Age Culture

Cultural studies can be extremely important when it comes to age culture, whether it is based on youth or the elderly, it is a popular choice and could lead to a fascinating topic!

Example age culture dissertation topic 1:

Methods of resilience in coping with adversity: An examination of the differences between the elderly and youth.

Much is made in the British press of the ability of the ‘Blitz’ generation to withstand the ‘slings and arrows’ of life, and the comparative inability of youth to cope with stress and change. This thesis considers the veracity of such assertions by examining rates of depression, and depressive relapse, amongst those aged above 75 years of age, and those aged between nineteen and 25 years. In addition, the paper notes the sources of depression, evaluates the degree to which such factors contribute to depression today, and speculates as to the effect of similar factors between 1950 and 1960. Issues such as food rationing are excluded, and a calculation is made to mitigate for the lower incidence (but not omission) of war injuries and stress today.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Butler, J. and Ciarrochi, J. (2007). ‘Psychological acceptance and quality of life in the elderly’, Quality of Life Research, Vol. 16(4), pp. 607-615.
• Masten, A.S., Burt, K.B., Roisman, G.I., Obradovic, J., Long, J.D. and Tellegen, A. (2004). ‘Resources and resilience in the transition to adulthood: Continuity and change’, Development and Psychopathology, Vol. 16(04), pp. 1071-1094.
• Snowdon, J. (2008). ‘Is depression more prevalent in old age?’. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 35(6), pp. 782-787.