A new study published in Scientific Reports indicates that the pattern known as "masculine depression" is linked to a greater acute mental health burden and is not limited to men. The research, released on Apr. 6, examined both male and female patients in Germany and found that externalizing symptoms such as anger and substance use are present across sexes.
This finding challenges longstanding beliefs about depression being predominantly a "female" disorder. Historically, studies have reported higher prevalence rates of depression among women compared to men. However, researchers say this may be due to traditional diagnostic criteria focusing mainly on internalizing symptoms like sadness or fatigue while overlooking behaviors such as aggression or emotional suppression.
The study involved 163 depressed inpatients and 176 healthy controls. Using the Male Depression Risk Scale-22 (MDRS-22), participants were classified into high or low masculine depression groups based on their scores. Those with high scores exhibited more severe psychological distress according to the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), even after accounting for age, sex, and overall severity of depression measured by Beck’s Depression Inventory-II.
Importantly, biological sex did not significantly affect these findings; women were just as likely as men to display the so-called masculine depressive profile. The average age was also lower among those with high masculine depression scores compared to those with lower scores.
Researchers note that labeling this symptom pattern as “masculine” may lead clinicians to overlook it in female patients, potentially resulting in under-treatment for some individuals. They suggest redefining masculine depression as a descriptive behavioral profile rather than one tied exclusively to male gender norms.
The authors caution that their results are limited by focusing only on inpatient populations who sought treatment; many people exhibiting these behaviors might avoid seeking help altogether. They conclude that further research is needed to understand how best to identify and treat this form of depression across all patient groups.
