Year: 2010
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Evidence suggests that men are less likely than women to seek help for depression even though, given depression, they are more at risk of suicide.Evidence further suggests that this lack of help seeking for depression is associated with higher masculinity.This study hypothesised that men's lack of help seeking for depression was due to differences in symptom perception.Specifically, the study tested the hypothesis that the factors of a model of symptom perception would mediate an association between higher masculinity and fewer depressive symptoms.In a cross-sectional internet survey design, 325 men, recruited via employers, completed measures of depression, masculinity, and symptom perception.There was no relationship between masculinity and depression and, counter to prediction, masculinity was associated with heightened symptom perception.The factors of the model of symptom perception accounted for 38% of the variance in depressive symptoms.After consideration of the strengths and weakness of the study, it is concluded that the model of symptom perception is a useful model and that men's lack of help seeking for depression is unlikely to be due to differences in symptom perception, rather some process following the perception of symptoms.Clinical implications relating to men's contacts with services are discussed.
Author: Lawrence Howells
Language: English
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W765605705