Retirement as a Psychosocial Transition: A Social Determinants of Mental Health Framework for Counseling Practice

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2026

DOI

10.33470/2161-0029.1243

Publication Title

Adultspan Journal

Volume

25

Issue

2

Pages

6 (11 pp.)

Abstract

Retirement is commonly framed as a normative and voluntary developmental milestone; however, access to a psychologically healthy retirement is unevenly shaped by social, economic, and structural conditions. This conceptual article applies a social determinants of mental health (SDMH) framework to retirement, conceptualizing it as a complex psychosocial transition involving identity change, shifts in purpose and meaning, relational adjustment, and emotional variability. Drawing on interdisciplinary scholarship, the manuscript examines how socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, gendered work histories, caregiving responsibilities, health status, and access to benefits influence both the ability to retire and the experience of retirement itself. Particular attention is given to constrained, delayed, and involuntary retirement pathways, which are often associated with heightened distress, grief, burnout, and identity disruption in counseling settings. Implications for counseling practice are emphasized throughout, including culturally responsive assessment, strengths-based and contextualized case conceptualization, and advocacy-oriented interventions. By situating retirement within broader life-course and structural contexts, this conceptual article offers counselors an equity-informed framework for supporting clients navigating later-life transitions.

Rights

© 2026 Marshall Digital Scholar

The following uses are always permitted to the authors and do not require further permission from Marshall Digital Scholar provided the author does not alter the format or content of the articles, including the copyright notification::

Posting of the article on the internet as part of a non-commercial open access institutional repository or other non-commercial open access publication site affiliated with the authors' place of employment.

ORCID

0000-0002-8898-3499 (Robins)

Original Publication Citation

Jones, J. L., Robins, L., Calhoun, M., Bond-Richardson, A., & Holloman, L. S. (2026). Retirement as a psychosocial transition: A social determinants of mental health framework for counseling practice. Adultspan Journal, 25(2), Article 6. https://doi.org/10.33470/2161-0029.1243

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