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    "Is Life Worth Living?": The Role of Masculinity in the Way Men Aged Over 80 Talk About Living, Dying, and Suicide

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    Author
    King, K; Dow, B; Keogh, L; Feldman, P; Milner, A; Pierce, D; Chenhall, R; Schlichthorst, M
    Date
    2020-09-01
    Source Title
    American Journal of Men's Health
    Publisher
    SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
    University of Melbourne Author/s
    Dow, Frances; Chenhall, Richard; Schlichthorst, Marisa; Milner, Allison; King, Kylie; Keogh, Louise
    Affiliation
    Psychiatry
    Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Document Type
    Journal Article
    Citations
    King, K., Dow, B., Keogh, L., Feldman, P., Milner, A., Pierce, D., Chenhall, R. & Schlichthorst, M. (2020). "Is Life Worth Living?": The Role of Masculinity in the Way Men Aged Over 80 Talk About Living, Dying, and Suicide. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MENS HEALTH, 14 (5), https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988320966540.
    Access Status
    Open Access
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11343/252252
    DOI
    10.1177/1557988320966540
    Open Access at PMC
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7607797
    Abstract
    Men aged 85 years and over have the highest rate of suicide of any age or gender group in Australia. However, little is known about their trajectory toward suicide. The objective of this study was to understand the role of masculine norms and other life factors in the suicidality of older men. Thirty-three men aged 80 years or more took part in a semistructured focus group or interview, and/or completed a survey. Participants were asked about the issues facing older men, well-being and aging, physical health challenges, social support, mental health and help-seeking, and suicide and suicide prevention. Five themes emerged: "finding out we're not invincible," "active and tough," "strong silent types," "decision makers," and "right to die." Participants spoke about masculine norms that had influenced their lives as providers and decision makers, and now influenced how they coped with aging and their journey toward death. For some participants, suicide was seen to be a rational alternative to dependence in their final years. Suicide prevention should adopt a gendered approach and be cognizant of the influence of gender roles and masculinity in older men's lives. Further research and prevention efforts should be mindful of the impact of masculine norms of self-reliance and control on an older man's decision to end his life. Suicide prevention efforts should work to reduce stigma around the challenges of aging, maximize opportunities for control, facilitate social connection, and improve residential aged care.

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