Normative Anxiety in young males : a lifespan perspective

Abstract

The aim of this thematic analysis was to elucidate the experience of young Maltese men who experience normative anxiety throughout their lifespan. Six semi-structured interviews were carried out with young adult men whose ages ranged from eighteen years to twenty-five years old. These interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed word by word and then analysed. The findings suggested that the participant’s understanding of normative anxiety is characterised by various factors including their own perspective and experiences with stressful events. Each participant described how their normative anxiety unfolded throughout the different phases of their lives mainly childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Several strategies such as individual coping methods, helped them to cope throughout their life. The findings also shed light on these men’s perspectives of stigma in relation to male’s experience of anxiety. In conclusion, this research suggested various recommendations for practice and future research.