Effects of Diagnosing Major Depressive Disorder in Men on Externalizing Depression Symptoms and Conformity to Traditional Masculinity Ideologies

It is proposed that men are underdiagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) due to their reluctance to seek help for mental health problems as well as their display of male-typical externalizing depression symptoms hindering correct identification of MDD in men. Both are related to conformity to traditional masculinity ideologies (TMI). Qualitative research has highlighted the positive effects of receiving an MDD diagnosis. The diagnosis is often seen as an opportunity for change and provides reassurance that evidence-based treatments for MDD are available. This study aims to investigate how communicating an MDD diagnosis impacts depressed men in terms of male-typical externalizing depression symptoms and beliefs about masculinity norms. Twenty-six Participants were diagnosed with MDD. Pre- to posttest changes were examined in male-typical externalizing depression symptoms (MDRS-22), endorsement of (MRNI-SF) and conformity to TMI (CMNI-30) and gender role conflict (GRC; GRCS-SF). The results were also compared to a sample of 15 healthy men undergoing the same diagnostic procedure but receiving no MDD diagnosis. The posttest, after receipt of the MDD diagnosis, revealed significantly lower male-typical externalizing depression symptoms and GRC scores. However, overall endorsement of and conformity to TMI remained unchanged, suggesting them to be either trait-like constructs or unaffected by the receipt of an MDD diagnosis. Compared to healthy men, the MDD group exhibited higher scores in MDRS-22 and GRCS-SF. Future longitudinal research is needed to explore the time and intervention sensitivity of TMI, along with further investigation into the favorable effects of mental illness diagnoses in men.