Gendering late-life depression? The coping process in a group of elderly men

Abstract

The increase in suicide rates in older men poses a serious challenge in terms of better detection and diagnosis of depression, as the increase could suggest that there are a number of aging, depressive men who are not diagnosed and therefore remain untreated for their depression. This study is an interview study with 8 elderly men (between 66 and 85 years of age) diagnosed with depression in late-life. It examines how the men discuss, perceive and act in relation to stressful situations in late life, and how their perception may influence the coping process and the presentation of depressive symptoms. It was found that the men only used two types of coping strategies: Restoration strategies and Palliative strategies. The coping strategies used were mainly aimed at continuing life as it was before (or trying hard and working hard to maintain that illusion) and to avoid, divert or distract from the stress, but not to solve the underlying problems. The men did not use any active resignation strategies, which are strategies for normalizing the

Masculine Traits and Depressive Symptoms in Older and Younger Men and Women

“…The MDS may provide additional clinical information in women in addition to men. The finding that masculine traits are associated with lower levels of typical depressive symptomspartially corroborates previous qualitative and theoretical work (Chuick et al, 2009;Jensen et al, 2010;Rochlen et al, 2010). Magovcevic and Addis (2008) reported that two measures of hegemonic masculinity were moderately and positively associated with greater scores on several measures of depressive symptoms, including the externalizing subscale of the MDS.…”

“…With the exception of Jensen et al (2010), who provided qualitative support for gendered responding through interviews with older men who had been depressed, there have been few publications relevant to older adults. Systematic interviews with clinicians and clinical researchers have suggested that depressed older men deny experiencing depressive or psychological symptoms but endorse sleep, cognitive, and pain symptoms and are therefore difficult to diagnose or refer to appropriate psychological treatment (Hinton, Zweifach, Oishi, Tang, & Unuetzer, 2006).…”

An Integrative Group Therapy Model for Depression and Anxiety in Later Life

“…The themes discussed above are consistent with other reports on depression and anxiety in the elderly (Hinrichsen, 2008;Jensen, Munk, & Madsen, 2010;Schwartz, 2004).…”

“…Considering that older men are at serious risk for suicide, it is encouraging to see that men accessed our group program and benefited. A recent Danish study showed that men tended to use fewer coping strategies and used mainly those aimed at continuing life as it was before they reached this older age-or to maintain that illusion (Jensen, Munk, & Madsen, 2010). Until acceptance has taken place, new commitments and purpose in life cannot be met by the individual.…”

Risk and Resilience in Coping With Chronic Life Stress

“…* By comparison, there is some suggestion that men may be somewhat more prone to cope by distancing from stress-related negativity. 50 Clearly, this area merits more attention.…”