critical role. A person’s emotional response to reduced working hours might depend on whether they chose to work less or were forced into it by external circumstances.
Limitations of the Study
Like all research, this study has a few limitations that readers should keep in mind:
- Self-reported data: Both depression symptoms and working hours were self-reported, which might introduce bias.
- No information on motivation: The study didn’t capture why participants changed their working hours—whether by choice, health reasons, or job constraints.
- Grouping of long working hours: The researchers combined everyone working more than 40 hours into one category, so it’s unclear whether very long hours (like 60+) have different effects.
- Sample bias: The HEAF study had a response rate of around 21%, meaning the participants might not perfectly represent the general UK population.
- Depression measure: Depression was assessed with a standardized scale, not through clinical diagnosis.
Despite these limits, the study’s large sample size and long follow-up make it a valuable contribution to understanding how work patterns affect mental health in later life.
Putting It in Context: What We Already Know About Work and Depression
Previous research has mostly focused on the dangers of working too many hours, showing links between long work weeks and anxiety, burnout, and cardiovascular disease. For example:
- The Whitehall II study in the UK found that women working over 55 hours per week had a much higher risk of depression and anxiety compared to those working 35–40 hours.
- Other large studies have shown a U-shaped curve, meaning both too few and too many working hours can harm mental health, while moderate work seems to be healthiest.
However, this new HEAF study shows that in older age groups, the relationship between work and well-being may shift. Once people reach their 50s or 60s, not working enough might actually become a risk factor, especially when work is tied to identity, structure, and purpose in daily life.
Why Staying Active Might Help
There’s growing evidence that remaining engaged—mentally, socially, and physically—can protect against depression and cognitive decline in older adults. Work often provides that engagement through routine, social connection, and a sense of contribution. When people stop working or reduce their hours drastically, they may lose those benefits unless they replace them with other meaningful activities.
This doesn’t mean everyone should work full-time forever. Rather, it points to the need for balanced, fulfilling work opportunities for older adults—jobs that are flexible, healthy, and aligned with their personal preferences.
The Bigger Picture
As societies age and retirement ages rise, understanding how work-life balance affects mental health is more important than ever. Policies encouraging older adults to work longer should also ensure they have safe, rewarding, and flexible options that promote both economic security and emotional well-being.
The takeaway from this study is clear: less work isn’t always better—especially if it’s unwanted or unfulfilling. For many older adults, the key to happiness might not be in quitting work, but in finding the right amount and kind of work that keeps them connected, purposeful, and mentally healthy.
Research Reference:
Tomic D, D’Angelo S, Walker-Bone K (2025). Working hours and depression in the HEAF cohort. Occupational Medicine. DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqaf100
