Increased risk of suicide among men with traditional role models
Published: Thursday, Nov 28th 2024, 09:20
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Men with a traditional role model have an increased risk of suicide. However, not all men are equally at risk. Researchers at the University of Zurich have identified socio-cultural factors that increase the risk of suicide in men.
The global suicide rate for men is around two to four times higher than for women. In men, the risk is often recognized too late, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) announced on Thursday. Almost 500 men from German-speaking countries completed a series of questionnaires for the study, which was published in the specialist journal "Heliyon".
For sixty percent of the study participants, conformity with traditional masculinity ideologies does not play a significant role. They are called egalitarians by the authors. Around 15 percent have an image of masculinity that manifests itself primarily in a patriarchal attitude. This player category attaches importance to having many sexual partners and being perceived as heterosexual.
The Stoic group comprises a quarter of men. They exhibit a strong conformity to traditional norms in factors such as controlling emotions, independence and risk-taking, such as driving fast or practicing extreme sports.
Stoics have more than twice the risk of attempted suicide compared to egalitarians. The risk was not significantly higher among the Players compared to the Egalitarians, the researchers found.
"Especially in a stressful situation or a psychological crisis, the attitudes of the Stoics form a very problematic combination," lead author Lukas Eggenberger was quoted as saying in the press release. "I'm not allowed to show my feelings and I have to solve my problems alone." Coupled with a high willingness to take risks, this can lead to a kind of tunnel vision in which suicide appears to be the only way out.
Traditional ideologies more popular with younger people
The study also showed that traditional ideas are not only held in the minds of the older generation. The Stoic group is significantly younger than the other groups, the study continued. Young adulthood is a central phase in the search for identity. Traditional masculinity ideologies would give young men the opportunity to define themselves through their gender.
The study team recommends the development of interventions specifically tailored to the group of stoics. Medical professionals could be made more aware of these men. A retrospective study of almost 3,000 suicides in Canada showed that sixty percent of the men affected had sought help from mental health professionals in the previous year.
However, they were not picked up properly and fell through the cracks. "Depression in these men often does not manifest itself through classic symptoms, but as somatic problems such as back pain. They also often express their negative feelings through aggression or risky behavior instead of talking about them," said team leader Andreas Walther.
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