Exploring Men's and Women's Experiences of Depression
Author Information
Author(s): Emslie Carol, Ridge Damien, Ziebland Sue, Hunt Kate
Primary Institution: MRC Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, Glasgow, UK
Hypothesis
Are there gender differences or similarities in how men and women with depression engage with health professionals?
Conclusion
There is a complex relationship between gender and engagement with health professionals for people with depression, with both similarities and differences noted.
Supporting Evidence
- Both men and women found it difficult to articulate their mental health problems.
- Men valued skills that helped them talk, while women valued listening skills in health professionals.
- Some respondents preferred talking to a stranger rather than someone they knew.
Takeaway
Men and women both find it hard to talk about their feelings when they're depressed, but they have different ways of dealing with it and different preferences for talking to doctors.
Methodology
In-depth qualitative interviews with 38 respondents (22 women and 16 men) who identified as having had depression.
Potential Biases
The sample may not include men who are less willing to discuss their depression due to traditional masculine norms.
Limitations
The sample consisted of individuals who were willing and well enough to participate, which may not represent all experiences of depression.
Participant Demographics
{"gender":{"men":16,"women":22},"age":{"<30":3,"30-40":14,"41-55":11,"56-65":6,"66+":4},"ethnicity":{"White British":33,"Black":1,"Asian":1,"South European":1,"North European":1,"American":1},"depression_type":{"Unipolar":28,"Bipolar":10}}
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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