Men face a ‘depressing future’ because of
significant changes to the economic and social environment of
Western countries, according to American psychiatrists.
Experts from Emory University School of
Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, predict that rates of depressive
disorders among men will increase as the 21st century
progresses. They make their predictions in the
March issue of the British
Journal of Psychiatry.
Dr Boadie Dunlop, of Emory University School
of Medicine, said: “Women are almost twice as likely to develop
major depressive disorder in their lifetime as men. But we believe
this difference may well change in the coming decades.”
Dr Dunlop, with his colleague Tanja Mletzko,
has identified two major societal shifts that are already underway
in Western countries and which could increase rates of depression
among men. First, they argue that society is encouraging men to
discuss their feelings more, and stop being so tough and stoic.
Second, Western economics are undergoing a ‘profound
restructuring’, with traditional male jobs associated with
manufacturing and physical labour being out-sourced to low- and
middle-income nations, or becoming obsolete through technological
advances.
Dr Dunlop said: “Dubbed by some the
‘Mancession’, the economic downturn has hit men particularly hard
because of its disproportionate effect on traditional male
industries such as construction and manufacturing. Research has
shown that roughly 75% of jobs lost in the United States since the
beginning of the recession in 2007 were held by men. There is
little reason to believe that traditional male jobs will return in
significant numbers with economic recovery.
“Furthermore, Western women are increasingly becoming the primary
household earners, with 22% of wives earning more than their
husbands in 2007, versus only 4% in 1970. Compared to women, men
attach greater importance to their roles as providers and
protectors of their families, and men’s failure to fulfil the role
of breadwinner is associated with greater depression and marital
conflict.”
Dr Dunlop concluded: “Western men will face a
difficult road in the 21st century, particularly those
with low levels of education. We believe economic and societal
changes will have significant implications for men’s mental health,
and mental health practitioners need to be aware of these
issues.”
For further information, please
contact:
Liz Leicester
or Deborah Hart in the Communications
Department.
Telephone: 020 7235 2351 Extensions. 6298 or 6127
References:
Dunlop BW and Mletzko T. Will current socioeconomic trends produce a depressing future for men? British Journal of Psychiatry 2011; 198: 167-168