Depression And Gender Role Conflict In Young Adult Men

Abstract

While women are reported to have higher rates of depression than men, new research has found that this discrepancy may be the result of an artificial deflation of depression rates in men. Men may experience atypical depressive symptoms which are not accounted for in traditional diagnostic measures, resulting in missed and/or incorrect diagnoses in men. Atypical symptoms may also be attributed to the way men adhere to gender norms. The present study will investigate how men's experiences with depression differ from prototypical depressive experiences, as well as the potential factors influencing the atypical symptoms men often encounter. It is predicted that, when diagnostic tools measuring for atypical symptoms are used, men will experience greater externalizing symptoms as compared to women. Additionally, it is predicted that men and women will have equal rates of depression, thus addressing the discrepancies in rates of depression between men and women. Finally, men with greater adherence to male gender norms will have higher rates of gender role stress, and, thus, will be more likely to experience externalizing symptoms. Participants completed a survey regarding depressive symptoms and stress regarding gender norms. Upon completion of data collection, these results will then be analyzed for rates of both prototypical and atypical depressive symptoms in men and women, as well as how gender and adherence to gender roles impact depressive symptoms. This study was limited by size, survey completion rates, and funding. Further research is needed to explore the discrepancy of depression rates between men and women and address the issue.