"You have to fight to legitimize your existence all the time": The social context of depression in men with physical disabilities.
Dena Hassouneh, Kiki Fornero
PMID 33593519WHAT IT FOUND
Men with physical disabilities and depression described hiding depression to protect masculinity, resisting visible assistive devices, and feeling exhausted by stigma and financial insecurity.
Clinicians should ask about these social pressures, not only symptoms.
Key findings
01Most participants concealed depression because disclosure threatened their masculine standing, even among other men with physical disabilities.
02Some participants avoided visible assistive devices and assumed painful postures because of masculine norms.
03Economic insecurity and failing supports were described as linked to distress, including for an employed participant who relied on home services.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was mostly white, heterosexual, and acquired disability in adulthood, so findings may not apply to other groups. Most men had only one interview, so the study did not follow changes over time. This was a qualitative study of experiences, not a test of whether addressing these themes improves depression.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The supplied text does not state a funding source.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that discussing masculinity, finances, or assistive-device stigma will reduce depression. This study reported participants' experiences; it did not test an intervention or measure treatment outcomes.