Masculinity Threats and Mental Health among Aging Men

• In Event: 569 - Regular Session. Stratification and Mental Health

Abstract

Understanding of men’s mental health is often derived from gender-comparative research, which finds that men tend to experience more externalizing symptoms (e.g., aggression) whereas women tend to experience more internalizing symptoms (e.g., depression). As such, internalizing disorders among men, which are substantial, are relatively under-researched. In this study, we examine internalizing and externalizing symptoms among men with a focus on masculinity. Masculinities research has primarily explored the association between masculinity and help-seeking, but few studies have linked masculinity to mental health. Using the 2011 Wisconsin Longitudinal Survey (N = 1,675), we predict mental health among older men according to subscription to masculinity ideals and physical health. As expected, hegemonic masculinity, which values strength and devalues emotion, is associated with externalizing symptoms, yet surprisingly, it also predicts internalizing symptoms, especially among men with declining health. These findings suggest that gender-specific research is necessary to better understand men’s (and women’s) mental health.

Authors

• Dena T. Smith, University of Maryland (UMBC)

• Dawne M. Mouzon, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

• Marta Elliott, University of Nevada, Reno