Men's anxiety: A systematic review

Abstract

Aim: Anxiety disorders are amongst the most commonly diagnosed mental illnesses amongst men; however male-specific anxiety research is lacking. This review explores men's anxiety symptoms and disorders including help-seeking, coping and the role of masculinity.

Method: Four electronic database searches identified 8,333 citations, with 25 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Nineteen studies employed quantitative methods, five studies reported qualitative research, and one utilised mixed methods.

Results: Unique profiles of anxiety, including psychosomatic symptoms, were identified and persisted over extended periods of time. Men commonly reported self-reliance over formal help-seeking, and typically managed anxiety symptoms through problem-based coping. Masculinity was related to anxiety in complex ways; adherence to norms of toughness could be protective against anxiety onset, while adherence to emotional restrictiveness and heterosexual presentation norms were positively associated with anxiety. The experience of, and help-seeking for anxiety transgressed many men's adherence to masculinity norms resulting in significant social and self-stigmas.

Limitations: The anxiety measurement scales utilised were inconsistent across included studies and there was limited scope of research into panic disorders, phobias and agoraphobia.

Conclusion: Findings demonstrate the enduring nature of anxiety for men and a potential under-reporting of symptoms, especially amongst younger men. To better tailor clinical care and public health resources to the needs of men with anxiety disorders, targeted research examining men's lived experiences of (and coping strategies for) anxiety is essential.

Keywords: Anxiety; Coping; Help-seeking; Masculinity; Systematic review.