Adjusting to life after the fire service: Maintaining connections and preserving meaning supports health and well‐being in retired firefighters

Abstract This paper explores the challenges and opportunities faced by individuals retiring from vocational professions that are central to their self‐concept. Focusing on firefighters, we examine how group memberships and social identities influence adjustment to retirement and the effectiveness of identity‐based coping strategies in promoting mental health and well‐being. Using a mixed‐methods design, we conducted semi‐structured interviews with 20 retired firefighters and a two‐wave longitudinal survey ( N = 313) to investigate how firefighter identity shapes the retirement experience. Findings show that while the firefighter identity served as a psychological resource during working life, its loss in retirement led to a profound sense of lost meaning and purpose. The demanding nature of the role limited engagement with other social groups, reducing social resilience post‐retirement. In line with the Social Identity Model of Identity Change, successful adjustment involved using the firefighter identity to scaffold access to identity‐based resources that restored meaning and supported well‐being. These findings enhance understanding of why certain occupations may leave individuals vulnerable in retirement and contribute to the identity and health literature by identifying strategies to manage social identity transitions. Practical implications for supporting vocational retirees through this life change are discussed.