Men Help-Seeking

I’ve been a nurse for 48 years and been involved in the care of people at all stages of their lives. And I certainly have observed the different patterns and responses between men and women related to health care, trauma, surgery, and illness events. My experience is consistent with what is documented in the research literature. Now these would be generalizations, and maybe stereotypes, which are not necessarily true in every case, because every individual is unique. But that is what research seeks to do – identify patterns, predict outcomes, find solutions and effective interventions, understand phenomena, answer questions.

This Blog is about men and their health-seeking behavior. Selected results, inferences, or deductions contained in published research on this topic are noted here. There are general tendencies observed in men found in numerous research studies, and consistent with my experience working with men:

MEN AVOID MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS

MEN UNDER-REPORT THEIR SYMPTOMS

MEN IGNORE HEALTH PROBLEMS

Much of the research on this topic used focus groups of men, individual interviews, and other qualitative methods to obtain first-hand responses with various survey instruments and questionnaires. Studies that used quantitative methods analyzed data regarding preventative health behaviors and tests such as primary care provider (PCP) visits, laboratory tests (e.g., blood sugar, cholesterol levels, PSA, etc.), colonoscopies, other cancer detection tests, flu shots, dental checkups, etc. The following is a list of points contained in the findings and discussion sections of the studies cited below.

 MAYBE YOU WILL SEE YOURSELF IN THIS LIST:

The role of “masculine beliefs” is a recurrent theme found throughout the literature. This term is defined differently in various studies, but generally includes things like being self-reliant, in control, decisive, responsible.

Much of masculinity and manhood has to do with their bodies and physical bodily processes, being physically fit. Symptoms or illnesses represent a disruption of normal body processes (i.e., masculinity). Thus, ignoring these symptoms or problems as long as possible may be done to preserve the masculine image.

Men tend to feel they need to endure symptoms for some acceptable time period or till they reach some threshold level of severity. Delays in getting timely attention are part of this stoic, power image of masculinity.   

Young men are the most hesitant to seek help for physical or mental problems and symptoms.

Middle-aged men tend to seek preventative health care and attention for physical symptoms most often, followed by older men.

Men may feel that topics of health, illness, symptoms, medical treatments is not comfortable “men’s talk” within groups of men.

Men are less likely than women to seek professional help for stressful life events, emotional problems, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.

Cost of health care, lost time from work, and difficulty in access to care or providers are common concerns that keep men from seeking health care.

Variables such as income level, educational background, race, ethnicity, marital status, family medical history, obesity, and sexual orientation can influence health-seeking decisions and behaviors of men.

Many times, it is the female partners, wives, family members who encourage men to seek help, give information about symptoms or health issues, advise the man where to go and who to see about health problems.

Conversely, a social network of other men, if they convey a negative opinion or disparaging attitude about certain kinds of help seeking, can effectively turn other men away from seeking help for their problems.

The male role in society of being the provider for his family is a strong motivator for men to seek health care if it will keep them strong and fit to keep working as a provider for his family.

Men who have experienced a near-death health experience (e.g., heart attack) are far more likely to highly prioritize the need for continuous follow-up health care and seek help for future health problems.  

I BRING THIS TOPIC TO MY WEBSITE BECAUSE I WANT MEN WITH AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES OR ANY CHRONIC ILLNESS TO TRY COACHING WITH ME, TO SEE HOW IT CAN HELP THEM REACH A HIGHER LEVEL OF WELLNESS (Physical, mental, cognitive, emotional, social, spiritual, vocational/career.)

 I grew up with 3 brothers and I have 2 sons—you will feel comfortable talking with me 😊

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Associations Between Masculine Norms and Health-Care Utilization in Highly Religious, Heterosexual Men. Novak, J.R., Peak, T., Gast, J., Arnell, M.  (2019) Am J Mens Health. May-Jun; 13(3): 1557988319856739.

Published online 2019 Jun 11. doi: 10.1177/1557988319856739

Beyond the Caveman: Rethinking masculinity in relation to men’s help-seeking. Farrimond, H. (2012). Health: An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health, Illness and Medicine, 16(2), 208–225. doi:10.1177/1363459311403943

Gender and ethnic differences in health beliefs and behaviors. Courtenay, W., McCreary, D., Merighi, J. (2002) Journal of Health Psychology, 7(3), 218-231

Gender differences in utilization of preventive care services in the United States. Vaidya, V., Partha, G., & Karmakar, M. (2012). Journal of Women’s Health, 21(2), 140–145. doi:10.1089/jwh.2011.2876

‘It’s caveman stuff, but that is to a certain extent how guys still operate’: Men’s accounts of masculinity and help seeking. O’Brien, R., Hunt, K., & Hart, G. (2005). Social Science & Medicine, 61(3), 503–516. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.12.008

Men and health: Help-seeking behavior, literature review. Galdas, P., Cheater, F., Marshall, P. (2005). Journal of Advanced Nursing, 49(6), 616–623. doi:10.1111/j.13652648.2004.03331

Men’s health help-seeking and implications for practice. Jarrett, N., Bellamy, C., & Adeyemi, B. (2007).  American Journal of Health Studies, 22(2), 88–95

Men, masculinity, and the contexts of help seeking. Addis, M. E., & Mahalik, J. R. (2003). American Psychologist, 58(1), 5–14

Out of touch: American men and the health care system. Sandman, D., Simantov, E., An, C. (2000). New York, NY: Commonwealth Fund

The influence of women on the health care-seeking behaviour of men. Norcross, W. A., Ramirez, C., & Palinkas, L. A. (1996).  Journal of Family Practice, 43, 475–480