ABSTRACT
Objective
To investigate association between depressive symptoms and receipt of retirement pensions or other pensions in the Brazilian population aged 50 years or older.
Method
This was a cross-sectional study with participants from the baseline (2015-2016) of the Longitudinal Study of the Health of Elderly Brazilians. Depressive symptoms were measured by the eight-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Prevalence ratios (PR) were obtained by Poisson regression.
Results
Among the total 8,469 participants, 33.9% (95%CI 32.8;34.9) reported depressive symptoms and 52.8% (95%CI 51.8;53.9) of the participants received a retirement or other pension. Prevalence of depressive symptoms was lower among participants receiving a retirement or other pension (PR = 0.79; 95%CI 0.73;0.86). Association remained significant after adjustments for sociodemographic and health indicators (PR = 0.84; 95%CI 0.76;0.92).
Conclusion
Participants who receive retirement or other pensions are less likely to report depressive symptoms.
Keywords
Retirement; Pensions; Depression; Elderly; Cross-sectional studies
Study contributions
Main results
Prevalence of depressive symptoms was 33.9% in the population studied and, after adjusted analysis, it remained statistically lower among participants who received retirement or other pensions.
Implications for services
Prevalence of depressive symptoms was higher in individuals who do not receive retirement or other pensions, which demands attention from health services in caring for this public in vulnerable situations regarding social security.
Perspectives
Carrying out longitudinal studies capable of assessing the temporality of association between receiving retirement or other pensions and the mental health of the elderly, thus contributing to better knowledge about the social determinants of mental health.
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