Life Course Perspective Analysis

Life Course Perspective
As discussed in week 3, men are more likely to be socially isolated as they often don’t cultivate relationships, particularly if they get divorced or their wife predeceases them. Consequently, it can impact (being isolated) on their mental health later in life. Social isolation is an enormous risk factor for depression and anxiety therefore social connections are very important protective factors which can prevent and reduce the severity of these conditions Fässberg, et al (2012).

Fässberg, et al (2012), discusses life course perspective, and considers “longstanding personality characters which are known to influence suicide as well as age related changes in social roles and networks. The authors argue that some suicidal older persons may have had a rich social network that became limited in the context of aging. …show more content…
In many high income countries, the media primarily focus on the negative aspect of the aging population such as increase in demand for pensions, health and aged care and government spending.

Fässberg, et al (2012) discusses how some older people perceive themselves as a ‘burden’ not only emotionally but financially. Simon, et al (2013), points out the increase of suicide in areas with rapid economic growth such Hong Kong, China and Taiwan and argues that social and political factors can play a greater role in suicide than economics. The rate of male suicide increased in Korea through the currency crises in 1997, 2003 and 2009 – Kim, et al (2017). Also male suicide rates increased in South Korea’s credit card crises and throughout the global financial crises of 2008.

Socio-psychological factors such as a decrease of income upon retirement, rising medical costs, along with a loss of identity after leaving one’s career on retirement have also been identified by Kim, et al (2017) as attributing factors under this heading of economic

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