Comment by philosopher1234
2 months ago
The vast majority of men develop depression at retirement. So you can say this with scorn if it pleases you, but the group you’re talking about is massive and doesn’t deserve this derision.
2 months ago
The vast majority of men develop depression at retirement. So you can say this with scorn if it pleases you, but the group you’re talking about is massive and doesn’t deserve this derision.
This is straight up false, you are wildly overexaggerating with zero evidence to back it up.
Incidence of depression in retirement age populations are around 6 - 8%, and the correlation between retirement and depression is more pronounced in women.
There’s no need to make false claims about a real disorder just so you can feel persecuted as a man
https://www.ajgponline.org/article/S1064-7481(23)00424-4/abs...
My inaccuracy not withstanding, you supply the data to prove my point, that it is common for men to experience depression in retirement. And my suggestion that they should be considered seems just as true.
Your suggestion about my motives makes no sense, I made no comparison to women. It sounds like that may have something to do with you, not me.
Perhaps ask yourself: why does a suggestion that these men deserve some sympathy or at least consideration provoke you into harshly criticizing me?
To be fair you are the first person in this thread to bring up gender, as if women don’t also feel depression in retirement, and indeed at higher rates. Why would you only mention men?
1 reply →
If there is evidence my guess is that it’s likely due to the previous generation’s attitude towards work. My guess is that the previous generation (like my parents and their parents before them) lived to work, it was their whole identity, thus when they retired they had no idea what to do with themselves (like the Loom founder) and depression was common.
There has been a shift over the last decade or two likely in millennials who just work to live. They look forward to not working and living a life full of hobbies and social activities.
1 in 3 according to the best data available.
And when you consider that most people retire late in life when they are likely to face health issues, start losing family and friends, and that most people don't retire rich...
I think it is more that people who were married to their job find themselves suddenly divorced.
Without other activities to give them a reason to get up in the morning it is easy to fall into depression. There was even a movie that explores this situation: About Schmidt.
There could be a lot of factors involved in this.
Retirement might be, in a way, a clear point in life when you get to actually think about your own mortality and life coming to an end in the next few decades. That alone could have a major impact in people developing depression at retirement.
What the poster says might still be true, people are being defined by their work and when that's over there's a huge gap they don't know how to fill. This might very well be a criticism on the role of work in society.
Ultimately though, you're right, there's no need to insult people when thinking critically about this issue.