-
Digestive Diseases and Sciences Feb 2022
Topics: Black or African American; Colorectal Neoplasms; Early Detection of Cancer; Humans; Male; Masculinity; Patient Acceptance of Health Care
PubMed: 33811564
DOI: 10.1007/s10620-021-06962-y -
American Journal of Physiology.... Jun 2021Transgender men undergoing hormone therapy are at risk for insulin resistance. However, how virilizing testosterone therapy affects serum insulin and peripheral insulin...
Transgender men undergoing hormone therapy are at risk for insulin resistance. However, how virilizing testosterone therapy affects serum insulin and peripheral insulin sensitivity in transgender men is unknown. This study assessed the effect of acute, virilizing testosterone on serum insulin concentrations and insulin signaling in liver, skeletal muscle, and white adipose tissue (WAT) of female pigs as a translational model for transgender men. Females received three doses of intramuscular testosterone cypionate (TEST females; 50 mg/day/pig) or corn oil (control) spaced 6 days apart starting on the day of estrus (). Fasting blood was collected on , , , , and , and females were euthanized on . On , TEST females had virilizing concentrations of serum testosterone with normal concentrations of serum estradiol. Virilizing serum testosterone concentrations () were associated with decreased serum insulin and C-peptide concentrations. Blood glucose and serum glycerol concentrations were not altered by testosterone. Virilizing concentrations of testosterone downregulated and in subcutaneous (sc) WAT and upregulated transcript levels of insulin-signaling pathway components in WAT and liver. At the protein level, virilizing testosterone concentrations were associated with increased PI3K 110α in liver and increased insulin receptor (INSR) and phospho(Ser256)-FOXO1 in visceral (v) WAT but decreased phospho(Ser473)-AKT in vWAT and scWAT. These results suggest that acute exposure to virilizing concentrations of testosterone suppresses circulating insulin levels and results in increased abundance of proteins in the insulin-signaling pathway in liver and altered phosphorylation of key proteins in control of insulin sensitivity in WAT. Acute virilizing doses of testosterone administered to females suppress circulating insulin levels, upregulate components of the insulin-signaling pathway in liver, and suppress insulin signaling in white adipose tissue. These results suggest that insulin resistance in transgender men may be due to suppression of the insulin-signaling pathway and decreased insulin sensitivity in white adipose tissue.
Topics: Adipose Tissue; Animals; Female; Injections, Intramuscular; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Liver; Signal Transduction; Swine; Testosterone; Virilism
PubMed: 33900852
DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00281.2020 -
International Journal of Environmental... Nov 2022It is hypothesized that levels of femininity and masculinity may be relevant to specific types of engagement in action. For this reason, the aim of this study was to...
It is hypothesized that levels of femininity and masculinity may be relevant to specific types of engagement in action. For this reason, the aim of this study was to search for relationships between psychological dimensions of femininity and masculinity and different forms of motivation, as well as their specific parts, among women and male athletes practicing team sports games. We researched 49 women aged 19 to 32 years representing sports such as football, handball, hockey, volleyball, and basketball and 56 men aged 18 to 31 years practicing football, hockey, volleyball, basketball, and handball. The respondents completed the Inventory to Assess Psychological Gender (IPP) and the Polish adaptation of the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS). It was determined that the psychological dimension of femininity was (in the male group) positively related to the dimension of amotivation, i.e., the lack of perception of a relationship between one's action and the outcome. In turn, the psychological dimension of masculinity was positively related to the motivation to know, motivation to accomplish, and motivation to experience stimulation, as well as the overall level of intrinsic motivation and the overall dimension of extrinsic motivation. Furthermore, the masculinity dimension is, in male athletes, related to the level of the introjection motive, i.e., the process of integrating accepted patterns.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Femininity; Masculinity; Motivation; Basketball; Soccer
PubMed: 36497841
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315767 -
Sociology of Health & Illness Sep 2023Anxiety is the most prevalent mental disorder experienced by young men, and when untreated, is predictive of co-morbid mental health challenges and suicide. Despite the...
Anxiety is the most prevalent mental disorder experienced by young men, and when untreated, is predictive of co-morbid mental health challenges and suicide. Despite the rising prevalence, there is a conspicuous absence of qualitative research to distil and theorise young men's anxiety. Twenty-five young Australian men (15-25 years), who had been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or self-reported anxiety symptoms, took part in individual semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a constructivist grounded theory approach. A three-process grounded theory (Resisting-Reckoning-Responding; Triple R Anxiety Model) depicted young men's experiences of anxiety, gilded and guided by their masculine socialisation. Initially, young men noticed somatic symptoms (i.e., headaches, nausea and myalgia) but did not connect these symptoms to anxiety. Avoiding anxiety (e.g., denying, distracting) proved unhelpful in the longer term and as symptoms diffused, a subsequent process of reckoning anxiety (i.e., meaning making) ensued. As young men gained insight to the life limiting bounds of their anxiety, some were prompted towards actions of acceptance, seeking help proactively and employing strength-based adaptive coping strategies. This theoretical conceptualisation of young men's anxiety has the capacity to enhance identification and treatment efforts, improving young men's mental health outcomes across the lifespan.
Topics: Male; Humans; Masculinity; Australia; Men; Men's Health; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders
PubMed: 37032499
DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.13641 -
Sociology of Health & Illness Feb 2023Men's emotions in intimate partner relationships have received little research attention. The current interpretive descriptive study included 30 Canadian-based men to...
Men's emotions in intimate partner relationships have received little research attention. The current interpretive descriptive study included 30 Canadian-based men to address the research question: What are the connections between masculinities and men's emotions in and after intimate partner relationships? Three inductively derived themes included emergent distressing emotions wherein participants' predominance for holding in abeyance their concerns about the relationship manifested varying levels of emotional stoicism. Within this context most men denied or downplayed and did not express their emotions. When the relationship broke, men were overwhelmed by mixed and weighty break-up emotions comprising diverse and often-times discordant emotions, including sadness, shame, anger, regret and guilt, calling into question men's rationality for deciphering and expressing what was concurrently but inexplicably felt. Shame and anger were prominent emotions demanding the participant's attention to all that happened in and at the end of the relationship. In the third theme, understanding and transitioning after-burn emotions, participant's grief levered their efforts, including soliciting professional help for deconstructing, reframing and expressing their emotions in the aftermath of the partnership ending. The findings contextualise and in some instances counter claims about the utility of men's emotional stoicism by mapping participants' feelings in and after intimate partner relationships.
Topics: Male; Humans; Canada; Masculinity; Emotions; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Men's Health
PubMed: 36377646
DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.13583 -
Trauma, Violence & Abuse Apr 2023Hegemonic masculinity has been recognized as contributing to the perpetration of different forms of gender-based violence (GBV). Abandoning hegemonic masculinities and... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Hegemonic masculinity has been recognized as contributing to the perpetration of different forms of gender-based violence (GBV). Abandoning hegemonic masculinities and promoting positive masculinities are both strategies used by interventions that foreground a "gender-transformative approach." Preventing GBV among young people could be strengthened by engaging young men. In this article, we aim to systematically review the primary characteristics, methodological quality, and results of published evaluation studies of educational interventions that aim to prevent different forms of GBV through addressing hegemonic masculinities among young people.
MAIN BODY
We conducted a systematic review of available literature (2008-2019) using Medline (PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, PsycInfo, the CINAHL Complete Database, and ERIC as well as Google scholar. The Template for Intervention Description and Replication was used for data extraction, and the quality of the selected studies was analyzed using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. More than half of the studies were conducted in Africa ( = 10/15) and many were randomized controlled trials ( = 8/15). Most of the studies with quantitative and qualitative methodologies ( = 12/15) reported a decrease in physical GBV and/or sexual violence perpetration/victimization ( = 6/15). Longitudinal studies reported consistent results over time.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results highlight the importance of using a gender-transformative approach in educational interventions to engage young people in critical thinking about hegemonic masculinity and to prevent GBV.
Topics: Male; Humans; Adolescent; Masculinity; Gender-Based Violence; Sex Offenses; Crime Victims; Africa
PubMed: 34282677
DOI: 10.1177/15248380211030242 -
Archives of Sexual Behavior Oct 2022Studies indicate that individuals preferring masculinity/femininity in one domain also prefer it in other domains. Heterosexual men and women and gay men have reported...
Studies indicate that individuals preferring masculinity/femininity in one domain also prefer it in other domains. Heterosexual men and women and gay men have reported consistent preferences for masculinity/femininity across the faces and voices of their preferred sex. This study explored the femininity preferences of 417 Chinese lesbian and bisexual women in terms of face, voice pitch, vocal tract length, and personality traits and explored the effect of sexual self-labels (femme, butch, and androgyne) on these preferences. We found that lesbian and bisexual women showed a stronger preference for feminized faces, voice pitch, vocal tract length, and personality traits than masculinized versions, and these preferences were highly consistent across the four domains. Moreover, femininity preference was moderated by sexual self-labels, with butches preferring more feminine voice pitch, vocal tract length, and personality traits than femmes and androgynes. However, no significant difference was found for facial femininity preferences among different sexual self-labels. These findings present evidence of consistent femininity preference across visual, auditory, and personality traits and suggest that, regardless of sexual orientation, multiple cues may be used together when determining the attractiveness of individuals. Furthermore, these results support the hypothesis that the partner preference of lesbian and bisexual women mirrors that of heterosexual men.
Topics: China; Female; Femininity; Homosexuality, Female; Humans; Male; Masculinity; Sexual Behavior; Sexual and Gender Minorities
PubMed: 36028632
DOI: 10.1007/s10508-022-02334-3 -
BMC Public Health Apr 2022In Australia, and throughout the world, it is evident that the mental health and wellbeing of young males aged 15-24, is not a priority. In Australia suicide is the...
In Australia, and throughout the world, it is evident that the mental health and wellbeing of young males aged 15-24, is not a priority. In Australia suicide is the leading cause of death in people aged 15-24 years and 75% are male (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australian hospital statistics 2011-12, 2021). It is clear young males as well as those who identify as indigenous or LGBTIQ are at risk groups with respect to self arm and suicide (Drummond, MJN, et al. 2019). It is the transition period from adolescence to adluthood that is of particular concern. Often young males must pass through this phase of life with minimal guidance or direction and without a "safe space" where they can attain emotional support. Sport is a significant part of boys' and young males' lives and offers that "safe space". Sport can play a substantial role in protective mental health through socialization and engagement in a socially endorsed activity that seemingly has far more positive outcomes than negative ones. This research is underpinned by both quantitative and qualitative research with young males involved masculinised sporting clubs. Its aim is to provide insights into how we can create safe spaces for males and influence positive forms of masculinities that can enhance mental health promotion among young males. This mixed methods research explores issues around mental health in young males involved across two male dominated sporting codes in Australian (Australian football and cricket). Surveys and interviews with young males age 15-24 as well as parents, coaches and key stakeholders underpin this research. While the data is designed to assist in the development of educational resources for males to influence positive forms of masculinities that can enhance mental health promotion among young males involved in these sporting codes, this paper reports on the exploratory nature of the data and raises important issues emerging among young males with respect to mental health and the role of the sporting club.
Topics: Adolescent; Female; Humans; Male; Australia; Health Promotion; Masculinity; Team Sports
PubMed: 35422019
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13200-1 -
Current Opinion in Psychology Apr 2023This article reviews recent research in masculinity studies, highlighting theoretical approaches and topical examinations of men's masculinity in relation to feminism.... (Review)
Review
This article reviews recent research in masculinity studies, highlighting theoretical approaches and topical examinations of men's masculinity in relation to feminism. It shows a historical shift from masculinity making to categorical interests of men. The first examines journals explicitly aligned with critical feminism, where men are viewed as the cause of women's harm. Journals only broadly aligned with feminism examine men with more variance, considering both privilege and harm. Journals not explicitly aligned with feminism make room for problems that men face, and how masculinity is shifting to be less problematic.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Masculinity; Feminism; Fellowships and Scholarships
PubMed: 37209624
DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101583 -
Health Sociology Review : the Journal... Jul 2021Although vasectomy is a safe and highly effective method of contraception, uptake is variable globally, with scope for increased engagement in high income nations. Very... (Review)
Review
Although vasectomy is a safe and highly effective method of contraception, uptake is variable globally, with scope for increased engagement in high income nations. Very little qualitative research has been published in recent years to explore men's perspectives on vasectomy, which represents a key opportunity to better understand and strengthen men's contribution to reproductive and contraception equality. This paper takes a scoping review approach to identify key findings from the small but important body of qualitative literature. Recent masculinities research argues that, despite some expansion in ways of being masculine, an underpinning ethos of dominance remains. Extant research on men's attitudes to vasectomy supports this ambivalent picture, indicating that while there are extending repertoires of masculinity for men to draw on in making sense of vasectomy, many remain underpinned by masculinist narratives. There remains scope for education and health promotion ensuring vasectomy is viewed as a suitable and safe option by more men of reproductive age. Increased uptake of vasectomy may also help shift the longstanding social expectation that women take primary responsibility for contraceptive practices, challenging gender discourses on contraception.
Topics: Contraception; Female; Humans; Male; Masculinity; Men; Qualitative Research; Vasectomy
PubMed: 34018906
DOI: 10.1080/14461242.2020.1789486