The Influence of Mental Health on Job Retention.

Summary Our objective is to measure the causal impact of the self-assessed mental health status of 2006 (anxiety disorders and depressive episodes) on employment in 2010. We use data from the French Health and Professional Route survey (Sip, “Santé et itinéraire professionnel”). In order to control for endogeneity biases coming from the mental health indicator, we use bivariate probit models explaining simultaneously employment status and mental health. We control these results by observing the individual, employment, general health status, risky behaviours and professional characteristics. Our main findings are as follow: men suffering from depression or anxiety are up to 13 percentage points less likely to remain in their job. We do not find such a relationship in women, after controlling for general health status. The robustness checks conducted on age and specifically those taking into account for the 2007-2010 period confirm these results.Our objective is to measure the causal impact of the self-assessed mental health status of 2006 (anxiety disorders and depressive episodes) on employment in 2010. We use data from the French Health and Professional Route survey (Sip, “Santé et itinéraire professionnel”). In order to control for endogeneity biases coming from the mental health indicator, we use bivariate probit models explaining simultaneously employment status and mental health. We control these results by observing the individual, employment, general health status, risky behaviours and professional characteristics. Our main findings are as follow: men suffering from depression or anxiety are up to 13 percentage points less likely to remain in their job. We do not find such a relationship in women, after controlling for general health status. The robustness checks conducted on age and specifically those taking into account for the 2007-2010 period confirm these results.