Unionization, Self-reported Health and Depressive Symptoms among the Older Workforce: A Longitudinal Approach Using HRS

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Abstract

Introduction. An extensive amount of research was published about the impact of professional transitions in late career on health. However, little attention is paid to the role played by unionization in enhancing transitions in late career. Methods. A binary logistic regression is performed using data from HRS. The employed population aged 53-64 is selected at baseline (N=3,627). Dependent variables are change in depression symptoms (CESD) (model 1) and change in self-reported health (model 2) from wave 11 to wave 12. Independent variables are being unionized or not, the type of labor transition and the interaction between unionization and labor transitions. The model controls for health at baseline, gender, self-reported health at bassline, type of industry, physical efforts and stress frequencies, number of health insurance plans, education level and professional status at follow-up. The model partly controls for attrition including people who died between baseline and follow-up (N=20). Results. Results do not show any statistically significant association between self-perceived heath and unionization. However, when looking at depressive symptoms, people remaining at work from baseline to follow-up are less likely to experience a negative change in CESD when unionized compared to non-unionized workers (OR=0.21; 95%CI: 0.06-0.75). Discussion. While the impact of professional transitions on the health of the older workers is subject to a substantial amount of research, the potential effects on health of collective bargaining and unionization are underappreciated. Results found in this paper encourage researchers to take this matter into consideration in further research.

Author

• Jacques Wels, University of Cambridge