Reviewing the Assumptions About Men’s Mental Health: An Exploration of the Gender Binary
Open accessAbstract
Many researchers take for granted that men’s mental health can be explained in the same terms as women’s or can be gauged using the same measures. Women tend to have higher rates of internalizing disorders (i.e., depression, anxiety), while men experience more externalizing symptoms (i.e., violence, substance abuse). These patterns are often attributed to gender differences in socialization (including the acquisition of expectations associated with traditional gender roles), help seeking, coping, and socioeconomic status. However, measurement bias (inadequate survey assessment of men’s experiences) and clinician bias (practitioner’s subconscious tendency to overlook male distress) may lead to underestimates of the prevalence of depression and anxiety among men. Continuing to focus on gender differences in mental health may obscure significant within-gender group differences in men’s symptomatology. In order to better understand men’s lived experiences and their psychological well-being, it is crucial for scholars to focus exclusively on men’s mental health.
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Rumination, neuroticism, behavioral inhibition, worry, anxiety sensitivity, trauma, and low self-esteem correlated positively with anxiety, with all variables being typical of the female stereotype.
“Such studies showed that rumination, neuroticism, behavioral inhibition, worry, anxiety sensitivity, trauma, and low self-esteem correlated positively with anxiety, with all variables being typical of the female stereotype.33,44,51,55,65,73”
From Factors associated with gender and sex differences in anxiety prevalence and comorbidity: A systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as [73]
Although instrumentality was a protective factor in the appearance of anxiety, expressiveness helped in coping strategies, as it was related to seeking help and support in interpersonal relationships.
“Other studies indicated that although instrumentality was a protective factor in the appearance of anxiety, expressiveness helped in coping strategies, as it was related to seeking help and support in interpersonal relationships.44,73”
From Factors associated with gender and sex differences in anxiety prevalence and comorbidity: A systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as [73]
Rumination is a salient risk factor for women observed from the review.
“some of the most salient risk factors for women observed from our review were rumination33,44,49,65,73 and anxiety sensitivity.51,55,57,65”
From Factors associated with gender and sex differences in anxiety prevalence and comorbidity: A systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as [73]
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- Authors
- Smith, D. T., Mouzon, D. M., & Elliott, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County (US)
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- University of Nevada, Reno (US)
- Corresponding author
- Smith, Dena T.
- Venue
- American Journal of Men's Health
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2016-02-10
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 78-89
- ISSN
- 1557-9883 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-9891
- PMC
- PMC5734543
- OpenAlex
- W2336106749
- Cited by
- 243
- References
- 15
- Citations by year
- 2026: 30 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 41 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 6.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- American Journal of Men s Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
- Keywords
- men's mental health, gender binary, gender differences in mental health, measurement bias, clinician bias, internalizing disorders, externalizing problems, gender roles, help-seeking
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Age Factors, Depression, Female, Gender Identity, Humans, Internal-External Control, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Men, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Socioeconomic Factors, United States, Men's Health, Young Adult
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