Compassionate Mind Research Group, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
The University of Derby, Derby, UK.
Psychol Psychother. 2024 Jun;97(2):339-353. doi: 10.1111/papt.12520. Epub 2024 Feb 3.
Traditional masculinity norms displayed by men attempt to signal a dominance or 'toughness' to others; however, traditional masculine norms are associated with a range of mental health difficulties, including depression and anxiety. Based on social rank theory, we tested the mediating role of insecure striving, social safeness and fears of compassion on the relationship between masculinity, anxiety and depression. We also examined whether compassionate goals were negatively correlated with masculine norm adherence.
We used a cross-sectional survey design recruiting 844 men, aged 18-60 years (M = 34.0, SD = 14.4).
Our results replicated previous findings with masculine norms significantly associated with depression and anxiety. Extending on previous work, we found insecure striving, social safeness and fears of compassion fully mediated these relationships for anxiety and partially for depression. This relationship was strongest for the masculinity subtypes of self-reliance and emotional control. Compassionate goals were negatively associated with masculine norm adherence.
Social rank theory offers a helpful explanatory framework to understand the links between traditional masculinity and mental health, highlighting the importance of social safeness and insecure striving for men.
男性表现出的传统男性气质规范试图向他人传达一种支配地位或“坚韧”；然而，传统的男性气质规范与一系列心理健康问题有关，包括抑郁和焦虑。基于社会等级理论，我们测试了不安全感、社会安全感和对同情的恐惧在男性气质、焦虑和抑郁之间的关系中的中介作用。我们还检查了同情目标是否与男性气质规范的遵守呈负相关。
我们使用横断面调查设计招募了 844 名年龄在 18-60 岁之间的男性（M=34.0，SD=14.4）。
我们的结果复制了之前的研究发现，男性气质规范与抑郁和焦虑显著相关。在之前的工作基础上，我们发现不安全感、社会安全感和对同情的恐惧完全中介了这些与焦虑的关系，部分中介了与抑郁的关系。这种关系在自强和情绪控制等男性气质亚型中最强。同情目标与男性气质规范的遵守呈负相关。
社会等级理论为理解传统男性气质与心理健康之间的联系提供了一个有用的解释框架，强调了社会安全感和不安全感对男性的重要性。
