Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies (JSSHRS) · Research article · Open access
The "Empty Desk" Syndrome: Determinants of Loneliness and Emotional Transition Among Urban Retirees
Mohamad Murad Mahyudin Muheji
1 August 2026 · Vol. 2, Issue 8, pp. 1409-1416
DOI: 10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E8/2026-01
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What is this article about?
Retirement represents a major life transition that extends beyond the end of employment and requires individuals to adjust to significant psychological and social changes. Despite extensive research on financial preparedness, limited attention has been given to the emotional experiences of urban retirees.
Article at a glance
- Published
- 1 August 2026
- Volume / issue / pages
- Vol. 2, Issue 8, pp. 1409-1416
- ISSN
- 3051-3561 (online) · 3051-3553 (print)
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0 — free to read and reuse with attribution
- Peer review
- Double-blind, at least two independent reviewers
- Publisher
- EP Journals Group
Abstract
Retirement represents a major life transition that extends beyond the end of employment and requires individuals to adjust to significant psychological and social changes. Despite extensive research on financial preparedness, limited attention has been given to the emotional experiences of urban retirees. This study proposes Empty Desk Syndrome as a new conceptual framework for explaining the emotional transition and loneliness experienced after retirement. The study adopts a conceptual research design based on a structured narrative literature review. The framework was developed through comparative analysis and conceptual synthesis of peer reviewed literature. The review focused on retirement psychology, identity theory, loneliness among older adults and Empty Nest Syndrome. The findings identify three interconnected dimensions underlying Empty Desk Syndrome, namely disrupted daily routines, shrinking social networks and professional identity crisis. The study also identifies the digital divide and established work culture as reinforcing factors that intensify post-retirement adjustment challenges. The proposed framework demonstrates that these dimensions interact dynamically rather than operating independently. By integrating these dimensions into a unified psychosocial model, the framework extends existing retirement literature beyond financial preparedness and single-dimensional explanations of retirement adjustment. It provides a theoretical foundation for future empirical research and offers practical implications for developing comprehensive pre-retirement programmes that integrate financial preparedness with psychological, social and emotional well-being.
Keywords: Digital divide, Empty Desk Syndrome, Professional identity, Retirement adjustment, Social networks
Cite this article
Mohamad Murad Mahyudin Muheji (2026). The "Empty Desk" Syndrome: Determinants of Loneliness and Emotional Transition Among Urban Retirees. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(8), 1409-1416. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E8/2026-01
@article{Mohamad2026,
title = {The "Empty Desk" Syndrome: Determinants of Loneliness and Emotional Transition Among Urban Retirees},
author = {Mohamad Murad Mahyudin Muheji},
journal = {Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies},
year = {2026},
volume = {2},
number = {8},
pages = {1409-1416},
doi = {10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E8/2026-01},
url = {https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E8/2026-01}
}Questions about this article
Who wrote this article?
Mohamad Murad Mahyudin Muheji.
Where and when was it published?
In Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, Volume 2, Issue 8, pages 1409-1416, published by EP Journals Group on 1 August 2026.
Is this article free to read?
Yes. It is open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) licence, so anyone can read, share and reuse it with attribution.
What is the DOI of this article?
10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E8/2026-01 (https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E8/2026-01).
How do I cite this article?
APA: Mohamad Murad Mahyudin Muheji (2026). The "Empty Desk" Syndrome: Determinants of Loneliness and Emotional Transition Among Urban Retirees. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(8), 1409-1416. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E8/2026-01
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