Vocational factors and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in middle-aged and older adults: longitudinal evidence from a population-based cohort.

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted public health, social systems, and the workforce. This longitudinal study examines changes in depressive and anxiety symptoms before and during the pandemic in middle-aged and older adults (N = 6,813) from the Gutenberg Health and Gutenberg COVID-19 Study in Germany. Using repeated assessments with validated mental health scales (PHQ-9, GAD-2) and accounting for pre-pandemic mental health, we investigated associations with work-related factors (e.g., changes in working hours, remote work, income) and sociodemographic variables (e.g., sex, age, household composition). Average depression and anxiety scores remained relatively stable over time, although the proportion exceeding the clinical PHQ-9 ≥ 10 threshold increased during the pandemic. Pre-pandemic mental health emerged as the strongest predictor of pandemic mental health outcomes. Vocational factors showed only small effect sizes, with increased weekly working hours emerging as the most consistent work-related correlate of distress. Important sociodemographic predictors included female sex, middle age, and living alone. The findings emphasize considering pre-existing mental health and pandemic-related sociodemographic and vocational circumstances when identifying vulnerable groups. Although workplace factors played only a limited role overall, the workplace may nevertheless represent a relevant setting for mental health promotion during future public health crises.