What a drag it is getting old? Mental health and loneliness beyond age 50

This paper studies mental health and loneliness in the Netherlands for individuals beyond age 50. The analysis is based on panel data over the period 2008 to 2018 and focuses on the effects of life events and ageing. It appears that mental health gets worse and loneliness increases if individuals lose their partner (through divorce or death) or become unemployed. On average, the mental health of males and high educated females improves at retirement. With respect to ageing, the main conclusions are that mental health improves while loneliness goes down at least up to the high 70s. From the perspective of mental health and loneliness, it does not seem to be a drag getting old.

Automated summary

This study found that losing a partner or becoming unemployed can lead to deterioration in mental health and increased loneliness, while mental health improves for males and highly educated females after retirement. In addition, as individuals age, loneliness decreases and mental health gradually improves, indicating that aging is not necessarily a burden in terms of mental health and loneliness.