| Abstract [eng] |
Lithuania has a high male suicide rate and a much higher number of male suicides than female suicides compared to other European and world countries. This motivates the research on male suicidality in Lithuania. The purpose of the research was to examine how the male tendency to conform to societal norms of dominant masculinity, leading to gender role conflict, relates to suicidal ideation, suicidal behaviour and the fear of death. The study involved 508 men aged between 18 and 92 years of age. The survey tools included the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale, the Acquired Capability for Suicide Scale-Fearlessness About Death, and the Gender Role Conflict Scale-Short Version. In addition, information was collected on the age, place of residence, education, marital and working status of the participants. The results showed that the more men are inclined towards power, success, dominance, competition with others, the more involved they are in work, the less time they spend on family and leisure, the more difficult it is for men to acknowledge and express their emotions, the more pronounced are their suicidal thoughts and behaviour and the lower the level of their fear of death. The associations examined are independent of the age, place of residence, education, marital and employment status of the men. The results show that men's experience of gender role conflict, due to their tendency to conform to societal models of masculinity, is associated with increased suicide risk. The results allow providing recommendations for psychological support providers and prevention. |
