Validity of the mental health component scale of the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (MCS-12) as measure of common mental disorders in the general population.

This study assessed the screening utility of the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey's (SF-12) mental health component scale (MCS-12) for diagnosable depression and anxiety disorders in a general population sample, and thus, the validity of this scale as a measure of mental health in epidemiological research. Data were from the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing (N=10,504). Diagnoses were made using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The MCS-12 was compared to other brief scales: the RAND Mental Health Component scale (RAND MHC-12, an alternative scoring method for the MCS-12), the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10 and K6), and an estimate of the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5). The MCS-12 and RAND MHC-12 were equally able to discriminate respondents with the target diagnoses. The MCS-12 performed better than the GHQ-12, and equally to the K6 for diagnoses of depression, though not anxiety disorders, where the K6 showed greater utility. The K10 out-performed the MCS-12 for all diagnoses. Areas under receiver operating characteristics curves (AUC) indicated that the MCS-12 is valid measure of mental health in epidemiological research, and a useful screening tool for both depression (AUC=0.92) and anxiety disorders (AUC=0.83).

Mental health and the timing of men's retirement.

BACKGROUND: Analysis of the Psychiatric Morbidity Survey of Great Britain showed that the prevalence of common mental disorders was lower amongst men at or above Britain's state pension age of 65, relative to younger men. Retirees below this age had consistently higher rates of mental disorders than working men. In contrast, the low prevalence of mental disorders amongst retirees aged 65 and older was similar to that of their working peers. The aim of this analysis was to investigate this pattern of results in a national sample of Australian men, and the mediating role of socio-demographic factors. METHOD: Data were from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics (HILDA) in Australia survey (2003). The analyses included men aged 45-74 years who were active in the labour force (n = 1309), or retired (n = 635). Mental health was assessed using the mental health scale from the Short-Form 36 Health Questionnaire. RESULTS: Retirees were more likely to have mental health problems than their working peers, however this difference was progressively smaller across age groups. For retirees above, though not below, the age of 55 this difference was explained by poorer physical functioning. When age at retirement was considered it was found that early retirees who were now at or approaching the conventional retirement age did not display the substantially elevated rates of mental health problems seen in their younger counterparts. Further, men who had retired at age 60 or older did not display an initially elevated rate of mental health problems. CONCLUSIONS: The association between retirement and mental health varies across older adulthood. Retired British and Australian men below the conventional retirement age of 65 are more likely to have mental health problems relative to their working peers, and retirees above this age. However, poor mental health appears to be linked to being retired below this age rather than an enduring characteristic of those who retire early.

Retirement and mental health: analysis of the Australian national survey of mental health and well-being.

Nation-wide research on mental health problems amongst men and women during the transition from employment to retirement is limited. This study sought to explore the relationship between retirement and mental health across older adulthood, whilst considering age and known risk factors for mental disorders. Data were from the 1997 National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being, a cross-sectional survey of 10,641 Australian adults. The prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders was analysed in the sub-sample of men (n = 1928) and women (n = 2261) aged 45-74 years. Mental health was assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Instrument. Additional measures were used to assess respondents' physical health, demographic and personal characteristics. The prevalence of common mental disorders diminished across increasing age groups of men and women. Women aged 55-59, 65-69, and 70-74 had significantly lower rates of mental disorders than those aged 45-49. In contrast, only men aged 65-69 and 70-74 demonstrated significantly lower prevalence compared with men aged 45-49. Amongst younger men, retirees were significantly more likely to have a common mental disorder relative to men still in the labour force; however, this was not the case for retired men of, or nearing, the traditional retirement age of 65. Men and women with poor physical health were also more likely to have a diagnosable mental disorder. The findings of this study indicate that, for men, the relationship between retirement and mental health varies with age. The poorer mental health of men who retire early is not explained by usual risk factors. Given current policy changes in many countries to curtail early retirement, these findings highlight the need to consider mental health, and its influencing factors, when encouraging continued employment amongst older adults.