Men's perceptions of depression

Abstract

The aim of this dissertation is to attain insight into how men perceive their experience of depression. The men with depression are given the opportunity to voice their thoughts and feelings regarding the condition. While several studies have focused on women's perceptions and experiences of depression, only a few studies have focused on men's perceptions and experiences of depression. Consequently, the present study aims to add further knowledge to the relatively small body of research about depression in men. The interviews with the participants provide data for thematic analysis that capture the perceptions of the men with depression. The results indicate that depression in men is overwhelming for both themselves and their family. The men perceive that depression could be triggered by multiple factors, particularly by trauma, anxiety, and failures in nurturing. Added to this, the participants perceive that depression has affected them in various ways. Perhaps the most prominent finding in this study is that all participants have sought to silence depression either to themselves or else to those around them. Moreover, depressed men seem to experience lack of intimacy with self and others. In support to Browhill (2003), the findings in this study seem to suggest that there is a link between men's experience and men's expression of depression.