Evidence suggests that men
who strongly endorse masculine traits display an atypical presentation of
depression, including more externalizing symptoms (e.g., anger or substance
use), but fewer typical, internalizing symptoms (e.g., depressed mood or
crying). This phenomenon has not been adequately explored in older adults or
women.
The current study used the externalizing subscale of the Masculine
Depression Scale in older and younger men and women to detect atypical
symptoms. It was predicted that individuals who more strongly endorsed
masculine traits would have higher scores on the measure of externalizing
symptoms relative to a measure of typical depressive symptoms Center for
Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale. It was anticipated that results would
differ by age-group but not by gender.
Multigroup path analysis was used to
test the hypothesis. The hypothesized path model, in which endorsement of
masculine traits was associated with lower scores on the Center for
Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale and with scores on the externalizing,
but not internalizing, factor of the Masculine Depression Scale, fit the data
well. Results differed significantly by age-group and gender.
Masculine
individuals reported lower levels of typical depressive symptoms relative to
externalizing symptoms, but further research is needed within age- and gender
groups.
Results are consistent with the gendered responding framework and
suggest that current assessment tools, which tend to focus on internalizing
symptoms of depression, may not detect depression in individuals who endorse
masculine traits.
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- 1West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA eprice2@mix.wvu.edu.
- 2West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
- 3West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA PSIMED Corrections, LLC, Charleston, WV, USA.
- 4West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
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