Assessment of the risk of depression with correlation selected aspects of sex in men

Abstract

Introduction: Male depression continues to beunderrated in terms of commonness and gravity. Thismay be substantially linked to the fact that men havetrouble admitting that they suffer from depression.Aim of the study: The study aimed to assess the riskof depression in males in relation to health behaviours,loneliness, satisfaction with life, potential sleep disorders, the ability to cope with stress, and the relationships between risky activities, unprotected sex, engaging in casual sexual contacts and problems with erection/impotenceMaterials and methods: The study was based on anoriginal questionnaire, the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, the Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale, theBeck's Depression Inventory, the Gotland MaleDepression Scale, the Health Behaviour Inventory, theSatisfaction With Life Scale, the Rosenberg SelfEsteem Scale, General Anxiety Disorder GAD-7 andthe Athens Insomnia Scale. The respondents were 616randomly selected men aged 20 to 64, currently healthyand not addicted to alcohol.Results: The average score of the respondents in theBeck's Depression Inventory was 30.8, and 97.4% ofthem suggested mild or moderate depression. Theaverage score according to the Gotland MaleDepression Scale was 23.0, and for 95.5% of therespondents, it suggested possible or highly probabledepression. On the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale,the average values were 33.4 points (quite severeloneliness). On the Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale bySchwarzer et al, the average score of the respondents was 33.4 points (a quite high average self-efficacy).The average score of the men according to the HealthBehaviour Inventory was 66.9 points (low level ofhealth behaviours), according to the Satisfaction WithLife Scale, 18.6 points (average satisfaction with life),according to the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale 30.4points (relatively good self-esteem), of the GeneralAnxiety Disorder - 15.7 points (possibility of exacerbation of the symptoms of generalized anxietydisorder) and according to the Athens Insomnia Scale7.0 points (borderline normal).Conclusions: Most respondents were at risk ofdepression. Significant factors contributing to the riskof depression include age, marital status, place ofliving, flatmates, education, financial standing, level ofloneliness, generalised anxiety, satisfaction with life,preferred health behaviours, sleeping problems, level ofself-esteem and anxiety, and self-efficacy. Significantcorrelations were found between early diagnosis ofdepression/anxiety disorders and identification of therisk of depression. There was no effect of previouslydiagnosed depression and anxiety disorders ondeclaring taking risky activities, including practicingunprotected sex, making casual sexual contacts, andhaving problems with erection/impotence. The currentstudy confirmed the influence of depressive disorderson declaring taking risky actions, including unprotectedsex, and problems with erection/impotence, documented in the literature