The masculine concepts of control, strength, and responsibility to others were important to men with depression

摘要

The concept of masculinity and what it means to men who aru depressed has often been overlooked by clinicians and researches. The study by Emslie ef al attempts to fill this gap in the research literature and provides an important insight into the gendered nature of depression in men. Consistent with wider evidence on men's experiences of illness and health help-seeking behaviour,1 the main findings of tie study draw attention to the potentially deleterious influence of hegemonic masculinity on some men's recovery from depression. However, in contrast to previous studies, the findings of Emslie et al also show that some men can, and will, talk about depression and their feelings and that other forms of (non-dominant) masculinity can have positive effects 0:1 men's mental health. These findings cohere with emerging evidence2 that highlights the complex nature of masculinities and how they interplay w:th men's recovery from ill health.Overall, the study by Emslie ef al stresses the need for nurses to consider the problems that may arise among depressed men who feel pressure to "live up to" hegemonic masculine attributes. It offers nurses direction for providing support to men with depression by explicitly addressing their beliefs about forms of masculinity that emphasise strength and stoicism and helping them to re-interpret their experience as being "masculine." Ultimately, the study leads to the conclusion that common generalisations, such as all depressed men will feel pressured to be "strong and silent," are overly simplistic and misleading.