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Mental Health of Retired First Responders

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First Responder Mental Health

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Abstract

Retirement, defined as an individual’s exit from the workforce signaling a decreased psychological commitment to work (Wang and Shi, Annu Rev Psychol 65:209–233, 2013), is undoubtedly a complex and often jarring shift in the lives and routines of many. For some, it marks the transition to days of leisure and liberation. In others, the change can lead to a disruption of identity and decline in both physical and psychological health (Clouston and Denier, Soc Sci Med 178:78–86, 2017). Research regarding retirement from the civilian workforce is plentiful, but inconclusive as to whether retirement marks a positive or negative shift; this seems to depend on the presence of certain internal characteristics and external factors. For example, retirement is often conceptualized as a life crisis with numerous studies highlighting mental health problems in retirees of all ages (Gill et al. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 41:515–522, 2006). Further, type of retirement, namely, forced or early, also has the potential to negatively affect psychological well-being (Börsch-Supan and Schuth, Discoveries in the economics of aging. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2014; Dave et al., The effects of retirement on physical and mental health outcomes. Research, National Bureau of Economic, 2006; Park and Kang, Compr Psychiatry 66:1–8, 2016; van der Heide et al. BMC Public Health 13:1–11, 2013). Personal resilience, social support, community involvement, and financial preparedness, however, are considered protective factors against psychological decline post-retirement across numerous studies. Many highlight that positive adjustment to retirement is contingent on available resources both financially and psychologically (Kubicek et al. J Occup Health Psychol 16:230–246, 2011). Regardless of the nature of retirement, it is considered a life event requiring coping and adaptation, which could lead to many challenges in which psychological health is compromised (Lindwall et al. Front Psychol 8:1634, 2017).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal Bureau of Prisons, Lompoc, CA, USA

    Jordana Pepper

  2. College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

    Emily M. Cnapich

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  1. Jordana Pepper
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  2. Emily M. Cnapich
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Correspondence to Jordana Pepper .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Michael Bourke, Ph.D., PLLC, Springfield, VA, USA

    Michael L. Bourke

  2. College of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, FL, USA

    Vincent B. Van Hasselt

  3. Houston Fire Department (Retired), Houston, TX, USA

    Sam J. Buser

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Pepper, J., Cnapich, E.M. (2023). Mental Health of Retired First Responders. In: Bourke, M.L., Van Hasselt, V.B., Buser, S.J. (eds) First Responder Mental Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38149-2_18

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