Later-life transitions and changes in prescription medication use for pain and depression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Over the past two decades, prescription medication use for pain and depression increased dramatically. Most studies consider the early life course, despite a similar increase among those in later life. In this paper, we examine whether and how later life transitions may relate to changes in medication use.

Methods

We draw on data from the Health and Retirement Study and fixed-effects models to examine whether work, family, and civic transitions in later life are related to changes in the usage of prescription pain and depression medication.

Results

Results show that individuals had higher odds of regularly using prescription pain and depression medications in periods when out of the labor market. Higher odds of depression medication use were also associated

SUBMITTER: Lam J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8931979 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature