Thesis Public Defense | VNP25 Lê Thị Ánh Mai

Impacts of long working hours on the mental health of European above the age of 50

Student: Lê Thị Ánh Mai, VNP 25

Supervisor: Dr. Matthias Rieger & Dr. Võ Tất Thắng

Abstract:

Using data from three waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), this study is one of the first to examine the effects of long working hours on the depression symptoms for a population aged over 50 years in 11 European countries. Fixed effects  regressions and an instrumental variable approach are applied to overcome the problem of reverse causality between working time and mental health. The estimations give evidence of positive effects of work on the mental health outcome while confirms the adverse impact of working longer than the European regulatory recommendation, which is a 48-hours weekly limit. In an attempt of applying a regression kink design, the study also finds a gradual negative effect of retirement on the old-age depression. Policy implications include better legislation on the statutory working hours for the old age, as well as support on bridge employment or society-contributing activities for this specific group.

Keywords: Long working hours, mental health, aged population, Europe, SHARE, EURO-D depression scale, panel data, fixed effects,  instrumental variables, regression kink design
JEL classification: C33, C36, J22, J26, J88, O52