Scientific publications
2025
Wels, J., & Hamarat, N. (2025). Trends in assisted dying among patients with psychiatric disorders and dementia in Belgium: A health registry study. PLOS Medicine, 22(11), e1004522. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004522
Hamarat, N., & Wels, J. (2025). Incidence of reported cases of euthanasia adjusted for demographic composition: a study of ten years of Belgian administrative data (2014–2023). BMC Public Health, 25(1), 3843. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-24839-x
Wels, J, Maddock J, Patalay P. (2025). Cross-Country Differences in Self-Rated Health: Decomposing the Influence of Depressive Symptoms. MedRxiv, 10.1101/2025.10.23.25338675.
Wels, J, Keanjoom R, Gonzalez Hijon J, Choosumrong S (2025). Differential Associations of Heat Metrics with Health Statistics: A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Temperature Indicators and Mortality Across Thailand Provinces. MedRxiv,10.1101/2025.10.01.25337088
Bryson, A., Kambayashi, R., Kuwahara, S., Nakamura, A. & Wels, J. (2025). What is Happening to Unionization in Japan?Hitotsubashi University, Institute of Economic Research Discussion Paper Series A No.770, 1-32.
Wels, J., & Hamarat, N. (2025). Incidence and prevalence of reported cases of euthanasia in Belgium, 2002 to 2023. JAMA Network Open 8(4), e256841.
[Previously published as: Wels, J., & Hamarat, N. (2024). Incidence and prevalence of euthanasia in Belgium. A study using administrative data on all cases of euthanasia reported between 2002 and 2023. MeRxiv, 10.1101/2024.10.16.24315619. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.10.16.24315619]
Kromydas, T., Demou, E., Leyland, A. H., Srinivasa Katikireddi, V., & Wels, J. (2023). Did trade unions protect employees’ mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic? A mixed effect model using UK data from Understanding Society. BMJ Public Health. Accepted for publication.
[Previously published as: Kromydas, T., Demou, E., Leyland, A. H., Srinivasa Katikireddi, V., & Wels, J. (2023). Trade unions and mental health during an employment crisis. Evidence from the UK before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. MedRxiv, 2023.10.30.23297780, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.10.30.23297780]
Wels, J., & Fu, R. (2025). Associations of employment status, working time and job satisfaction with sleep duration and sleep quality among the 50+ population in Japan. Industrial Health. Accepted for publication
[Previously published as: Wels, J., & Fu, R. (2024). Associations of employment status, working time and job satisfaction with sleep duration and sleep quality among the Japanese 50+ population. MedRxiv, 2024.03.28.24305011. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.03.28.24305011]
Shaw, R. J., Rhead, R., Silverwood, R. J., Wels, J., Zhu, J., Hamilton, O. K., di Gessa, G., Bowyer, R. C., Moltrecht, B., Green, M. J., Demou, E., Pattaro, S., Zaninotto, P., Boyd, A., Greves, F., Chaturvedi, N., Ploubidis, G. B., & Katikireddi, S. V. (2025).Associations between different measures of SARS-CoV-2 infection status and subsequent economic inactivity: A pooled analysis of five longitudinal surveys linked to healthcare records. PLOS One. Accepted for publication
[Previously published as: Shaw, R. J., Rhead, R., Silverwood, R. J., Wels, J., Zhu, J., Hamilton, O. K., di Gessa, G., Bowyer, R. C., Moltrecht, B., Green, M. J., Demou, E., Pattaro, S., Zaninotto, P., Boyd, A., Greves, F., Chaturvedi, N., Ploubidis, G. B., & Katikireddi, S. V. (2023). Associations between SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent economic inactivity and employment status: pooled analyses of five linked longitudinal surveys. MedRxiv, 10.1101/2023.07.31.23293422, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.07.31.23293422]
Maddock, J., Wels, J. (2025). Key considerations in understanding retirement’s health impact. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. jech-2024-222936.
2024
Liu, Y., Wels, J., James, S.-N., Keuss, S. E., Maddock, J., Parker, T. D., Stafford, J., Schott, J. M., Richards, M., & Patalay, P. (2024). Persistent financial adversity and cognitive ageing: A lifecourse investigation. MedRxiv, 10.1101/2024.10.20.24315831, 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.10.20.24315831
Gittins, M., Wels, J., Rhodes, S., Wielgoszewska, B., Shaw, R. J., Hamilton, O. K., Demou, E., Stevenson, A., Badrick, E., Rhead, R., Katikireddi, V., Ploubidis, G., & van Tongeren, M. (2024). COVID-19 Risk by work-related factors: Pooled analysis of individual linked data from 14 cohorts. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Accepted for publication (oemed-2023-109391)
[Previously published as Gittins, M., Wels, J., Rhodes, S., Wielgoszewska, B., Shaw, R. J., Hamilton, O. K., Demou, E., Stevenson, A., Badrick, E., Rhead, R., Katikireddi, V., Ploubidis, G., & van Tongeren, M. (2023). Covid-19 Risk by work-related factors: Pooled analysis of individual linked data from 14 cohorts. MedRxiv, 2023.12.19.23298502, 1–23. https://doi.org/2023.12.19.23298502 ]
Wels, J. (2024). Trade Unions as Public Health Actors. The Lancet (correspondence), 23-06419
Guo, Y., Wang, S., Fu, R. & Wels, J. (2024). Cross-national comparison of the relationship between working hours and employment status and sleep duration and quality among Australia, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom. A research protocol. MedRxiv, 2024.06.05.24308486. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.06.05.24308486v1
Rhead, R., Wels, J., Moltrecht, B., Shaw, R. J., Silverwood, R. J., Zhu, J., Hughes, A., Chaturvedi, N., Demou, E., Vittal Katikireddi, S., & Ploubidis, G. B. (2024). Long COVID and financial outcomes: Evidence from four longitudinal population surveys. Journal of epidemiology and community health.
[Previously published as Rhead, R., Wels, J., Moltrecht, B., Shaw, R. J., Silverwood, R. J., Zhu, J., Hughes, A., Chaturvedi, N., Demou, E., Vittal Katikireddi, S., & Ploubidis, G. B. (2023). Long COVID and financial outcomes: Evidence from four longitudinal population surveys. MedRxiv, 10.1101/2023.05.23.23290354, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.05.23.23290354]
Wels, J., Hamarat, N., De Greef, V. (2023). Social dialogue quality and workers’ health as perceived by Belgian trade union representatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of industrial relations, 66 (1), 33-55.
[Previsouly published as: Wels, J., Hamarat, N., De Greef, V. (2023). Social dialogue quality and workers’ health as perceived by Belgian trade union representatives during the COVID-19 pandemic. MedRxiv, 2023.04.10.23288317, 1-31. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.04.10.23288317v1]
Mansfield, R., Di Gessa, G., Patel, K., Mcelroy, E., Wels, J., Henderson, M., Maddock, J., Stafford, J., Steptoe, A., Richards, M., & Patalay, P. (2024). Examining the inter-relationships between social isolation and loneliness and their correlates among older British adults before and during the COVID-19 lockdown: evidence from four British longitudinal studies. Innovation in Aging, igad126. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad126
[Previously published as Mansfield, R., et al. (2023). Examining the inter-relationships between social isolation and loneliness and their correlates among older British adults before and during the COVID-19 lockdown: evidence from four British longitudinal studies. MeRxiv, 2023.06.27.23291947, 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.06.27.23291947]
Wels, J., & Hamarat, N. (2024). Examining the relationships between psychological distress and financial hardship and uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent cost-of-living crisis in the United Kingdom. MedRxiv, 2024.01.14.24301285, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.01.14.24301283
2023
Kromydas, T., Demou, E., Leyland, A. H., Srinivasa Katikireddi, V., & Wels, J. (2023). Trade unions and mental health during an employment crisis. Evidence from the UK before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. MedRxiv, 2023.10.30.23297780, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.10.30.23297780
Mak, H. W., Noguchi, T., Bone, J., Wels, J., Gao, Q., Kondo, K., Saito, T. & Fancourt, D. (2023). Psychological benefits of hobby engagement in older age: a longitudinal cross-country analysis of 93,263 older adults in 16 countries. Nature Medicine, 11 September 2023.
[Previously published as: Fancourt, D., Mak, H. W., Noguchi, T., Bone, J., Wels, J., Gao, Q., Kondo, K., & Saito, T. (2022). Psychological benefits of hobby engagement in older age: a longitudinal cross-country analysis of 93,263 older adults in 16 countries. ResearchSquare Preprint. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2349781/v1]
Mcelroy, E., Herrett, E., Patel, K., Piehlmaier, D. M., Gessa, G. di, Huggins, C., Green, M. J., Kwong, A., Thompson, E. J., Zhu, J., Mansfield, K. E., Silverwood, R. J., Mansfield, R., Maddock, J., Mathur, R., Costello, R. E., Matthews, A., Tazare, J., Henderson, A., Wing, K., Bridges, L., Bacon, S., Mekrikar, A., Shaw, R. J., Wels, J., Katikireddi, S Vittal, Chaturvedi, N., Patalay, P. (2023). Living alone and mental health: parallel analyses in longitudinal population surveys and electronic health records prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMJ Mental Health, 26(1).
[Previously published as: Mcelroy, E. et Al. (2023). Living alone and mental health: parallel analyses in longitudinal population surveys and electronic health records prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. MedRxiv, 2023.03.15.23287292, 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.03.15.23287292]
Shaw, R. J., Rhead, R., Silverwood, R. J., Wels, J., Zhu, J., Hamilton, O. K., di Gessa, G., Bowyer, R. C., Moltrecht, B., Green, M. J., Demou, E., Pattaro, S., Zaninotto, P., Boyd, A., Greves, F., Chaturvedi, N., Ploubidis, G. B., & Katikireddi, S. V. (2023). Associations between SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent economic inactivity and employment status: pooled analyses of five linked longitudinal surveys. MedRxiv, 10.1101/2023.07.31.23293422, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.07.31.23293422
Sparkes, M., Wang, S., Wels, J. (2023). Debt, credit payment holidays, and their relationship with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Society and Mental Health, 0(0), 1-14, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21568693231169783
Wels, J., Wielgoszewska, B., Moltrecht, B., Booth, C., Green, M. J., Hamilton, O. K., Demou, E., Di Gessa, G., Huggins, C., Zhu, J., Santorelli, G., Silverwood, R. J., Kopasker, D., Shaw, R. J., Hughes, A., Patalay, P., Steves, C., Chaturvedi, N., Porteous, D., …, Ploubidis, G. B. (2023). Home working and its association with social and mental wellbeing at different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from seven UK longitudinal population surveys. PLOS Medicine, 20(4), e1004214. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004214
[Previously published as: Home working and its association with social and mental wellbeing at different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from seven UK longitudinal population surveys, MedRxiv, 22280412, 1-27, https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.10.03.22280412]
Wels, J. (2023). Subjective survival probabilities by employment category and job satisfaction among the fifty-plus population in Japan. MedRxiv /2023.01.01.23284103, 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.01.01.23284103
2022
Green, M. J., Maddock, J., di Gessa, G., Wielgoszewska, B., Parsons, S., Griffith, G. J., Croft, J., Stevenson, A. J., Huggins, C. F., Booth, C., Wels, J., Silverwood, R. J., Patalay, P., Hughes, A. D., Chaturvedi, N., Howe, L. D., Fitzsimons, E., Katikireddi, S. V., & Ploubidis, G. B. (2022), The UK COVID-19 furlough scheme and associations with smoking, alcohol consumption and vaping: evidence from 8 UK longitudinal population surveys. BMC Medicine, 20(345).
[Previously published as: The UK COVID-19 furlough scheme and associations with smoking, alcohol consumption and vaping: evidence from 8 UK longitudinal population surveys. MedRxiv, 2021.10.28.21265593. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.10.28.21265593]
Wels, J., Booth, C., Wielgoszewska, B., Green, M. J., di Gessa, G., Huggins, C. F., Griffith, G. J., Kwong, A. S. F., Bowyer, R. C. E., Maddock, J., Patalay, P., Silverwood, R. J., Fitzsimons, E., Shaw, R. J., Steptoe, A., Hughes, A., Chaturvedi, N., Steves, C. J., Katikireddi, S. V., & Ploubidis, G. B. (2022). Mental and social wellbeing and the UK Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: evidence from nine longitudinal studies. Social Science & Medicine, 308, 115226.
[Previously published as: Association of COVID-19 employment disruption with mental and social wellbeing: evidence from nine UK longitudinal studies. MedRxiv, 2021.11.15.21266264.https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.11.15.21266264]
Wielgoszewska B., Booth C., Green M. J., Hamilton O. K., Wels J. (2022). Association between home working and mental health by key worker status during the Covid-19 pandemic. Evidence from four British longitudinal studies. Industrial Health, 60(4).
Wels, J., Hamarat, N. (2022). A shift in women’s health? Older Workers’ Self-Reported Health and Employment Settings during the COVID-19 Pandemic. European Journal of Public Health, 32(1), Feb 2022, 80-86.
[Previously published as: Are employment arrangements implemented during the first wave of COVID-19 associated with better health outcomes for women aged 55 and over?, METICES Discussion Paper Series, 2021(3), 17p]
Cleaver K, Markowski M, Wels J. (2022), Factors influencing older nurses’ decision‐making around the timing of retirement: an explorative mixed method study. Journal of Nursing Management, 30(1), 169-178.
2021
Lee Y., Wiegand P., Odasso L., Wels J. (2021). Reunion of International Couples in Formal and Informal Relationships During the COVID-19 Pandemic. OSF Preprints. 12 Oct 2021.
Wels J. (2021). Addressing the Impact of Border Enforcement Measures on the Self-Reported Health of Migrants Aiming to Enter Japan During the COVID-19 Epidemic (Version 1). OSF Preprints 2 Sept 2021.
Wels J. (2021). Assessing the Effects of Border Enforcement Measures Since the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Migrants Aiming to Enter Japan. Preliminary Descriptive Report (Version 1 - 4th of March 2021). METICES Discuss Paper Ser. 2021(4), 23p.
Wels J., Hamarat, N. (2021). Work and Employment Arrangements during the First Wave of COVID-19 in Europe and their Relationship with the Self-Reported Change in Health of Workers aged 55 and over. Results from SHARE, METICES Discussion Paper Series, 2021(2), 21p.
Wels J. (2021). The Contribution of Labour Unions in Fostering Access to Flexible Work Arrangements in Britain. METICES Discussion Paper Series, 2021(1), 22p.
Wels J. (2021). Letter to the Editor: The Multidimensional Effects of Labor Unions on Workers’ Health. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2020 Dec 18;kwaa278.
Wels, J., Takami, T. (2021). The impact of transitioning to non-standard employment on older workers’ self-reported and mental health in Japan. A longitudinal perspective using the Japanese Study of Aging and Retirement, Ageing International, 46, 363-382.
2020
Ishida, K., Wels, J. (2020). The Reciprocal Relationship between Unemployment and Social Isolation: A Longitudinal Approach Using the Japanese Life Course Panel Survey. Institute for Social Science (ISS) Panel Survey Project Discussion Paper Series, 120, March 2020, (University of Tokyo), 26p.
Holzmann, R., Wels, J. (2020). Status and Progress in Cross-Border Portability of Social Security Benefits, International Social Security Review. 75(1), 65-97
Wels, J. (2020). The Role of Labour Unions in Explaining Workers’ Mental and Physical Health in Great Britain. A longitudinal approach. Social Science & Medicine, 247, 112796
Wels, J. (2020). The Impact of Extending Working Lives on Youth Employment in Great Britain. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 18(1), 31-47
Wels, J. (2020). Assessing the impact of partial early retirement on self-perceived health, depression level and quality of life in Belgium. A longitudinal perspective using the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), Ageing & Society, 40(3), 512-536
2019
Wels, J. (2019). The association between self-reported health, late career transitions and working time modulations in England, International Journal of Workplace Health Management, 12(6), pp. 424-440.
Wels, J. (2019). Does retirement affect the mental and general health of the older Japanese workforce? A four waves follow-up using the Japanese Study of Ageing and Retirement (JSTAR-RIETI). Report for The Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training.
Wels, J. (2019). Structural and Individual Barriers to Progressive Retirement. A European comparison using SHARE waves 5 & 6. SHARE Working Paper Series 38-2019. p.19
Wels, J. (2019). État des lieux de l’emploi des travailleurs âgés en Belgique. “La réforme des pensions, pour quels enjeux sociétaux?”, Eds. Bayenet, B, Fontaine M., Léonard, D., Brussels: Larcier, pp. 265-209.
Wels, J., Macnicol, J. (2019). Is the ‘Lump of Labour’ a Self-Evident Fallacy?. Social Policy Review n°31 2019, Bristol: Policy Press.
2018
Holzmann, R., Wels, J. (2018). The Portability of Social Rights of Great Britain with the European Union: Facts, issues, and prospects. European Journal of Social Security, 20(4),325-340.
Wels, J. (2018). Assessing the association between late career working time reduction and retirement plans. A cross-national comparison using the 2012 Labour Force Survey ad hoc module, Social Policy and Society, 18(3), pp. 393-410.
Wels, J. (2018), Are there health benefits of being unionized in late career? A longitudinal approach using HRS, American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 61(9), 751-761.
Holzmann, R, Wels, J. (2018). Status and Progress in Cross-Border Portability of Social Security Benefits, iZA Discussion Paper series, n°11481.
2017
Wels, J., Sherring S, Algar J. (2017). How nurses and midwives feel about revalidation: preliminary survey results. Nursing Management, 24(6), 21-26
Leonard, D., Wels, J. (2017). Les femmes et le vieillissement actif. Entre lisibilité et traçabilité, quels enjeux pour l’emploi et le travail ? in Pensées féministes – Argent et travail des femmes. Le nerf de la guerre... des sexes?, Bruxelles : éditions de l’université des femmes.
2016
Wels, J. (2016). The Statistical Analysis of End of Working Life: Issues raised by the Average Effective Age of Retirement Indicator, Social Indicator Research, 129(1), 291-315.
Holzmann, R., Wels, J. & Dale P. (2016). Assessing Benefit Portability for Migrant Workers: Lessons learned from a review of the Belgium-Morocco bilateral social security agreement, Social Protection & Labor Global Practice. The World Bank, 106184, Washington DC.
Wels, J. (2016). Le cumul emploi-retraite: Entre institutionnalisation et déstandardisation des carrières. In S. Bernard, D. Méda, & M. Tallard (Eds.), Orienter les parcours professionnels: Quand les dispositifs se mettent en action. Paris: Peter Lang, 157-172.
2015
Wels, J., (2015). Belgique. Le succès du crédit temps en fin de carrière. Chronique Internationale de l’IRES. November 2015, 28-39.
Wels, J., Bensaid, N., & Legros, F. (2015). La transportabilité des prestations de sécurité sociale - Retraite, soins et minima sociaux. Revue Hommes et migrations, numéro 1309, mars 2015, 107-115.
2014
Ghesquiere, F., Wels, J. (2014). Revenus du travail et emploi atypique, comparaison entre les analyses sociétales et individuelles. La Revue de l'IRES, 2(81), 33-58.