There has been an increasing trend towards older adults working past traditional retirement age worldwide. Psychological distress, depression, and burnout among workers are serious occupational concerns. Burnout contributes to both short-term and long-term disability claims, and burnout-related problems tend to last longer than other physical and mental health conditions (Marchand et al., Reference Marchand, Blanc and Beauregard2018). Given the continuing growth of older workers in the labor force, Hybels et al. raise the question of whether older adults in occupations with a higher likelihood of persistent occupational stress experience depression, anxiety, or burnout at the same or greater levels as younger workers. Previous studies examining how age contributes to burnout have found a bimodal relationship - younger men and women aged between 20 and 35 years and over 55 years are more vulnerable to burnout. Younger workers may have increased work demands as they struggle to establish themselves and may have work–family conflicts, which may decrease with time. However, older workers may have emerging caregiving responsibilities and their adaptability to stressors may decrease, which increases their risk for burnout (Marchand et al., Reference Marchand, Blanc and Beauregard2018).
Hybels et al. examined age differences in trajectories of depression, anxiety, and burnout in a sample of 1161 clergy aged 25–81 years followed over 66 months. The authors found that levels of depression, anxiety, and two components of burnout - emotional exhaustion (EE) and sense of accomplishment - remained consistent over time. Participants aged 55 years or older had lower depression scores and this age difference was consistent over time. Depersonalization symptoms decreased over time among those aged 55 years or older but increased over time among those aged 25–54 years (Hybels et al., Reference Hybels, Blazer and Eagle2020). Higher depression scores were significantly associated with higher levels of perceived financial stress and higher levels of occupational distress. Lower depression scores were associated with higher levels of spiritual well-being.
Although previous studies have found higher rates of depressive and anxiety in White participants (Grant et al., Reference Grant2005), the current study did not find racial differences in depressive or anxiety symptoms in their sample. Regarding burnout symptoms, Black clergy had higher levels of EE and lower levels of sense of accomplishment. However, the sample may have had too few Black participants (total sample: 6%, age 25-54: 5%; age 55+: 7%) to represent true racial differences. Alternatively, Black clergy may experience greater stigma of disclosing depressive symptoms. Professionals in minority racial and ethnic groups experience bias, social exclusion, and increased burden serving as diversity ambassadors, all of which may contribute to EE. Although these findings are limited by the small sample size of Black clergy, future research is needed to investigate factors contributing to higher EE and lower sense of accomplishment in older Black workers.
A recent study compared racial differences in occupational burnout, depressive symptoms, and work–life integration in 4424 physicians and found that Hispanic/Latinx, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic Asian physicians reported lower rates of occupational burnout compared with non-Hispanic White physicians, and Black physicians had higher work–life satisfaction (Garcia et al., Reference Garcia2020). No differences by race or ethnicity were found in depressive symptoms. Similar to clergy, physicians view their occupation as a calling and find career satisfaction through their deep relationships with their patients. The finding that Black physicians report similar career satisfaction as non-Hispanic White physicians despite serving a greater proportion of medically complex patients may suggest that career satisfaction represents a dimension of wellness that exists independent of burnout or racialized experiences in the workplace (Garcia et al., Reference Garcia2020). Past studies examining burnout-depression and burnout-anxiety relationships have found little conclusive overlap, indicating that burnout, depression, and anxiety are different and robust constructs (Koutsimani et al., Reference Koutsimani, Montgomery and Georganta2019).
This study is a timely addition to the current literature as it extends previous findings of lower levels of depression, anxiety, and burnout among older adults to those older adults who are employed. Many older adults are now choosing to actively work past what was previously considered traditional retirement age. Older working adults may have better developed work–life balance skills and may have increased resilience. Previous studies on occupational factors of successful aging found that rates of occupational successful aging were significantly higher than personal successful aging.
Wijeratne et al. surveyed 1048 physicians aged 55-89 years on personal and occupational measures of successful aging. They found that work adaptations (reducing work hours, increased non-clinical activity, and recruiting additional colleagues) were associated with poorer personal but not occupational successful aging. However, occupational and personal successful aging shared similar predictors, suggesting that they are unlikely to be distinct entities. The results also underscore the impact of occupational engagement and work centrality on successful aging, and the importance of considering occupational factors when measuring successful aging (Wijeratne et al., Reference Wijeratne, Peisah, Earl and Luscombe2018). This is increasingly important as adults are retiring later than in previous decades. The aging baby boomer cohort is likely to increase the proportion of older adults in the workforces as many delay retirement.
The strengths of this study include the large sample size, longitudinal follow up over five years, and relative homogeneity of the sample with respect to occupation, educational level, and income. However, personal traits and demographic factors which may contribute to resilience and impact the rates of depression, anxiety, and burnout were not explicitly examined.
The limitations of this study include the small sample of Black and non-White participants, which limit its generalizability. Additionally, the majority of participants were in excellent physical health. Older adults in poor physical health who are unable to retire due to financial stressors are particularly vulnerable to anxiety, depression, and burnout, and the factors influencing these merit further investigation.
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There has been an increasing trend towards older adults working past traditional retirement age worldwide. Psychological distress, depression, and burnout among workers are serious occupational concerns. Burnout contributes to both short-term and long-term disability claims, and burnout-related problems tend to last longer than other physical and mental health conditions (Marchand et al., Reference Marchand, Blanc and Beauregard2018). Given the continuing growth of older workers in the labor force, Hybels et al. raise the question of whether older adults in occupations with a higher likelihood of persistent occupational stress experience depression, anxiety, or burnout at the same or greater levels as younger workers. Previous studies examining how age contributes to burnout have found a bimodal relationship - younger men and women aged between 20 and 35 years and over 55 years are more vulnerable to burnout. Younger workers may have increased work demands as they struggle to establish themselves and may have work–family conflicts, which may decrease with time. However, older workers may have emerging caregiving responsibilities and their adaptability to stressors may decrease, which increases their risk for burnout (Marchand et al., Reference Marchand, Blanc and Beauregard2018).
Hybels et al. examined age differences in trajectories of depression, anxiety, and burnout in a sample of 1161 clergy aged 25–81 years followed over 66 months. The authors found that levels of depression, anxiety, and two components of burnout - emotional exhaustion (EE) and sense of accomplishment - remained consistent over time. Participants aged 55 years or older had lower depression scores and this age difference was consistent over time. Depersonalization symptoms decreased over time among those aged 55 years or older but increased over time among those aged 25–54 years (Hybels et al., Reference Hybels, Blazer and Eagle2020). Higher depression scores were significantly associated with higher levels of perceived financial stress and higher levels of occupational distress. Lower depression scores were associated with higher levels of spiritual well-being.
Although previous studies have found higher rates of depressive and anxiety in White participants (Grant et al., Reference Grant2005), the current study did not find racial differences in depressive or anxiety symptoms in their sample. Regarding burnout symptoms, Black clergy had higher levels of EE and lower levels of sense of accomplishment. However, the sample may have had too few Black participants (total sample: 6%, age 25-54: 5%; age 55+: 7%) to represent true racial differences. Alternatively, Black clergy may experience greater stigma of disclosing depressive symptoms. Professionals in minority racial and ethnic groups experience bias, social exclusion, and increased burden serving as diversity ambassadors, all of which may contribute to EE. Although these findings are limited by the small sample size of Black clergy, future research is needed to investigate factors contributing to higher EE and lower sense of accomplishment in older Black workers.
A recent study compared racial differences in occupational burnout, depressive symptoms, and work–life integration in 4424 physicians and found that Hispanic/Latinx, non-Hispanic Black, and non-Hispanic Asian physicians reported lower rates of occupational burnout compared with non-Hispanic White physicians, and Black physicians had higher work–life satisfaction (Garcia et al., Reference Garcia2020). No differences by race or ethnicity were found in depressive symptoms. Similar to clergy, physicians view their occupation as a calling and find career satisfaction through their deep relationships with their patients. The finding that Black physicians report similar career satisfaction as non-Hispanic White physicians despite serving a greater proportion of medically complex patients may suggest that career satisfaction represents a dimension of wellness that exists independent of burnout or racialized experiences in the workplace (Garcia et al., Reference Garcia2020). Past studies examining burnout-depression and burnout-anxiety relationships have found little conclusive overlap, indicating that burnout, depression, and anxiety are different and robust constructs (Koutsimani et al., Reference Koutsimani, Montgomery and Georganta2019).
This study is a timely addition to the current literature as it extends previous findings of lower levels of depression, anxiety, and burnout among older adults to those older adults who are employed. Many older adults are now choosing to actively work past what was previously considered traditional retirement age. Older working adults may have better developed work–life balance skills and may have increased resilience. Previous studies on occupational factors of successful aging found that rates of occupational successful aging were significantly higher than personal successful aging.
Wijeratne et al. surveyed 1048 physicians aged 55-89 years on personal and occupational measures of successful aging. They found that work adaptations (reducing work hours, increased non-clinical activity, and recruiting additional colleagues) were associated with poorer personal but not occupational successful aging. However, occupational and personal successful aging shared similar predictors, suggesting that they are unlikely to be distinct entities. The results also underscore the impact of occupational engagement and work centrality on successful aging, and the importance of considering occupational factors when measuring successful aging (Wijeratne et al., Reference Wijeratne, Peisah, Earl and Luscombe2018). This is increasingly important as adults are retiring later than in previous decades. The aging baby boomer cohort is likely to increase the proportion of older adults in the workforces as many delay retirement.
The strengths of this study include the large sample size, longitudinal follow up over five years, and relative homogeneity of the sample with respect to occupation, educational level, and income. However, personal traits and demographic factors which may contribute to resilience and impact the rates of depression, anxiety, and burnout were not explicitly examined.
The limitations of this study include the small sample of Black and non-White participants, which limit its generalizability. Additionally, the majority of participants were in excellent physical health. Older adults in poor physical health who are unable to retire due to financial stressors are particularly vulnerable to anxiety, depression, and burnout, and the factors influencing these merit further investigation.
Description of authors’ roles
The authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the manuscript.