'Big build': Hidden depression in men
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2005, 39 (10), pp. 921 - 931
- Issue Date:
- 2005-10-01
Closed Access
| Filename | Description | Size | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2005000692.pdf | 893.88 kB |
Copyright Clearance Process
- Recently Added
- In Progress
- Closed Access
This item is closed access and not available.
Objective: To investigate men's experience of depression. Method: A sample ofmale and female teachers and students was recruited from four sites of a tertiary education institution to a series of focus groups. A grounded theory approach to qualitative data analysis was used to elucidate men's experience of depression. Content analysis was applied to the women's data to examine similarities and contrasts with the men. Standard measures of mood and dispositional optimism confirmed the non-clinical status of the group. Results: The findings suggest that some men who are depressed can experience a trajectory of emotional distress manifest in avoidant, numbing and escape behaviours which can lead to aggression, violence and suicide. Gender differences appear not in the experience of depression per se, but in the expression of depression. Conclusion: Emotional distress, constrained by traditional notions of masculinity, may explain why depression in men can often be hidden, overlooked, not discussed or 'acted out'. There are implications for the types of questions asked of men to detect depressive symptoms. © 2005 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: