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ABSTRACTWork plays a central role in many men’s lives and can be a major contributor to mental health. The current study aim was to examine the prevalence and nature of Canadian men’s mental health challenges at work, including diverse indicators of mental health and workplace characteristics. Participants (N = 451) were men (M = 49.97 years; SD = 14.99) employed in British Columbia, Canada, who were recruited via a market research online panel. Questionnaires were used to collect men’s mental health data (e.g. depression, loneliness), work-related health (e.g. burnout, bullying), and workplace performance (e.g. presentism, absenteeism). Findings revealed high rates of hazardous drinking (36%), depression (22%), suicidal/self-injury ideation (18%), and anxiety (14%). Many participants reported that they frequently experienced occupational burnout, and 18% reported that personal problems significantly impaired their work. Of concern, approximately 53% indicated that they keep feelings to themselves and 45% reported that they would prefer not to talk about their problems. Important factors related to mental health symptoms were identified (e.g. age, distress concealment, male-dominated workplace). These findings highlight the need for policy makers and employers to take immediate action to address men’s mental health challenges by developing initiatives that promote men’s mental health in the workplace.

ABSTRACTYoung adults who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are at increased risk for developing symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD), yet many young adults with ACE exposures do not develop BPD symptoms. As emotion regulation strategies are implicated in BPD symptoms, this study aims to understand the moderating effects of two emotion regulation strategies, cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression, regarding the association between ACEs and BPD. Linear regression analyses examined both self-reported cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression as moderators in the relationship between ACEs and BPD symptoms in a community-based sample of young adults aged 18–25 years old (n = 172). Childhood adversity was examined at different levels of exposure, in terms of no exposure, exposure to a single ACE, and exposure to multiple ACEs. There was no significant moderation by expressive suppression; however, a significant moderation effect was observed between multiple exposures and cognitive reappraisal. The relationship between multiple exposures to ACEs and BPD symptoms was significant at low levels of reappraisal, with the severity of BPD symptoms significantly decreasing at average and higher levels of reappraisal. These results indicate that cognitive reappraisal may act as a protective strategy against experiencing BPD symptoms despite multiple ACE exposures.

Abstract Identifying personality features underlying pathological narcissism is important for informing treatment of pathological narcissism. The present study investigated both attachment insecurity and dysfunctional identity in relation to pathological narcissism, beyond five-factor personality traits, among 392 online responders. A proposed mediation model was also examined regarding indirect effects of perceived adverse parenting on pathological narcissism through attachment insecurity and dysfunctional identity. Attachment anxiety and dysfunctional identity were significant predictors of pathological narcissism after controlling for the effects of five-factor traits and age. Attachment anxiety and dysfunctional identity also mediated the association between perceived adverse parenting and pathological narcissism. These findings contribute to the conceptualization of pathological narcissism as involving an insecure, anxious attachment style and an impaired self-concept.

IntroductionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic individuals with mental illnesses faced challenges accessing psychiatric care. Our study aimed to describe patient characteristics and compare admissions and length of stay (LOS) for psychiatric-related hospitalizations before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis using health administrative data comparing individuals with an acute psychiatric admission between two time periods: 1st March 2019 to 31st December 2019 (pre-COVID) and 1st March 2020 to 31st December 2020 (during-COVID). Multivariable negative binomial regression was used to model the association between most responsible diagnosis type and the two-time periods to hospital LOS, reporting the Rate Ratio (RR) as the measure of effect.ResultsThe cohort comprised 939 individuals who were predominately male (60.3%) with a severe mental illness (schizophrenia or mood-affective disorder) (72.7%) and a median age of 38 (IQR: 28.0, 52.0) years. In the multivariable analysis, anxiety disorders (RR: 0.63, CI: 0.4, 0.99) and personality disorders (RR: 0.52, CI: 0.32, 0.85) were significantly associated with a shorter LOS when compared to individuals without those disorders. Additionally, when compared to hospital admissions for non-substance related disorders the LOS for patients with substance-related disorders were significantly shorter during the COVID period (RR: 0.45, CI: 0.30, 0.67) and pre-COVID period (RR: 0.31, CI: 0.21, 0.46).ConclusionsWe observed a significant difference in the type and length of admissions for various psychiatric disorders during the COVID-19 period. These findings can support systems of care in adapting to utilization changes during pandemics or other global health events.

BackgroundTreatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in men is complicated by the endorsement of traditional masculinity ideologies (TMI) often leading to reluctance toward psychotherapy, therapy interfering processes, or premature termination. In addition, it has been shown that men with MDD have a significantly increased risk of being hypogonadal (e.g., total testosterone levels

Abstract Background Although the proportion of men seeking professional mental health care has risen over the past two decades, on average, men continue to attend fewer sessions of psychotherapy and are more likely to drop out of treatment prematurely compared to women. Men account for three-quarters of suicide deaths; furthermore, over half of the males who die by suicide have engaged with mental health care in the 12 months prior to their death. These findings highlight a need to equip mental health practitioners with skills to improve male clients’ engagement and mental health outcomes. This article reports the protocol for a randomized controlled trial of Men in Mind, a self-paced online training program purpose-built to advance the clinical competencies of practitioners who provide psychotherapy to male clients. Methods A randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups will be conducted. Participating practitioners will be randomly allocated, on a 1:1 basis, to the intervention group (Men in Mind training) or a waitlist control group. The primary outcome, efficacy of the training, will be evaluated by pre- to post-training (T1 to T2) changes in scores on the Engaging Men in Therapy Scale (EMITS) in the intervention group, relative to the control group. Discussion This trial will provide evidence of the efficacy of Men in Mind training, as an interim step towards adjusting content and delivery of the intervention to maximize the potential for sustaining and scaling. Trial registration: The trial was registered prospectively with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry on 3rd December 2021 (ACTRN12621001669886).

Men’s intimate partner relationship services have focused on correcting the behaviors of male perpetrators of intimate partner (IPV) and/or domestic violence (DV). There is a need to advance IPV and DV prevention efforts by better equipping men with relationship skills. This study explores service providers’ and stakeholders’ perspectives about the challenges and strategies for assisting men to build better intimate partner relationships. Interviews were conducted with participants ( n = 30) from Canada and Australia who worked in the men’s intimate partner relationships sector. Three themes were inductively derived: (a) crisis management (barriers to engagement), (b) owning deficits and leveraging strengths (engaging though accountability and action), and (c) me then we (self-work as requisite for relationship success). Using a gender relations lens, we examined the influence of masculinities on men’s intimate partner relationships and engagement with services. Participants described crisis management challenges for men accessing services including shame, threats to masculine identity, and mental health challenges. Owning deficits and leveraging strengths hinged on men’s accountability and action, rather than assigning blame for problematic behaviors in accessing services. Related to this, the me then we theme highlighted men’s strength-based approaches in focussing on self-work to develop tangible skills and awareness needed to build healthy relationships. Overall, the findings indicate men’s healthy relationships hinged on working with masculine identities to inform their perspectives and behaviors. Men’s intimate partner relationship work likely requires labor at multiple levels (e.g., individual, partners, and systems) to secure the strong potential for reframing masculine identities as asset-building for men’s relationships.

Background: Although studies have reported a significant inverse association between meaning in life and psychological distress, little is known about this association, specifically among men, or its potential underlying mechanisms. Accordingly, this study investigated prospective pathways connecting meaning in life to men's psychological distress through the serial mediation effects of resilience and loneliness. Methods: In total, 364 male respondents provided demographic data and completed an online survey to assess meaning in life, resilience, loneliness, and psychological distress. Simple and serial mediation models were tested to examine whether resilience and loneliness mediated the association between meaning in life and men's psychological distress, both separately and jointly. Results: Direct and indirect effects of meaning in life on men's psychological distress were found. As predicted, both resilience and loneliness independently mediated the association between meaning in life and men's psychological distress. In addition, serial mediation analysis indicated that resilience and loneliness mediated the association between meaning in life and men's psychological distress via a sequential process. Conclusions: The findings advance knowledge concerning the influence of meaning in life on men's psychological distress and two critical underlying mechanisms in this relationship. Clinical interventions for men that enhance meaning in life may help bolster resilience and reduce loneliness, diminishing psychological distress.

Individuals with features of borderline personality disorder (BPD) may have difficulty sustaining a sense of meaning in life. Although problematic interpersonal behaviours may account for the link between BPD features and meaning, few studies have examined this possibility. The present study examined the mediating role of interpersonal problems in the association between borderline personality features and presence of meaning in life. A sample of Canadian community members completed the Borderline Symptom List, a brief version of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, and the presence subscale of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire. Testing of indirect effects using bootstrap 95% confidence intervals found that interpersonal problems significantly mediated the relationship between borderline personality features and presence of meaning in life. This mediation effect remained significant after controlling for severity of general psychological distress. Thus, severity of interpersonal problems is a significant factor in explaining the link between BPD features and diminished meaning in life. The findings of this study suggest possibilities for further research regarding interpersonal dysfunction and meaning, and point to interpersonal problems as targets for helping to enhance meaning in life among individuals with features of BPD.

For men, significant risks associated with partner-initiated break-ups include domestic violence, mental health challenges and difficultly with life transition. This narrative analysis study shares three storylines drawn from interviews with 25 men who experienced a partner-initiated break-up. Ill equipped to stay or to initiate leaving narratives positioned participants as conflict averse, lacking agency and withdrawing emotionally from the partnership and its demise. Victims of circumstance narratives included men who engaged in cyclic arguments and ongoing power struggles with partners, a pattern that often amplified conflict after the break-up. Transitioning these two impasse narratives were some participants whose Accountability and growth storylines highlighted their introspective self-work, aided by resources including professional help to deconstruct, understand, and adjust their behaviours. Making connections to masculinities theory, these findings suggest that tailored interventions, including narrative therapy, might usefully interrupt impasse narratives to aid men’s development and healthful transitions through partner-initiated break-ups.

The therapeutic relationship has emerged as one of the most important components of successful treatment outcomes, regardless of the specific form of therapy. Research has now turned its attention to better understanding how the therapeutic relationship contributes to patient improvement. Extant literature contends that a strong therapeutic relationship may help reduce a patient’s sense of existential isolation (i.e., a sense of not feeling understood by others). Research indicates that existential isolation might be especially problematic for men, potentially increasing their risk for suicidality. This study investigated the association between strength of the therapeutic relationship and psychological distress and suicidality among men who received psychotherapy, and whether existential isolation mediated this association. A total of 204 Canadian men who had previously attended psychotherapy participated in a cross-sectional survey, completing measures of the quality of their most recent therapeutic relationship, existential isolation, depression and anxiety symptoms, and suicidality. Regression with mediation analysis was conducted. Two models were tested; one with depression/anxiety symptoms as the dependent variable and the other with suicidality as the dependent variable. Both mediation models emerged as significant, indicating an indirect effect for quality of the therapeutic relationship on symptoms of anxiety/depression and suicidality through existential isolation. The findings suggest that a positive therapeutic relationship can contribute to men feeling less isolated in their experiences in life (i.e., less existentially isolated), thereby helping mitigate psychological distress and suicidality.

Non-coding regions of viral RNA (vRNA) genomes are critically important in the regulation of gene expression. In particular, pseudoknot (PK) structures, which are present in a wide range of RNA molecules, have a variety of roles. The 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) vRNA is considerably longer than in other viruses from the picornavirus family and consists of a number of distinctive structural motifs that includes multiple (2, 3 or 4 depending on the virus strain) putative PKs linked in tandem. The role(s) of the PKs in the FMDV infection are not fully understood. Here, using bioinformatics, sub-genomic replicons and recombinant viruses we have investigated the structural conservation and importance of the PKs in the FMDV lifecycle. Our results show that despite the conservation of two or more PKs across all FMDVs, a replicon lacking PKs was replication competent, albeit at reduced levels. Furthermore, in competition experiments, GFP FMDV replicons with less than two (0 or 1) PK structures were outcompeted by a mCherry FMDV wt replicon that had 4 PKs, whereas GFP replicons with 2 or 4 PKs were not. This apparent replicative advantage offered by the additional PKs correlates with the maintenance of at least two PKs in the genomes of FMDV field isolates. Despite a replicon lacking any PKs retaining the ability to replicate, viruses completely lacking PK were not viable and at least one PK was essential for recovery of infections virus, suggesting a role for the PKs in virion assembly. Thus, our study points to roles for the PKs in both vRNA replication and virion assembly, thereby improving understanding the molecular biology of FMDV replication and the wider roles of PK in RNA functions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a suite of circumstances that will simultaneously affect mental health and mobilize coping strategies in response. Building on a lack of research specifically exploring men’s mental health impacts during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study presents the results of a qualitative survey exploring men’s self-reported aspects of the pandemic giving rise to mental health challenges, alongside their diverse coping strategies applied during this time. The sample comprised 555 men from North America (age M = 38.8 years; SD = 13.5 years), who participated via an online survey with two open-ended qualitative questions assessing, respectively, the aspects of the pandemic affecting their mental health, and the strategies used to manage these challenges. Free-text responses were coded using inductive content analysis. Results pertaining to the mental health impacts of COVID-19 were categorized into two overarching themes: far-reaching ramifications of COVID-19 encompassing consequences for lifestyle, work, and functioning, alongside novel anxieties related to health risks and daily uncertainty. In addition, coping strategies reported were categorized into two broad themes: efforts to avoid, dull or distract oneself from distress, alongside adapting and doing things differently , which encompassed largely approach-oriented efforts to flexibly ameliorate distress. Results signal the far-reaching impacts of COVID-19, alongside profound flexibility and diverse enactments of resilience among men in adapting to unprecedented challenges. Findings have implications for mental health promotion that should aim to leverage men's adaptive coping to encourage opportunities for social connectedness in response to the mental health impacts of the various psychosocial challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly challenged many men’s mental health. Efforts to control the spread of the virus have led to increasing social disconnection, fueling concerns about its long-term effects on men’s mental health, and more specifically their experience of psychological distress. Social disconnection, psychological distress, and the relationship between them have yet to be formally explored in a Canadian male sample during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study examined whether reduced social connection among men was associated with increased anxiety and depressive symptoms (psychological distress) and whether this association was moderated by living alone. The sample consisted of 434 help-seeking Canadian men who completed standardized measures. Analyses controlled for the potentially confounding effects of age and fear of COVID-19. Findings revealed that less social connection was associated with increased psychological distress. This association was not moderated by living alone, nor was living alone directly associated with psychological distress. Younger age and fear of COVID-19 were each independently associated with psychological distress. Socially disconnected men were more likely to experience anxiety and depressive symptoms, suggesting the need for interventions focussed on men’s social connectedness, social support, and belongingness to help reduce some COVID-19-induced mental health risks.

The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, uncertainties and management inconsistencies have been implicated in men's rising distress levels, which in turn have somewhat normed the uptake of telemental healthcare services (i.e., phone and/or video-conference-based therapy). Given past evidence of poor engagement with telemental health among men, this mixed-methods study examined Australian men's use of, and experiences with telemental health services relative to face-to-face care during the pandemic. A community sample of Australian-based men (N = 387; age M = 47.5 years, SD = 15.0 years) were recruited via Facebook advertising, and completed an online survey comprising quantitative items and open-response qualitative questions with the aim of better understanding men's experiences with telemental healthcare services. In total, 62.3% (n = 241) of participants reported experience with telemental health, and regression analyses revealed those who engaged with telemental health were on average younger, more likely to be gay and university educated. Men who had used telemental health were, on average, more satisfied with their therapy experience than those who had face-to-face therapy. Among those who had telemental healthcare, marginally lower satisfaction was observed among regional/rural based relative to urban men, and those who had to wait longer than 2 months to commence therapy. Qualitative findings highlighted positive aspects of telemental healthcare including comfort with accessing therapy from familiar home environments and the convenience and accessibility of telemental health alongside competing commitments and COVID-19 restrictions. Conversely, drawbacks included technical limitations such as crosstalk impeding therapeutic progress, disconnects and audio-visual lag-times and the 'impersonal' nature of telemental healthcare services. Findings broadly signal COVID-19 induced shifts norming of the use of virtual therapy services, with clear scope for improvement in the delivery of therapeutic practice using digital modalities, especially among help-seeking men.

Summary: Inflammatory cytokines and chemokines (CC) drive COVID-19 pathology. Yet, patients with similar circulating CC levels present with different disease severity. Here, we determined 171 microRNAomes from 58 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (Cohort 1) and levels of 25 cytokines and chemokines (CC) in the same samples. Combining microRNA (miRNA) and CC measurements allowed for discrimination of severe cases with greater accuracy than using miRNA or CC levels alone. Severity group-specific associations between miRNAs and COVID-19-associated CC (e.g., IL6, CCL20) or clinical hallmarks of COVID-19 (e.g., neutrophilia, hypoalbuminemia) separated patients with similar CC levels but different disease severity. Analysis of an independent cohort of 108 patients from a different center (Cohort 2) demonstrated feasibility of CC/miRNA profiling in leftover hospital blood samples with similar severe disease CC and miRNA profiles, and revealed CCL20, IL6, IL10, and miR-451a as key correlates of fatal COVID-19. These findings highlight that systemic miRNA/CC networks underpin severe COVID-19.

While research has explored the intersection between masculinities and men’s experiences of suicidality, comparatively little attention has been paid to the stories surrounding suicidal men’s decision to seek help. The ways in which men experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors embody masculinities alongside their enlistment of mental health services remains largely unknown. The present study explored 262 Australian men’s stories surrounding the impetus for help-seeking for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The sample comprised men ranging in age from 17 to 74 years (M = 40.99; SD = 15.92 years), with most participants residing in a metropolitan area (55.3%), employed full time (43.1%), non-indigenous (95.4%) and heterosexual (73.7%). Participants elaborated on their reasons for help-seeking via an open-text qualitative survey, delivered as part of a larger study exploring help-seeking experiences of Australian men. Thematic analysis of responses generated four themes highlighting the diversity of experience across men, with some highlighting impacts of emasculating early trauma(s) on their suicidality, while others reflected an impulsiveness tied to situational stressors that fractured their masculine identity (e.g., relationship breakdown; job loss). Many men had epiphanies as they reached the limits of their self-reliance and came to terms with their need for help. As their suicidality was witnessed by—and began to impact—those around them, the sight of their previously masked pain by others often facilitated their help-seeking journey. The present findings underscore the complex and multifactorial role of masculinities in men’s suicidality and their paths to help-seeking. Important inroads for future public mental health promotion efforts are discussed, in terms of leveraging self-reliant and caring masculinities in helping men to develop healthy coping in the context of suicidality.

Anger has been a largely neglected emotion in prostate cancer research and intervention. This paper highlights the role of anger in the anxiety depression pathway among men with prostate cancer, and whether its impact is dependent on loneliness. Data are presented from a sample of men with prostate cancer ( N = 105, M = 69.12 years, prostatectomy = 63.8%) and analysed using conditional process analysis. Dimensions of anger were evaluated as parallel mediators in bi-directional anxiety and depression pathways. Loneliness was evaluated as a conditional moderator of identified significant mediation relationships. Moderate severity depression (16.5%) was endorsed more frequently than moderate severity anxiety (8.6%, p = .008), with 19.1% of the sample reporting past two-week suicide ideation. Consistent with hypotheses, anger-related social interference (but not other dimensions of anger) significantly mediated the anxiety-depression pathway, but not the reverse depression-anxiety pathway. This indirect effect was conditional on men experiencing loneliness. Sensitivity analyses indicated the observed moderated mediation effect occurred for affective, but not somatic symptoms of depression. Findings support anger-related social interference (as opposed to anger frequency, intensity, duration or antagonism) as key to explaining the previously established anxiety-depression pathway. Results underscore the need for enhanced psychosocial supports for men with prostate cancer, with a particular focus on relational aspects. Supporting men with prostate cancer to adaptively process and manage their anger in ways that ameliorate negative social consequences will likely enhance their perceived social support quality, which may in turn better facilitate post-diagnosis recovery and emotional adjustment.

Background: Loneliness, the painful affective state that reflects perceived deficits in social relationships, is a significant health issue requiring further understanding. Individual differences in awareness and disclosure of emotional concerns may contribute to loneliness, and may do so diversely according to gender and age. The present study examined a hypothesized mediation pathway from emotional awareness abilities to loneliness through distress concealment, with moderation by gender and age, in a sample of adults attending outpatient mental health services.Methods: In a cross-sectional study design, 244 patients attending Canadian community mental health clinics completed study assessments at the commencement of care. Conditional process modeling examined interactions between gender and age and both emotional awareness and distress concealment in mediation models predicting loneliness.Results: A significant three-way interaction between gender, age, and distress concealment was observed, along with significant conditional moderated mediation. The indirect effect of emotional awareness on loneliness through the mediating effect of distress concealment was significant for young- and mid-adulthood men, but not for women or older men.Limitations: The study was limited by exclusive use of self-report assessment, and cross-sectional design precluding representation of causal sequencing over time.Conclusion: Findings suggest the pathway to loneliness from reduced emotional awareness through distress concealment to be particularly salient for younger men. Thus, intervention targeting restricted awareness and disclosure of emotional concerns should be considered in helping young men to address the pain of loneliness.

While increasing numbers of Australian men are accessing mental health services, the sustainability of their therapy engagement varies significantly, with many men being lost to follow-up. The current study investigated dropout rates in a large community-based male sample to highlight the reasons for, and potential predictors of, men dropping out of mental health care services. Data were drawn from an online survey of 1907 Australian men (aged 16–85; M = 44.1 years) reflecting on their broad experiences in mental health therapy. Participants responded to bespoke items assessing their past dropout experience and reasons for dropping out, the odds of which were modeled in relation to demographics and predictors (e.g., therapist engagement strategies, alignment to traditional masculinity and pre-therapy feelings of optimism, shame, and emasculation). The overall dropout rate from therapy was 44.8% ( n = 855), of which 26.6% ( n = 120) accessed therapy once and did not return. The most common reasons for dropout were lack of connection with the therapist (54.9%) and the sense that therapy lacked progress (20.2%). Younger age, unemployment, self-reported identification with traditional masculinity, the presence of specific therapist engagement strategies, and whether therapy made participants feel emasculated all predicted dropout. Current depressive symptoms and suicidality were also higher amongst dropouts. Therapists should aim to have an honest discussion with all clients about the importance of therapy fit, including the real likelihood of dropout, in order to ensure this does not deter future engagement with professional services.

In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and claims that traditional masculinity may put some men at increased risk for infection, research reporting men’s health behaviors is critically important. Traditional masculine norms such as self-reliance and toughness are associated with a lower likelihood to vaccinate or follow safety restrictions. Furthermore, infection risk and traditional masculinity should be investigated in a differentiated manner including gender role orientation, underlying traditional masculine ideologies and male gender role conflict. In this pre-registered online survey conducted during March/April 2021 in German-speaking countries in Europe, 490 men completed questionnaires regarding contracting COVID-19 as confirmed by a validated test, fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S), and experience of psychological burden due to COVID-19. In addition, depression symptomatology was assessed by using prototypical internalizing and male-typical externalizing depression symptoms. Furthermore, self-identified masculine gender orientation, endorsement of traditional masculinity ideologies, and gender role conflict were measured. A total of 6.9% of men (n = 34) reported having contracted COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. Group comparisons revealed that men who had contracted COVID-19 exhibited higher overall traditional masculine ideology and gender role conflict. Logistic regression controlling for confounders (age, income, education, and sexual orientation) indicated that only depression symptoms are independently associated with the risk of having contracted COVID-19. While prototypical depression symptoms were negatively associated with the risk of having contracted COVID-19, male-typical externalizing depression symptoms were positively associated with the risk of contracting COVID-19. For traditional masculinity, no robust association for an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 could be established, while higher male-typical externalizing depression symptoms were associated with an increased risk of contracting COVID-19.

Objective: Men with depression are known to have significant challenges with health service engagement. The current study sought to better understand attitudinal and structural mental health care barriers among those men identified as symptomatic for symptoms of major depression. Design: Cross-sectional study with data provided by Canadian men via a nationally representative online survey. Outcomes examined depression, suicide risk, and barriers to mental health services. Participants: A total of 117 men (mean age = 42.36 years) reporting symptoms of major depression consistent with moderate severity as identified by the Patient Health Questionnaire–Depression Module (PHQ-9). Results: In all, 51.3% of the sample reported previously receiving counselling or psychotherapy for mental health concerns. The majority (63.2%) reported past 2-week suicide or self-harm ideation; however, only a small proportion (8.5%) were currently engaged with professional mental health support. Logistic regression indicated that men’s attitudinal barriers to mental health help-seeking had a greater predictive effect than structural barriers (33% vs 0% of items, respectively). In particular, lower likelihood of help-seeking was associated with men’s reluctance to disclose mood-related symptoms to their physician/family doctor (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.37), a tendency for self-reliance and solving one’s own problems (AOR = 0.34), and uncertainly about the process of psychotherapy (AOR = 0.29). Conclusion: Gender-transformative approaches to primary health care may be key to improving men’s rates of disclosure and increasing detection for depression and suicide risk.

Men’s low job satisfaction has been shown to be associated with greater symptoms of psychological distress. Meaning in life may be an important factor in this relationship, but its role as a mediator has not been reported. The present study investigated meaning in life as a mediator in the relationship between job satisfaction and psychological distress among men. A total of 229 employed Canadian men participated in a cross-sectional survey, completing measures of depression and anxiety symptoms, anger severity, job satisfaction, and the presence of meaning in life. Zero-order correlations were calculated, and regression with mediation analyses were conducted; two models were tested: one for anxiety/depression symptoms and one for anger, as the dependent variables. Both mediation models emerged as significant, revealing a significant mediating effect for job satisfaction on the symptoms of psychological distress (anxiety/depression symptoms, anger) through meaning in life, even while controlling for salient confounding variables including COVID-related impacts. Lower job satisfaction was associated with less meaning in life, which in turn was associated with more symptoms of depression, anxiety, and anger. The findings highlight the importance of job satisfaction in the promotion of a sense of meaning in life among men, leading to improved psychological well-being both inside and outside of the workplace.

Depression in men with prostate cancer is a significant and complex issue that can challenge clinicians’ diagnostic efforts. The objective of the current study was to evaluate prototypic and male-specific depression symptoms and suicidal ideation in men with a diagnosis of prostate cancer relative to those with and without comorbidity. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Male Depression Risk Scale-22 (MDRS-22) were completed online along with demographic and background variables by 100 men with a diagnosis of prostate cancer ( n = 54 prostatectomy, n = 33 receiving active treatment). Hierarchical logistic regression was used to examine recent (past 2 weeks) suicide ideation. Over one-third of the sample (38%) reported a comorbidity, and this group had significantly higher total depression scores on the PHQ-9 (Cohen’s d = 0.65), MDRS-22 emotion suppression ( d = 0.35), and drug use subscales ( d = 0.38) compared to respondents without comorbidity. A total of 14% reported recent suicidal ideation, of which 71.4% of cases were identified by the PHQ-9 “moderate” cut-off, and 85.7% of cases were identified by the MDRS-22 “elevated” cut-off. After control variables, MDRS-22 subscales accounted for 45.1% of variance in recent suicidal ideation. While limited by the exclusive use of self-report data, findings point to the potential benefits of evaluating male-specific symptoms as part of depression and suicide risk screening in men with prostate cancer and the need to be mindful of the heightened risk for depression among men with prostate cancer who have comorbidity.

Objective: The individual capacity to love (CTL) has been linked to various mental health parameters and is considered to be an important outcome parameter of psychotherapeutic treatment. However, empirical examinations of the concept have not been conducted up to now. The aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of CTL [Capacity to Love Inventory (CTL-I)] as a trait of personality, which is shown to be related to clinically relevant symptoms and conditions.Method: Four independent healthy samples in Austria (n = 547, n = 174, and n = 85) and Poland (n = 240) were assessed by a prototype of the CTL-I and its final shorter version in a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Internal consistency of the total questionnaire and each subscale was assessed by Cronbach alpha. External validity was measured against Beck Depression Inventory, Quality of Relationship Inventory, Sociosexual Orientation Inventory, Pathological Narcissism Inventory, and Narcissistic Personality Inventory according to the theoretical framework of the CTL concept. Further test–retest reliability was assessed.Results: The CFA confirmed 41 items in six dimensions: Interest in the life project of the other, Basic trust, Humility and gratitude, Common ego ideal, Permanence of sexual passion, and Acceptance of loss/jealousy/mourning. The Cronbach alphas of the total CTL-I and its subscales ranged between 0.67 and 0.90 in all samples, suggesting a valid construct. The CTL-I was moderately positively associated with quality of relationship (Support r = 0.63, Conflict r = -0.66, and Depth r = 0.66) and inversely associated with symptoms of depression (r = -0.37), pathological narcissism (r = -0.29) and promiscuity (r = -0.42). The test–retest reliability of the total CTL-I was high with r = 0.81, suggesting the stability of answers over time.Conclusion: The proposed 41-item version of the CTL-I is a psychometrically sound and validated instrument measuring six dimensions of the concept of the CTL. The reported negative associations with clinically relevant parameters such as depression, pathological narcissism and promiscuity as well as associations with relationship qualities such as conflicts, support, and depth warrant its future use in burdened populations including couples in clinical settings.

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) activate a number of host factors to control their differentiation-dependent life cycles. The transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3 is important for cell cycle progression and cell survival in response to cytokines and growth factors. STAT3 requires phosphorylation on Ser727, in addition to phosphorylation on Tyr705 to be transcriptionally active. In this study, we show that STAT3 is essential for the HPV life cycle in undifferentiated and differentiated keratinocytes. Primary human keratinocytes containing high-risk HPV18 genomes display enhanced STAT3 phosphorylation compared to normal keratinocytes. Expression of the E6 oncoprotein is sufficient to induce the dual phosphorylation of STAT3 at Ser727 and Tyr705 by a mechanism requiring Janus kinases and members of the MAPK family. E6-mediated activation of STAT3 induces the transcription of STAT3 responsive genes including cyclin D1 and Bcl-xL. Silencing of STAT3 protein expression by siRNA or inhibition of STAT3 activation by small molecule inhibitors, or by expression of dominant negative STAT3 phosphorylation site mutants, results in blockade of cell cycle progression. Loss of active STAT3 impairs HPV gene expression and prevents episome maintenance in undifferentiated keratinocytes and upon differentiation, lack of active STAT3 abolishes virus genome amplification and late gene expression. Organotypic raft cultures of HPV18 containing keratinocytes expressing a phosphorylation site STAT3 mutant display a profound reduction in suprabasal hyperplasia, which correlates with a loss of cyclin B1 expression and increased differentiation. Finally, increased STAT3 expression and phosphorylation is observed in HPV positive cervical disease biopsies compared to control samples, highlighting a role for STAT3 activation in cervical carcinogenesis. In summary, our data provides evidence of a critical role for STAT3 in the HPV18 life cycle.

BK polyomavirus (BKPyV; hereafter referred to as BK) causes a lifelong chronic infection and is associated with debilitating disease in kidney transplant recipients. Despite its importance, aspects of the virus life cycle remain poorly understood. In addition to the structural proteins, the late region of the BK genome encodes for an auxiliary protein called agnoprotein. Studies on other polyomavirus agnoproteins have suggested that the protein may contribute to virion infectivity. Here, we demonstrate an essential role for agnoprotein in BK virus release. Viruses lacking agnoprotein fail to release from host cells and do not propagate to wild-type levels. Despite this, agnoprotein is not essential for virion infectivity or morphogenesis. Instead, agnoprotein expression correlates with nuclear egress of BK virions. We demonstrate that the agnoprotein binding partner α-soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive fusion (NSF) attachment protein (α-SNAP) is necessary for BK virion release, and siRNA knockdown of α-SNAP prevents nuclear release of wild-type BK virions. These data highlight a novel role for agnoprotein and begin to reveal the mechanism by which polyomaviruses leave an infected cell.