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In the XNUMXst century, the number of men with depressive disorders will grow rapidly, predict US psychiatrists. In their opinion, it will be caused by the deepening crisis of men’s identity, related to the change of male and female social roles in Western countries.
A paper on this subject is published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.
It is known that women are almost twice as likely to develop depression at different times in their lives as men, but we predict that these differences may decrease in the coming decades, comments co-author of the article Dr. Boadie Dunlop, director of the Mood Disorders and Depression Research Program at the Faculty of Medicine. Emory University in Atlanta.
Economic situation and depression
Dr. Dunlop told PAP that the purpose of this work is to draw attention to the role of socio-economic changes in the development of depression in men and encouraging epidemiologists to research this issue. He also noted that scientists from his university do not plan to conduct such analyzes themselves.
The studies conducted so far indicate that, since the outbreak of the economic crisis in 2007, approx. US job layoffs hit men. On the other hand, women are starting to support their families more and more often, and approx. American wives earned more in 75 than husbands (in 22 this figure was just 2007%).
Unfortunately, we cannot count on the fact that the improvement of the economic situation will significantly change these proportions – emphasize the authors of the study. Many traditionally male occupations, especially those of a physical nature or on production lines in factories, have disappeared forever, either because of technological developments or because workers from poor countries have taken them over. AND the man’s identity is closely related to his work. Even when creating a social network, gentlemen often rely on work, so unemployment can deepen their social isolation.
In addition, many more women than men are now graduating from college, so the number of households where a wife earns more than her husband will continue to grow.
Depressive disorders in Western societies
The XNUMXst century will be difficult for men in Western societies, especially the less educated. The economic and social challenges they face will have a huge impact on their mental health, Dr. Dunlop explains. – Compared to women, men attach greater importance to the social roles assigned to them for centuries, i.e. the main breadwinner and protector of the family. Failure to do so is a source of low self-esteem and can lead to depression and marital conflicts.
Moreover, biological and sociological differences between the sexes mean that – unlike most women – it is much more difficult for men to fulfill the role of a carer for young children.
Therefore, Dr Dunlop and co-author Dr Tanja Mletzko believe that in a changing world men will be at a similar risk of depression as women in traditional societies, when they did not have a chance to free themselves from their role in the family due to difficulties in finding employment.
When writing about this, we want to encourage doctors to ask men about how they assess the impact of economic and social changes on themselves, their role in the family and quality of life, and if necessary, provide them with help, Dr. Dunlop told PAP.
This is important because men suffering from depression much less often than women admit it and seek help from a specialist. Besides, the symptoms of depression are different for each sex.
Compared to the ladies men with depression they are less likely to have changes in appetite and body weight, they are less likely to fall asleep, experience anxiety or suffer from pain. But they use alcohol and other stimulants more often, explained Dr. Dunlop.
Some previous work (for example, an Austrian study published in 2005 in the journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics) also suggested that depression is more likely to be manifested by bouts of anger and aggression in men.
While research shows that depressed men and women are equally prone to irritability, it is possible that men are more likely to manifest this physically by aggressive behavior. Certainly, the increased use of alcohol and other psychoactive substances among men suffering from depression increases the risk of aggression, commented Dr Dunlop.
Joanna Morga (PAP)