Citation

Aharon G, Aisenberg-Shafran D, Levi-Belz Y. Am. J. Men. Health 2024; 18(3): e15579883241253820.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/15579883241253820

PMID

38794957

Abstract

Being a man has been recognized as a salient risk factor for suicide. Adopting uncompromised masculine perceptions (i.e., conforming to the masculine gender role norms) may restrict emotional expressiveness in men, which, in turn, may contribute to depression and somatization symptoms. We examined the moderating role of psychological flexibility and alexithymia in the relationship of masculinity with depression and somatization symptoms. A sample of 119 men completed measures of masculinity, alexithymia (difficulty identifying and delivering subjective feelings), psychological flexibility, depression, and somatization symptoms in a cross-sectional design study. Psychological flexibility levels moderated the relationship between masculinity and depression symptoms: Masculinity contributed as positively associated with depression symptoms when psychological flexibility was low, but no such association was found at moderate or high levels of psychological flexibility. As a cognitive factor promoting adaptive emotional regulation, psychological flexibility might reduce depression symptoms among inflexible masculine men. Clinical implications relate to diagnosing at-risk subgroups and their treatment.

Language: en

Keywords

*Depression/psychology; *Masculinity; Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Affective Symptoms/psychology; behavioral issues; Cross-Sectional Studies; depression; Humans; Israel; Male; masculine gender role norms; men’s health interventions; mental health; Middle Aged; psychological flexibility; suicide; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult