Why men? Examining the effect of masculinity on suicidality, considering key moderators of vulnerability

Introduction: Counselling psychology practice and research seek to examine the pressing issue of social inequalities and systemic barriers that may affect individuals and their access to therapeutic support. By exploring the largely unexplained suicide gender paradox, which reveals that men continue to die by suicide at higher rates than women despite significant research efforts, this study seeks to deepen our understanding of these dynamics. One possible factor that may impact men's risk trajectory is masculinity, with different levels of endorsement potentially interacting with other known moderators. Aim: This study aimed to explore whether distinct masculinity profiles were associated with known leading distal vulnerability factors. Methodology: A quantitative survey methodology was adopted using several questionnaires linked to these existing moderators of suicidality through an online survey. A general public sample was obtained via convenience sampling. Method: The data was analysed using Mplus 8.10, and a 3-step Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was employed to identify homogeneous groupings of individuals with similar endorsement patterns. Findings: The results showed three distinct masculinity profiles: 1-baseline, 2-moderate, and 3-high. Women were found to align with the low masculine profile, while men were more likely to endorse moderate to high levels of masculinity. Additionally, individuals from minority backgrounds and higher educational attainment were more likely to converge with profiles two and three. Participants in profile one reported a heightened sense of thwarted belonging and perceived burdensomeness and hopelessness, while those in profile three also experienced amplified interpersonal needs. Those in profile two exhibited reduced interpersonal needs but did indicate a heightened sense of hopelessness. Conclusions: This study has made a unique contribution to counselling psychology by illuminating the complex interplay between a myriad of facets. It highlights the unique experiences held by underrepresented individuals, the possible inequalities those represented in these groups face, and how this intersects with other known factors. It further illustrates that a nuanced relationship exists between masculinity, gender, education, and psychological outcomes in vulnerability. Implications: These findings provide valuable insights, highlighting the association between various predictors of suicidality and underscoring the need for continued research to identify existing vulnerability patterns, particularly among underrepresented people in suicide research. The insights derived from this study hold significant implications for counselling psychology, as it has the potential to inform gender and culturally sensitive clinical practices, enrich the refinement of therapeutic approaches, and aid the development of more effective targeted interventions, ultimately promoting improved mental health outcomes- central to the socially responsive and humanistic values underpinning the discipline of counselling psychology.

Citation

Hardy, J. (2025) Why men? Examining the effect of masculinity on suicidality, considering key moderators of vulnerability. University of Wolverhampton. https://wlv.openrepository.com/handle/2436/626057

Publisher

University of Wolverhampton

URI

https://wlv.openrepository.com/handle/2436/626057

Type

Thesis or dissertation

Language

en

Description

A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the award of Doctorate in Counselling Psychology.

Collections

Theses and Dissertations