Advertising Disclosure

Mental health benefits of retirement not evenly shared

Study finds many factors, including wealth, influence well-being

Updated:

Avatar photo
By:
Avatar photo

Mark Huffman
Reporter

Mark Huffman has covered consumer issues since 2004, with a special focus on protecting and empowering older adults. A former news correspondent for the Associated Press Radio Network, Westwood One, and ConsumerAffairs, Mark brings decades of journalistic experience to RetirementLiving.com. He is passionate about giving consumers a voice and helping them make informed decisions. Mark has also created educational content, including Senior Scam Alert, a video resource designed to help seniors recognize and avoid fraud. He holds a B.A. from the University of Kentucky and lives with his family in Richmond, Virginia.
thulfiqar-ali

Photo by Thulfiquar Ali on Unsplash

Key Insights

  • Retirement boosts mental health overall, but not equally across income groups
  • Physically demanding jobs and later retirement linked to dips in wellbeing
  • Low-income, unmarried women most at risk of poorer mental health outcomes

Retirement can bring a welcome lift in mental health, but the benefits are far from universal, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Edinburgh.

The analysis, which tracked more than 1,500 people in the Netherlands over a 16-year period, found that income, the type of job left behind, and the timing of retirement all play critical roles in shaping wellbeing.

Overall, retirees experienced an improvement in mental health as they left the workforce. However, the study revealed significant differences:

  • Low-income retirees reported the poorest mental health and saw only a temporary boost in wellbeing before levels dipped again two and a half years after leaving work.
  • Average-income workers generally experienced steady improvements, though those with physically demanding jobs reported lower mental health throughout the process.
  • High-income earners enjoyed a sharp increase in well-being immediately after retirement, but those who retired later in life showed slower improvements.

Gender and relationship status also mattered. Women, unmarried individuals, and people with lower incomes at the time of retirement were more likely to struggle with mental health compared to others.

The three phases of retirement

The researchers examined mental health outcomes before, during, and after retirement using the Mental Health Inventory, a tool measuring psychological well-being, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. The average retirement age in the study was 66 to 67 years.

Statistical models revealed a “honeymoon” phase shortly after retirement, followed by potential declines, particularly among vulnerable groups.

“Distinct mental health trajectories across income groups highlight the complexity of retirement as a life transition,” said Xuefei Li of the School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences. “Understanding these phases sheds light on the adjustment processes people undergo when faced with both internal and external challenges.”

Implications for policy

The findings underscore the need for targeted policy support, particularly for low-income retirees who remain most at risk.

“All income groups showed a general improvement in mental health during the transition to retirement, yet there were multiple phases of development where mental health can take a dip,” said Professor Aja Murray, who co-authored the study. “During these vulnerable times, people may benefit from targeted support.”

The research team suggests future studies could explore the role of voluntary retirement to better understand how personal choice shapes the experience of leaving work.