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Nursing Standard (Royal College of... Dec 2023As part of a project to review the delivery of healthcare services in Torbay and South Devon, England, the author undertook a literature review focusing on the specialty... (Review)
Review
As part of a project to review the delivery of healthcare services in Torbay and South Devon, England, the author undertook a literature review focusing on the specialty of men's health. Men have a shorter life expectancy than women and this discrepancy is particularly pronounced in areas of social deprivation such as those found in the coastal and rural communities of the author's locality. The concept of men's health is complex, and this literature review identified five main themes that can have a significant influence on the delivery of healthcare services for men: masculinity, ethnicity, mental health, relevance of place, and access to services. In this article, the author discusses these themes and considers approaches that could be used to improve the provision of men's healthcare.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Men's Health; Masculinity; Delivery of Health Care; Mental Health; England
PubMed: 37718546
DOI: 10.7748/ns.2023.e12160 -
Journal of Aging Studies Dec 2022This roundtable discussion is a creative contribution to this special issue on 'aging masculinities' based on questions posed by editor Stephen Katz to three leading...
This roundtable discussion is a creative contribution to this special issue on 'aging masculinities' based on questions posed by editor Stephen Katz to three leading senior scholars in the critical gerontological field in the United States. W. Andrew Achenbaum is a renowned historian who has devoted his career to writing about the relevance of past politics, cultures, and knowledges of aging to comprehending our current dilemmas. Thomas R. Cole is an acclaimed historical scholar and mentor to generations of Humanities researchers across the globe. His work also includes film, literature, ethics, and spirituality. Brian de Vries is a social gerontologist whose bold research on LGBTQ aging is a powerful voice in critiquing the multiple forms of discrimination, violence and hardships, and denied rights and life-chances imposed by hetero-patriarchal regimes in later life. That these men have shaped and been shaped by their work and advocacy is the key theme that inspires our conversation.
Topics: Male; Humans; Geriatrics; Aging; Masculinity; Geriatricians; Motion Pictures
PubMed: 36462928
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaging.2022.101032 -
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Mar 2022The gendered patterns of violence against women are largely precipitated by dominant male gender roles that define masculinity. The purpose of this study was to...
The gendered patterns of violence against women are largely precipitated by dominant male gender roles that define masculinity. The purpose of this study was to understand women's encounter in abusive domestic relationships. Specifically, the research goal was to assess the extent, types, and severity of interpersonal violence (IPV) by intimate partners against married and divorced women in Kuwait. In addition, the research attempts to correlate the extent, types, and severity of IPV by intimate partners with characteristics of the study participants. The study was based on quantitative methodology. Results indicated that cultural, religious, and demographic factor values were among the highest causes of violence against women. The IPV against women in Kuwait City is reported by 71% for women who are physically abused, 81% for women who are sexually abused, 89% for women who are psychologically abused, 75% for women based on cultural and religious factors, and 65% for women battering. Clinical implications are provided to guide practitioners in identifying couples at risk and to formulate prevention and intervention strategies.
Topics: Female; Humans; Intimate Partner Violence; Kuwait; Male; Masculinity; Risk Factors; Sexual Partners; Violence
PubMed: 32401130
DOI: 10.1177/0886260520916280 -
Clinical Psychology Review Dec 2023This review provides an overview and update of empirical evidence for psychologically meaningful dynamic risk factors and protective factors for sexual offending. Using... (Review)
Review
This review provides an overview and update of empirical evidence for psychologically meaningful dynamic risk factors and protective factors for sexual offending. Using the review by Mann et al. (2010) as a starting point, we reviewed relevant literature that has appeared since this publication, focusing on meta-analyses, systematic and scoping reviews of dynamic risk factors, recent evaluations of commonly used dynamic assessment tools, and studies of dynamic risk and protective factors in community samples in addition to clinical or forensic samples. Two risk factors previously deemed promising by Mann et al. (2010), hostility towards women and dysfunctional coping (conceptualized as hostile masculinity and emotional regulation deficits, respectively, in this review), could now be considered supported using this review's criteria of three or more studies demonstrating an effect size of 0.15 or greater. No new risk factors were identified. We conducted a broader search of protective factors in recognition of the relative newness of this literature: Positive social support was the only protective factor identified as empirically supported. We also discuss situational risk and protective factors.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Protective Factors; Sexual Behavior; Risk Factors; Masculinity; Hostility
PubMed: 37951100
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2023.102355 -
Health & Social Care in the Community Nov 2022Increased rates of domestic violence (DV) have been associated with events such as public holidays, seasonal variations, disasters and economic crises. Sport is seen as... (Review)
Review
Increased rates of domestic violence (DV) have been associated with events such as public holidays, seasonal variations, disasters and economic crises. Sport is seen as gendered, exemplifying hegemonic masculinity and associated violence, with the link between sporting culture and violence against women well recognised. This paper reports on a systematic review of empirical research literature exploring the link between major sporting events and incidence of DV. We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus and Proquest Central databases from inception to December 2020 for quantitative studies examining major sports events and reports of DV using a pre-post comparison design. Study quality was assessed using the Kmet quality assessment tool. The review identified 1445 records following duplicate removal. Once screened and assessed for eligibility, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results are presented qualitatively due to the heterogeneity across studies. Most studies originated in North America and the United Kingdom, used police records as their data source for measuring incidences of DV and few looked beyond the day of the sports event for recorded incidences of DV. Studies reviewed suggested that there is an association between certain major sports events and increased reporting of DV. However, studies' findings conflicted with regards to whether increases were associated with contact sports, the rivalry between competing teams, whether the events were emotionally salient and whether alcohol was a contributing factor. In conclusion, there is limited research globally. Heterogeneity and conflicting findings mean that more research is needed to understand the associations and inform community prevention/interventions to address DV.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Domestic Violence; Police; Sports; United Kingdom; Masculinity
PubMed: 36129100
DOI: 10.1111/hsc.14028 -
American Journal of Men's Health 2022The stigma of men's mental illness has been described as having wide-reaching and profound consequences beyond the condition[s] itself. Stigma negatively impacts men's... (Review)
Review
The stigma of men's mental illness has been described as having wide-reaching and profound consequences beyond the condition[s] itself. Stigma negatively impacts men's mental health help-seeking and the use of services amid impeding disclosures, diminishing social connection and amplifying economic hardship. Although men often face barriers to discussing their struggles with, and help-seeking for mental illness challenges, research focused on men's lived experiences of mental illness stigma is, at best, emergent. This scoping review explores men's mental illness related stigmas synthesizing and discussing the findings drawn from 21 published qualitative articles over the last 10 years. Four thematic findings were derived: (a) the weight of societal stigma, (b) stigma in male-dominated environments, (c) inequity driven stigmas, and (d) de-stigmatizing strategies. Despite evidence that stigma is a common experience for men experiencing diverse mental illness challenges, the field remains underdeveloped. Based on the scoping review findings, research gaps and opportunities for advancing the field are discussed.
Topics: Humans; Longevity; Male; Masculinity; Men; Men's Health; Mental Disorders; Social Stigma
PubMed: 35125015
DOI: 10.1177/15579883221074789 -
Sociology of Health & Illness May 2021Men account for approximately 75% of the one million annual suicide deaths worldwide. Emerging research indicates a link between suicide and men's active pursuit of...
Men account for approximately 75% of the one million annual suicide deaths worldwide. Emerging research indicates a link between suicide and men's active pursuit of hegemonic masculinity via emotional restriction. However, little is known of the continuum of suicidal men's emotional practice, and particularly how men mobilise emotions to actively pursue or resist hegemonic masculine ideals. This theorised life-history study aimed to explore the emotional lives of 18 Australian men who had attempted suicide. Findings indicate that men in this study experienced a range of emotions. However, during childhood, they learned that expressing emotions such as sadness reduced masculine standing, whereas expressing emotions such as anger through acts of violence could enhance masculine status. Although the gendering of emotions offered participants multiple avenues of action to pursue or contest masculine ideals, they remained vulnerable to suicide. For some men, it became impossible to conceal escalating feelings of distress. For other men, displays of anger and violence resulted in job loss, relationship breakdown or criminal conviction. Many participants indicated that suicide presented a means of ending painful emotions. Paradoxically, suicide could also become an alternative means of demonstrating masculinity, whereby the body became both the vehicle and object of violence.
Topics: Australia; Emotions; Humans; Male; Masculinity; Men's Health; Suicide, Attempted
PubMed: 33751613
DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.13257 -
Psycho-oncology Sep 2022The purpose of this review was to synthesise the literature on the topic of masculinity and testicular cancer (TC) and investigate the relative impact of TC on men's... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this review was to synthesise the literature on the topic of masculinity and testicular cancer (TC) and investigate the relative impact of TC on men's view of their masculinity.
METHODS
Searches were conducted across four databases (MEDline, PsycInfo, CINAHL Plus and Scopus) for articles published before April 2022 that included (1) TC and (2) masculinity. Two researchers independently rated studies for inclusion with a third resolving conflicts. Of the 6464 articles screened, 24 articles (10 quantitative and 14 qualitative) were included in the review. Articles were rated for quality and a narrative synthesis was performed.
RESULTS
Overall, results indicated some men experience a shift in the way they relate to their sense of masculinity following diagnosis and treatment for TC. Being single and without children was related to the experience of negative masculinity-related outcomes, possibly due to a compounding lack of relational support and being unable to conform to protector, provider traditions. Men who described testicle loss as symbolic of their diminished masculinity were also negatively impacted. However, recent, high-quality literature on the topic using standardised masculinity measures was limited.
CONCLUSION
Some men experience a reduced sense of masculinity after TC, however the impact of TC on masculinity remains person dependent. Further research using validated masculinity measures is required to uncover psycho-social variables that may account for whether and how meaning is made between TC and its treatment and any subsequent impact on perceived masculinity. Such factors may better support these men in life beyond cancer.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO. International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews: CRD42020185649.
Topics: Child; Humans; Male; Masculinity; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Testicular Neoplasms
PubMed: 35789023
DOI: 10.1002/pon.5994 -
International Journal of Molecular... Dec 2022Androgens such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are essential for male sexual development, masculinisation, and fertility. Testosterone is produced via the... (Review)
Review
Androgens such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are essential for male sexual development, masculinisation, and fertility. Testosterone is produced via the canonical androgen production pathway and is essential for normal masculinisation and testis function. Disruption to androgen production can result in disorders of sexual development (DSD). In the canonical pathway, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 (HSD17B3) is viewed as a critical enzyme in the production of testosterone, performing the final conversion required. HSD17B3 deficiency in humans is associated with DSD due to low testosterone concentration during development. Individuals with mutations have poorly masculinised external genitalia that can appear as ambiguous or female, whilst having internal Wolffian structures and testes. Recent studies in mice deficient in HSD17B3 have made the surprising finding that testosterone production is maintained, male mice are masculinised and remain fertile, suggesting differences between mice and human testosterone production exist. We discuss the phenotypic differences observed and the possible other pathways and enzymes that could be contributing to testosterone production and male development. The identification of alternative testosterone synthesising enzymes could inform the development of novel therapies to endogenously regulate testosterone production in individuals with testosterone deficiency.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Mice; Animals; Testosterone; Androgens; Virilism; Mutation; Dihydrotestosterone; 17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases
PubMed: 36555196
DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415555 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Feb 2023
Topics: Male; Humans; Masculinity; Men; Health Status
PubMed: 36822647
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.p385