Introduction
Older men experience distinct health inequities, including shorter life expectancy and poorer overall health outcomes compared to women (Wu et al., Reference Wu, Niubo, Daskalopoulou, Moreno-Agostino, Stefler, Bobak, Oram, Prince and Prina2021). Mental health challenges are particularly concerning, as older men are less likely to seek help for depression or anxiety and more likely to engage in risky behaviours (Bilsker et al., Reference Bilsker, Fogarty and Wakefield2018; Fleischmann & De Leo, Reference Fleischmann and De Leo2014; Kiely et al., Reference Kiely, Brady and Byles2019), which contributes to suicide rates in Canada that are nearly four times higher among 65- to 79-year-old men than women, and 6.5 times higher among men aged 80 years and older compared to women (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2022).
The transition into retirement often intensifies mental health vulnerabilities. Studies show that depressive symptoms tend to increase following retirement (Dave et al., Reference Dave, Rashad and Spasojevic2008; Shiba et al., Reference Shiba, Kondo, Kondo and Kawachi2017), particularly among individuals who experience a loss of social connection. A decline in social participation is generally more pronounced for men than women, partly because men place a greater reliance on work for social interaction (Lim-Soh & Lee, Reference Lim-Soh and Lee2023). Following retirement, men are therefore more susceptible to loneliness stemming from the loss of work-related networks (Puyané et al., Reference Puyané, Chabrera, Camón and Cabrera2025) and report lower levels of social engagement compared to women (Tunney et al., Reference Tunney, Henkens and van Solinge2023). This reduced social connectedness contributes to greater experiences of isolation (Thorpe, Reference Thorpe2018), which is associated with higher rates of depression and premature mortality (Holt-Lunstad et al., Reference Holt-Lunstad, Smith, Baker, Harris and Stephenson2015). Therefore, there is a clear need for male-targeted interventions (Baker, Reference Baker2018), specifically, community-based interventions that foster connection, purpose, and well-being among older men (Nurmi et al., Reference Nurmi, Mackenzie, Roger, Reynolds and Urquhart2018).
Activity theory provides a useful framework for understanding the potential benefits of such initiatives. Rooted in the idea that successful aging depends on maintaining meaningful social roles and engagement in purposeful activities, activity theory posits that continued participation in valued pursuits promotes psychological well-being and a sense of identity in later life (Havighurst, Reference Havighurst1961; Lemon et al., Reference Lemon, Bengtson and Peterson1972). Complementing this, continuity theory suggests that older adults strive to maintain consistency in their habits, preferences, relationships, and social roles across the lifespan, which supports stability in self-identity and life satisfaction during transitions such as retirement (Atchley, Reference Atchley1989). Together, these perspectives suggest that programs facilitating active engagement, fostering social connection, and sustaining valued routines can play a vital role in helping older men navigate retirement, maintain social involvement, and enhance overall well-being (Adams et al., Reference Adams, Leibbrandt and Moon2011; Owen et al., Reference Owen, Berry and Brown2022).
One promising approach that addresses these challenges is the Men’s Shed program. With the importance of mental health interventions for older men in mind, and acknowledging that men may be more reluctant to access formal healthcare, Men’s Shed was designed with the aim of reducing feelings of isolation and depression among older men (Golding, Reference Golding2015b; Men’s Sheds Canada, 2025). Men’s Sheds are community-based organizations that offer men a welcoming space, symbolic of a backyard workshop, where men can socialize, build relationships, and engage in hands-on activities. The model is founded on the belief that men often communicate more comfortably ‘shoulder to shoulder’ while working on shared projects, rather than engaging in direct, face-to-face conversation (Milligan et al., Reference Milligan, Neary, Payne, Hanratty, Irwin and Dowrick2016; Oliffe et al., Reference Oliffe, Rossnagel, Bottorff, Chambers, Caperchione and Rice2020). These spaces often mirror the practical, task-oriented settings many men experienced in their previous work environments. Originating in Australia, the Men’s Shed movement has since expanded globally, with over 3,000 Sheds established worldwide, including more than 170 across Canada. Each Shed reflects the interests and needs of its local community, resulting in diverse programming and activities. While woodworking is a common activity at the Sheds, many Sheds also offer opportunities for gardening, sharing music, electrical work, and other creative or technical pursuits.
Founded in 2017, the Squamish Men’s Shed (SMS) centers primarily on woodworking. Membership is open to men aged 55 and older, with an annual fee of 50 dollars. Members are granted 24-hour access to a fully equipped woodworking shop featuring high-quality tools and machinery. Their location also includes a small social room where members can chat with coffee or share lunch. The aim of the SMS is to promote volunteerism within the community and provide older men with a safe and supportive social environment. While members can work on personal projects in the Shed, most activities focus on supporting the wider community through intergenerational programming and specialized projects for other nonprofit organizations. For example, members built a large toy box to collect toys for the local fire department Christmas toy drive, designed and constructed 84 planter boxes for a community garden, and built 30 umbrella stands for middle-school students to decorate and use.
Globally, research on the Men’s Shed movement has varied in depth, focus, and scientific rigour. Previous studies have examined the impacts of Shed participation, finding that men who engage with their local Sheds often report enhanced well-being through a greater sense of belonging and purpose (Milligan et al., Reference Milligan, Neary, Payne, Hanratty, Irwin and Dowrick2016), fostered by community participation and meaningful engagement in shared activities (Wilson & Cordier, Reference Wilson and Cordier2013). Other research has explored Men’s Sheds as sites of collaborative and informal learning, where members exchange skills, knowledge, and life experiences (Carragher & Golding, Reference Carragher and Golding2016; Cavanagh et al., Reference Cavanagh, Southcombe and Bartram2014; Golding, Reference Golding2015a). Despite the rapid expansion of Men’s Sheds across Canada, most existing research remains concentrated in Australian contexts. For instance, a systematic review of 52 studies published in 2022 identified 28 from Australia but only three from Canada (Foettinger et al., Reference Foettinger, Albrecht, Altgeld, Gansefort, Recke, Stalling and Bammann2022). Consequently, there is limited understanding of how the Men’s Shed model operates within the unique social and cultural landscape of Canada. This study addresses that gap by exploring the social and emotional benefits of participation in the Squamish Men’s Shed, offering insight into how community-based initiatives can support men’s health and social connectedness in later life.
Methods
This study adopted an intrinsic qualitative case study design (Stake, Reference Stake1995) to examine the Squamish Men’s Shed (SMS) in British Columbia, Canada. At the time of data collection, the SMS had approximately 30 active members, representing a wide range of personal and professional backgrounds. The study employed semistructured interviews to explore the social and emotional benefits of participation for members, with attention to how this community-based initiative operates within the local social and cultural context. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling in collaboration with the SMS president to ensure a diverse range of perspectives. A total of 12 older men, aged 55 and above, took part in the study. Participants had lived in Squamish for between 1.5 and 56 years, having moved from other parts of British Columbia, other provinces in Canada, and two from abroad. They also varied in membership length (ranging from 6 months to 6 years), roles within the Shed (general member versus board member), and level of participation (from daily attendance to once per month). This diversity allowed for a broad range of perspectives on experiences of involvement in the Shed.
Interviews were conducted in person at the SMS over a 3-day period in August 2025. Guided by a semistructured interview protocol, the conversations explored motivations to join the Shed, social and emotional benefits of participation, and recommendations to improve or maintain the Shed’s success. Each interview lasted between 30 and 60 minutes and was conducted by a trained researcher, with attention to rapport-building and participant comfort. With informed consent, all interviews were audio-recorded and subsequently transcribed verbatim for analysis.
Given gender and generational differences between the interviewer and participants, the researcher’s positionality may have influenced participant responses. For example, some men may have been less open to discussing experiences with mental health challenges, potentially limiting the depth of discussion in this area. Additionally, the interviewer did not have a prior relationship with the Men’s Shed, which may have positioned her as an outsider and influenced how participants framed their experiences at the Shed. To mitigate these effects, interviews emphasized early rapport-building, questions were open-ended, and reflexive notes were maintained throughout data collection and analysis to attend to how researcher assumptions and social position may have shaped interpretation.
Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, Reference Braun and Clarke2006, Reference Braun and Clarke2022). Two members of the research team independently familiarized themselves with the transcripts, identified meaningful units of data, and generated initial codes. They then met to compare and refine their coding, collaboratively developing preliminary themes. Through an iterative process of review and discussion, the team refined and defined the final themes, which informed the final presentation of findings.
The Simon Fraser University Research Ethics Board provided ethical approval for the study. To maintain participant confidentiality, all identifying information was removed during transcription, and audio recordings were stored securely on password-protected devices accessible only to the research team. As a token of appreciation, each participant received a $25 gift card to a local coffee shop.
Results
Four key themes were generated from the data: 1) A Meaningful Use of Time, 2) The Desire to Give Back, 3) Finding Friendship Within the Shed, and 4) Well-Being as a By-Product.
A meaningful use of time
For many participants, the Squamish Men’s Shed (SMS) offered a meaningful way to fill time postretirement, replacing the structure and social connections that work or volunteering had once provided. Several described requiring a substitute activity after retirement to maintain their sense of community involvement. As one member explained:
I used to do volunteer work and stuff. And then when the kids were growing up I was always part of whatever program they were in, swimming, hockey, soccer, you know, all that kind of stuff. So yeah, it’s just still an extension of being part of the community.
For others, the Shed represented a proactive strategy to prepare for retirement. Some men anticipated the loss of daily structure and joined the Shed early to avoid a sense of emptiness once they stopped working: ‘I joined about two years before retirement, recognizing that I was going to retire. I’ve always been busy, so I’m going to need something to take over those 40 hours or whatnot’.
Across these experiences, participants emphasized the Shed’s role in helping them find purpose and fulfillment in later life. As one member reflected: ‘You’re just trying to make the best of the last years of your life, and it does a good job doing that’. For many members, the Shed was more than just a way to fill empty time; they wanted to spend their time in a meaningful way.
Interestingly, while many viewed the SMS as a way to fill gaps in time, a few participants reported that retirement brought unexpected busyness with household chores, grandchildren, or caregiving responsibilities. For example, one participant shared their experience balancing their responsibilities, stating: ‘I am a full-time caregiver, so if I get an hour, that’s what they get… as much as I can’. Therefore, for some men, newfound roles in retirement restrict the amount of time they are able to participate in Shed activities. Despite the diverse experiences postretirement, participants felt it was important to dedicate some time each week to the Shed.
The desire to give back
Although many men jokingly described the Shed as a ‘daycare for old people’, the consensus across members was that their time spent in the Shed was deemed purposeful. Many members were eager to highlight the many projects the Shed does to support the community. One major highlight of the Shed is the intergenerational programming. Each week, a group of members connects with young children in the community to work together on a woodworking project. In addition to this, the members of the SMS put together ‘kits’ for Squamish events that children can then assemble into themed items such as a Christmas sleigh during the holiday season or a logging truck during Squamish’s Loggers Sports Festival. These community programs result in increased feelings of generativity, as described by one member:
‘Even though you’re just making 500 kits, it’s like the kids are going to have so much fun with these, or like we’re making garden boxes and the community benefits, so I think it’s also like you know come even if you don’t want to woodwork, you can come socialize, you can learn how to do some of the basic stuff. But it’s the like the idea of like you can spend your time doing something meaningful and kind of give back to the community which I think is a huge benefit too, it helps you know that sense of purpose, the sense of belonging, and it does help the mental health without being in the conversation.
Even for those who are not as interested in woodworking, the Shed provides a space to learn, socialize, and give back to the community, as described by a member stating, ‘you can participate a little bit in the wood and learn something, but mostly, we’re doing something for the community’. This highlights the flexibility in participation depending on each member’s skills and desires.
Further, despite the goal of Men’s Shed being to support the mental health of older men, many members highlight the importance of giving back to the community. For example, one member noted the connection between community service and improved mental health, stating, ‘the premises is coming together, but also doing something useful. Because, I mean, being of service to others is probably the highest level of mental health functioning’.
Finding friendship within the Shed
Another advantage of the SMS is the diverse community of members with ‘quite a mix of different skills and talents’. Despite a majority of members having lived in Squamish for over 10 years, many of them appreciate the Shed for providing a space to meet people they otherwise would not have, contributing to social capital. One member who works as a physician reflected on the connections they formed at the Shed, stating,
[The Shed] allows me to interact with people, everything from being a longshoreman to working in the wood fiber, in ways that wouldn’t be a normal part of my social interaction, and I find that great. It adds to the diversity of people I met. I’ve met people who I wouldn’t have had the chance to know
Regardless of their differences, spending time together in the Shed creates camaraderie among men. One member shared that ‘no matter what [our] background, [we] feel that [we] can relate to one another’. Specifically, the importance of male friendships was highlighted by a member who said, ‘Men lose abilities to socialize, and some men were never great at it anyway… having relationships that are substantive, particularly when we use lose a partner or spouse, is important’. Another member stressed the importance of diversity, stating, ‘we need ways of creating communities where we can appreciate that people think differently, but we can all work together’.
Despite strong connections and camaraderie within the Shed, many members noted that their relationships with other members rarely extended beyond Shed activities. A few activities are planned outside of the Shed, such as golfing, but it was shared that: ‘It’s really centered around the shed and the activities that we do here. Occasionally, there’s a couple of guys who will put on a Christmas get-together or something at their home, or another guy, every summer, he puts on a little BBQ in his backyard, and that’s about it’.
Well-being as a by-product
Although Men’s Sheds were originally founded on the premise of improving men’s mental health, participants did not describe mental health as their direct motivation for joining. Rather than viewing participation as a response to vulnerability, men described their involvement in the Shed as an act of personal agency and initiative. When discussing why mental health was not a central focus of the SMS, one member explained:
They have to, I think in my mind, they have to show some initiative. You’re not going to go out there and try to drag people off the street that you think you could help. They have to show some initiative in their own minds. Okay, let’s go check it out.
This perspective underscores the importance of self-direction, even when choosing to engage in informal forms of mental health support. For many, joining the Shed was less about seeking explicit support for mental health and more about choosing to participate in meaningful community-based activities that could enhance well-being. In this sense, participation required a degree of self-determination and psychological readiness.
The benefits for mental health were positioned as secondary outcomes for most members, emerging indirectly through social connection, belonging, and an increased sense of purpose. One participant highlighted this distinction: ‘people may say, “Well, I’m not that interested in woodwork,” and miss the point that really its purpose is not to actually do woodwork but to create an environment in which social isolation can be challenged’.
Therefore, it appears that the Shed’s true value as perceived by the participants lies in its role as a community hub where men can connect, share their skills, and maintain purpose. In this way, improvements in well-being are seen less as an explicit motivation for joining and more as a natural by-product of participation.
Discussion and implications
This study explored the social and emotional benefits that members experience by attending the Squamish Men’s Shed. Four key themes were generated from the data: A Meaningful Use of Time, The Desire to Give Back, Finding Friendship Within the Shed, and Well-Being as a By-Product. Together, these findings highlight that while the Men’s Shed model is often framed as a mental health intervention, members of the SMS rarely positioned mental health as a primary motivator for participation. Instead, they described the Shed as a meaningful outlet for connection, contribution, and community engagement, with improvements in well-being occurring indirectly through the activities.
Consistent with theories of retirement adjustment, participants described participation at the Shed as a way to maintain structure and social engagement after leaving the workforce. For example, activity theory suggests that sustained participation in purposeful activities is critical for increased life satisfaction (Lemon et al., Reference Lemon, Bengtson and Peterson1972), while continuity theory emphasizes the importance of maintaining familiar roles and connections (Atchley, Reference Atchley1989). The Shed reflects both for its members, as it serves as a substitute for past work or volunteering, a place to form new connections, and a way to continue contributing to their community. Further, participants specifically highlighted the importance of the Shed’s intergenerational activities, which aligns with Erikson’s stage of development, generativity versus stagnation (Orenstein & Lewis, Reference Orenstein and Lewis2022). This stage, occurring in adulthood, centres on an individual’s desire to contribute to the well-being of future generations and maintain a sense of productivity and purpose. Retirement disrupts traditional outlets for generativity, leaving individuals vulnerable to feelings of stagnation or loss of identity. Therefore, the Shed provides an alternative avenue for men to express generativity through mentoring, sharing skills, and engaging in community-based projects. By participating in the Shed’s collective activities, members are able to maintain a sense of usefulness and continuity with their former working selves, while simultaneously fostering social connections that contribute to psychological well-being. In this way, the Shed not only replaces the structural and social functions of work but also reinforces a sense of purpose.
Interestingly, for some, participation in the Shed was limited due to busyness in retirement, reflecting heterogeneity in how older adults experience postretirement life. Participants who were busy still expressed a benefit in being able to attend the Shed activities when they were able to, even if this was only once a month. The importance of flexibility with attendance has been highlighted in previous research as a key way Sheds support members’ unique needs, allowing them to use the Shed in a way that best suits them (Waling & Fildes, Reference Waling and Fildes2017). The current flexible format of the SMS is ideal for both those who want to participate regularly and those who are only able to participate irregularly. Differing schedules, energy levels, and abilities postretirement should be considered as important aspects contributing to the need for flexibility when designing informal interventions with this age group.
While Men’s Shed were originally established to address social isolation and promote men’s health and well-being, many participants emphasized that the Shed’s value now extends beyond social connection to include a strong sense of community contribution and purpose. This sentiment has been shared in other Men’s Shed studies, highlighting an enhanced sense of well-being achieved through the Sheds community-engaged activities (Wilson & Cordier, Reference Wilson and Cordier2013). Indirectly, the Shed may improve mental health through providing opportunities to give back to the community and for members to share their skills and knowledge with others (Kelly et al., Reference Kelly, Steiner, Mason and Teasdale2019). Recently developed public health guidelines on social connection emphasize the need for age and community-appropriate opportunities for social activities, including initiatives that foster intergenerational interactions (Card et al., Reference Card, Refol, Hill, Benoit, Coplan, Joordens, Roddick, Oliffe, Dej, Chen, Pinel, Helm and Skakoon-Sparling2025). Members at the SMS described the opportunity to give back as a key motivator for ongoing participation, particularly through projects that benefited local youth. For many, the intergenerational programming fulfilled their desire for generativity. Despite some activities being described as repetitive and mundane, participants derived a sense of pride and accomplishment from knowing their efforts had tangible benefits for the broader community.
Members also valued the opportunity to connect with men from diverse backgrounds, noting that the shared activities of the Shed provided a common ground for building relationships. For men who had lived in Squamish for many years, the Shed served as a mechanism to meet people they might not otherwise encounter, including those from different occupational or social backgrounds. However, participants also acknowledged that these relationships rarely extended beyond Shed activities, suggesting that while the Shed fosters meaningful connections and a sense of camaraderie, its broader impact on expanding social networks may be limited. Nonetheless, even short social interactions, such as those occurring during activities at the Shed, can improve well-being (Gunaydin et al., Reference Gunaydin, Oztekin, Karabulut and Salman-Engin2021; Hall et al., Reference Hall, Holmstrom, Pennington, Perrault and Totzkay2025). Thus, the Shed plays an important role in improving well-being by promoting connections between diverse older men, offering a space for interaction, and ultimately reducing social isolation and feelings of loneliness.
Further, despite the Men’s Shed movement being designed as a strategy to support men’s mental health, participants rarely described well-being as a motivation for joining. Rather, they emphasized a desire for community and the opportunity to engage in meaningful activities as reasons for attending the Shed. Improvements in mental health were framed as secondary gains, a ‘by-product’ of social connection and belonging, rather than the explicit reason for participation. Research has found that men may resist programs explicitly framed around health, especially mental health, instead preferring activities that align with normative ideals of masculinity, such as programs that target men’s skills, interests, and hobbies (Galdas et al., Reference Galdas, Seidler and Oliffe2023; Howell et al., Reference Howell, Peterson and Corbett2023). Therefore, mental health not being at the forefront of the Men’s Shed advertisements may help overall recruitment. Further, Galdas et al. (Reference Galdas, Seidler and Oliffe2023) highlight the usefulness of informal ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ learning through shared activity, aligning with the ideology guiding the collaborative woodworking projects at the SMS. By creating environments where social isolation and mental health problems are challenged indirectly, Men’s Sheds may reduce stigma and create a space where health challenges can be discussed more freely than in traditional mental health interventions.
These findings have several practical implications. First, recruitment strategies for Men’s Sheds may be more effective when emphasizing social engagement and community contribution rather than mental health support. Although it is important to note that if the Shed were to recruit men experiencing more severe mental health challenges, additional supports or resources may be required to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all members. Second, intergenerational and community-facing projects were deemed particularly meaningful and should be prioritized when delegating resources. Third, while the Shed fosters strong in-group bonds, additional strategies may be needed to support the extension of these relationships into members’ broader social networks. Activities outside of the Shed could further strengthen bonds between members and encourage older men who are less interested in woodworking to participate.
This study is not without its limitations. As this study focused on a single Shed, the findings may, therefore not reflect the experiences of members of other Sheds that differ in geographical location, size, or that engage in activities other than woodworking. Future research could compare the benefits of rural versus urban Sheds, as well as the experiences of participating in various types of activities. Additionally, this study was cross-sectional in nature, limiting insight into how the Shed impacts members over time. Longitudinal research could help to uncover changes in emotional and social well-being associated with Shed participation and determine if participation over a longer period has a greater impact.
Conclusion
This study highlights the important role that the Squamish Men’s Shed plays in supporting the social and emotional well-being of older men. Findings revealed that participation at the Shed offers much more than social interaction, as the Shed also provides structure and purpose after retirement, opportunities to contribute to the community, and a space to form meaningful connections with diverse individuals. Additionally, while mental health was not an explicit motivation for joining, increased mental well-being often emerged as an indirect outcome of participating in the Shed’s activities.
These findings align with recent public health recommendations that emphasize age-appropriate, community-based opportunities for social connection, including intergenerational engagement. Framing men’s health initiatives around contribution and shared activity, rather than mental health, may be key to recruiting participants and ultimately reducing isolation among older men. Future research should explore the impact of Sheds over time, as well as the differing impact of Sheds depending on geographical location.
Financial support
This work was supported by funds from the Michael Smith Health Research BC Grant [SCH-2020-0490] awarded to TDC, a Doctoral scholarship (CGS-D) from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [767–2022-1136] awarded to SH, and a Travel and Research Award from Simon Fraser University awarded to SH.
Open access
