HEALTH SCIENCES
Gender-Role Conflict and Male Help-Seeking for Depression
Murphy, S. (2019). Symptoms of Depression [Image]. The WHS Howl.
By Alyssa Cameron, Pyschology Major, 2023
D
epression is a common mental illness that can be briefly described as frequent episodes of hopelessness, low self-esteem, depressed mood, and loss of interest or pleasure.1 Fortunately, depression is treatable. A wide variety of effective evidence-based treatment options are available for individuals suffering from depression, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and antidepressant medications. Treatment for depression is crucial given that when left untreated, it can lead to relationship issues, decreased work performance, chronic pain, and even suicide.1 Therefore, it is essential to dissolve any barriers getting in the way of depressed individuals getting the help they need. There are many roadblocks that may prevent individuals from getting effective treatment in the United States, especially for ethnic minorities and people living in poverty.1 However, some of these barriers are not as obvious as others. Given the patriarchal structure of the United States, one may find it surprising that men in particular face a unique barrier to getting effective treatment for depression. Researchers have suggested that many men do not get the treatment for depression that they need as a result of the gender-role conflict. This
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conflict occurs when an individual thinks or behaves in a way that is incongruent with gender norms, resulting in increased levels of stress and negative feelings towards oneself. It has been theorized that gender-role conflict prohibits men from seeking help for depression because it is incongruent with male norms, such as self-reliance and emotional restriction.2 Engaging in help-seeking behaviors for depression may lead men to feel negatively towards themselves or worry about judgment from others. Recent studies have provided additional evidence that this theory is valid. Cole & Ingram’s 2019 study on the relationship between gender-role conflict and men seeking help for depression begins the important work of recognizing the negative impacts of genderrole socialization and its effects on mental health.2 To test this theory, researchers had undergraduate male participants complete a gender-role conflict survey in which they scaled the degree to which they agreed or disagreed with various statements in order to measure the stress they experience related to conflict with masculine gender role socialization. Participants were then asked to read a vignette about a man experiencing depressive symptoms and imagine that they were experiencing those
