FORMAL WORK AFTER RETIREMENT: A STUDY ON THE IMPACT ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF ELDERLY PEOPLE

• Grant number: 24/23169-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Keika Inouye
• Grantee: João Henrique Donizete Pieretti
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In old age, formal work and retirement are described under both positive and negative aspects, potentially being either favorable and/or unfavorable for the mental health of older adults. Thus, this study aims to verify whether there is an association between formal work and the mental health of retired older adults. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study based on a quantitative research method. The sample will consist of retired individuals aged 60 or older, divided into two comparative groups: (a) a group of retired older adults who work and (b) a group of retired older adults who do not work. Data will be collected using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and a Sociodemographic Characterization Questionnaire, and will be entered into a database in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows program for the following analyses: (a) Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test to verify data normality; (b) Descriptive analyses - absolute and relative frequency, mean, median, and standard deviation; (c) Pearson's Chi-Square Test or Fisher's Exact Test to compare the proportions of categorical variables, and the Mann-Whitney Test or T-Test to compare numerical variables. A statistical significance level of 5% (p<0.05) will be adopted. This study hypothesizes that there is an association between formal work and mental health, with retired older adults who do not work being more depressed compared to those who work. (AU)