What am I worth? : lifespan structures and older Aotearoa New Zealand men’s stories of self-worth : a dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

Abstract

International and Aotearoa New Zealand-based data on men’s mental health tend to present low rates of depression and high rates of externalising behaviours, such as substance use, suicide, and antisocial behaviours. Researchers consider that men’s experiences of depression are overlooked and question the influence of dominating sociocultural standards pertaining to social roles and identities. International diagnostic manuals of mental distress stipulate ‘feelings of worthlessness’ as a symptom of depressive disorders, yet the academic literature and clinical formulation of self-worth are piecemeal. What is presently known is that self-worth is recognised as a subdimension of the term self-concept, interrelated with other self-concepts (including self-esteem and self-efficacy), and characterised by cultural scripts of morality and feelings of (in)adequacy. Six older men born between 1944 and 1960 in Aotearoa New Zealand with lived experiences of depression participated in two 90-minute semi-structured interviews. Interviews discussed the conceptualisation of self-worth across the lifetime, learning about experiences of worthiness and worthlessness from childhood to present. Master narrative methodology was used to analyse personal narratives of worth. Academically, the theoretical background and findings provide a skeletal framework on self-worth as a psychological concept, and a critical reflection on worthlessness as a symptom of depression in Aotearoa New Zealand men. Clinically, the findings may be useful for health practitioners to consider when working with clients who identify as men or when expressing worthlessness.