lifespan
/ˈlaɪf.spæn/
Definition
The entire duration of an individual's existence, used here to frame psychological and health development as a continuous process from birth to death.
Etymology
This word is a compound formed by combining 'life' (from Old English 'lif') and 'span' (from Old English 'spann,' meaning a measure of distance). It entered English in the 19th century to denote the total length of time something or someone is expected to exist.
In the news
The term appears in a reference to 'A lifespan perspective on midlife depressive symptoms,' highlighting how researchers analyze mental health by looking at long-term development rather than just a single moment in time.
The New Midlife Crisis: Mental and Cognitive Health in Middle-Aged Americans Is Declining
Read the full article ↗Association for Psychological Science – APS