Murrihy said that it's very possible that Ardern's proximity with the incidents that plagued her time as leader, including the Christchurch shooting and the White Island volcano eruption, would have had a toll on her, despite not being a victim of these events.

Professor of psychological medicine at University of Sydney, Nicholas Glozier, said it's important to acknowledge that Ardern has a life outside of work and that personal factors would have contributed to the decision to step down.