Contrary to popular belief, the ups and downs of romantic relationships have a greater effect on the mental health of young men than women, according to a study by Wake Forest sociology professor Robin Simon.
In the study of more than 1,000 unmarried young adults between the ages of 18 and 23 living in South Florida. Professor Simon challenges the long-held assumption that women are more vulnerable to the emotional rollercoaster of relationships.
Young men try to present a tough face but were more affected emotionally by the quality of relationships while women tended to be more affected by whether they had a relationship or not and by break ups.
The study “Nonmarital Romantic Relationships and Mental Health in Early Adulthood: Does the Association Differ for Women and Men?”by Dr Simon and Anne Barrett, Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Florida State University, was published in Journal of Health and Social Behavior.
The study examined potential links between symptoms of depression and substance dependence and abuse with different relationship dimensions.
Unhappy romances take a greater emotional toll on men than women, said Simon They just express their distress differently than women.
Men get greater emotional benefits from the positive aspects of an ongoing romantic relationship, she said. They are also more effected by the support and strain in an ongoing relationship.
“Women express emotional distress with depression while men express emotional distress with substance problems,” said Simon. “Surprisingly, we found young men are more reactive to the quality of ongoing relationships.”
This may be because young men rely on their romantic partner as their primary source of intimacy. Whereas women are more likely to have a number of close family and friend relationships.
Or the strain in a romantic relationship threatens young men’s sense of identity and feelings of self-worth.
Young women were more likely to get depression when it comes to an end, or feel a greater benefit from simply being in a relationship.
We still have a lot to learn about relationships in early adulthood and more research is needed on this stage of life when young adults tend to be focused on the self, exploring identity, and forging new relationships, said Simon.
The study highlights the need to consider the period in the life course as well as experiences of specific cohorts of men and women when theorizing about gender differences in the importance of intimate relationships for mental health.
Perhaps it is to be expected. Men have been socialized to independent and competitive which can have its disadvantages compared with the collaboration and communicator style of women.
Fortunately, some men have rehabilitated their male self-esteem, self-image and self confidence by becoming an Alpha Male, who displays masculine women attracting leadership behavior.in an authentic non threatening way. Less the lonewolf and moreemotionally mature.