The Mental Health Struggles of Single MenUnmarried Men Age Between 40-60years old were 3.5(4%) More Likely to Die of Suicide Than Women https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tal...nd-divorced-menQUOTE
The phrase single men is an umbrella term describing men who are never married, widowed, separated, or divorced. Interestingly, a large corpus of research indicates that single men have higher rates of mental health issues compared to married men and single women.
For example, a large-scale U.S. study found that unmarried men aged 40-60 were 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide compared to both similarly-aged married men and unmarried women.
Similarly, another large U.S. study found that unmarried men aged 40-75 years had a 2-fold risk of suicide compared to married men of the same age group.
Other research indicates that single men have higher rates of depression than married men. For example, one study found over double the rate of depression in single men (3.6 percent) compared to married men (1.7 percent). Other studies have found that single men have much higher rates of addictions than other demographics including married men and single women.
Stigmas and Stereotypes
Evidence suggests that a variety of factors intersect to increase the risk of mental health issues among single men. To start, recent research indicates that single men experience abnormally high rates of loneliness, which can leave them alienated and isolated from mainstream society. Such loneliness is a risk factor for a range of mental health issues including depression, substance abuse, and suicide.
This isolation does not occur in a social vacuum. While many men may choose a life of solitude, some single men may face harmful stigmas and stereotypes when trying to integrate into society.
For example, some research indicates that unmarried men of a certain age are typically perceived in unflattering terms, and sometimes considered an untamed threat to the moral social order. These stereotypes are embodied in archetypal fictional characters such as Svengali, Don Juan, and Lothario—depicting single men as a corruptive presence lurking in the shadows of civilized society.
Such stigmas and stereotypes can have harmful consequences, fueling policies and procedures that marginalize single men, young and old alike. For example, some aggressive campus campaigns against so-called "rape culture" have been criticized for implying that all single young men are potential brutes on the verge of pillage.
Worse still, some policies and procedures implicitly associate single men with pedophilia. One of the most egregious and well-documented examples of this phenomenon is a common airline policy that prohibits solo male passengers from sitting next to an unaccompanied minor, with such men being asked to swap seats with a female passenger. While very few men actually experience the humiliation of being asked to swap airline seats, this sexist policy is indicative of the wider societal suspicion targeted at single men, which can harm mental health.
As a single man still unmarried, have you been perceived by society as problematic or a troubled person by others before? Such as mistakenly thinking you're a pedophile, gay or mentally unstable by some women out there?
I have my share of experience. Some girls had even asked me before if I'm gay because at my age and successful career/good looks why I'm not unmaried yet until my late 30s. Very disheartening and sad when it happened. Sometimes you feel you don't deserve to continue living after all the hardships you went through life taking care of your parents, chasing after career to build your finances honestly and obstructed from returning love to girls whom you met throughout your earlier life.
This post has been edited by Candy12: Jul 24 2021, 03:16 PM