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Cited by 420Gender Roles and Identity StudiesGender and Feminist StudiesMental Health Treatment and Access

Men's accounts of depression: Reconstructing or resisting hegemonic masculinity?

Emslie, Carol, Ridge, Damien, Ziebland, Sue, Hunt, Kate·2006·Social Science & Medicine
DOI 10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.10.017
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Abstract

There is evidence that depressive symptoms in men are often undiagnosed and untreated. It has been suggested that men may find it difficult to seek help because culturally dominant (or hegemonic) forms of masculinity are characterised by emotional control and a lack of vulnerability, while depression is often associated with powerlessness and the uncontrolled expression of emotion. However, very little research exists which examines men's experiences of depression. We analysed 16 in-depth interviews with a wide range of men with depression in the UK Our analysis explored associations between depression and men's gender identities. We found that, as part of recovery from depression, it was important for men to reconstruct a valued sense of themselves and their own masculinity. The most common strategy was to incorporate values associated with hegemonic masculinity into narratives (being 'one of the boys', re-establishing control, and responsibility to others). While this strategy could aid recovery, there was also evidence that the pressures of conforming to the standards of hegemonic masculinity could contribute to suicidal behaviour. In contrast, a minority of men had found ways of being masculine which were outside hegemonic discourses. They emphasised their creativity, sensitivity and intelligence, explicitly reflected on different models of masculinity and redefined their 'difference' as a positive feature. Our research demonstrates that it is possible to locate men who can, and will, talk about depression and their feelings; thus generalisations about depressed men always being silent are misleading. While some men will have the resources to construct identities that resist culturally dominant definitions of masculinity, many others will find it more useful (and perhaps less threatening) to re-interpret potentially feminising experiences as 'masculine'. Health professionals need to be aware of the issues raised by men's narratives which emphasise control, strength and responsibility to others.

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  • Depression may challenge masculine ideals of physical and emotional toughness.

    “Depression may challenge masculine ideals of physical and emotional toughness (Emslie et al. , 2006).”

    From Do depressed and anxious men do groups? What works and what are the barriers to help seeking? (2014) · cites this paper as Emslie et al. , 2006

  • Emslie et al. (2006) found that some men recovered from depression when they joined activities that made them feel 'one-of-the-boys' or when they had the opportunity to act as leaders for other men.

    “Emslie et al. (2006), found that some men recovered from depression when they joined activities that made them feel 'one-of-theboys' or when they had the opportunity to act as leaders for other men.”

    From Do depressed and anxious men do groups? What works and what are the barriers to help seeking? (2014) · cites this paper as Emslie et al., 2006

  • Having depression is described as incompatible with traditional masculinity.

    “In line with this, having depression is described as being “incompatible” with traditional masculinity due to the fact that emotional experiences in depression are linked to femininity; depression is often accompanied by feelings of powerlessness and lack of control; and the experience of depression often leaves people feeling weak and vulnerable (3).”

    From Masculinity and Help-Seeking Among Men With Depression: A Qualitative Study (2020) · cites this paper as [3]

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Authors
Emslie, C., Ridge, D., Ziebland, S., & Hunt, K.
Affiliations
  • MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit (GB)
  • City, University of London (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Social Science & Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2006-05
Volume
62
Issue
9
Pages
2246-2257
ISSN
0277-9536 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.10.017
OpenAlex
W1991892137
Cited by
420
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 41 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 21
FWCI
25.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Social Science & Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Oxford
  • City, University of London
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
Keywords
male depression, hegemonic masculinity, gender identity, help-seeking, emotional control, suicide risk, recovery from depression, gender and mental health
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Depression, United Kingdom, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Self Concept

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