Men’s Perspectives of Common Mental Health Problems: A Metasynthesis of Qualitative Research

The majority of qualitative research relating to men’s experiences of mental health problems has been published within the last 15 years. Building on a previously published review, we conducted a qualitative metasynthesis of 26 studies on men’s perspectives of common mental health problems. Findings show the causes of problems cited by most men relate to work, family, relationships and the pressure of dominant notions of masculinity. Many men struggle to recognize when a problem exists despite experiencing significant emotional pain. The complex relationships between masculinity and common mental health problems are evident in men’s accounts of coping and seeking help. This metasynthesis emphasizes that despite increasing research on this topic there still remains a need to broaden the focus from depression, professional help-seeking, and the negative impact of hegemonic masculinity on mental health.