‘Was life worth living?’ Older widowers and their explicit discourses of the decision to live

It is well recognized that there is excess mortality among widowed men. However, explanations for this are not well developed. It has been argued that functional ability, accidents or a ‘broken heart’ may explain this finding. During two studies of widowhood in older men, there was an explicit discourse about the decision to continue with life following the death of their spouse in one-third of the interviews. These discussions did not concern suicidal ideation. Instead they involved a rational consideration of the available choices. The men discussed related issues including the meaning of their lives, age and the mortality of friends, and their responsibilities. In addition, there was frequently a clear expression of stoicism in their decision to keep on living. It is suggested that these men chose to keep living following their bereavement. However, other widowers, not studied here, may make a different decision and choose either explicitly or implicitly not to continue to live.