11/09/2024
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/being-manly-threat-mans-health-2024a1000jp3
This week on *Impact Factor*, Dr. F. Perry Wilson from Yale School of Medicine explores a fascinating study on how masculinity might play into men’s tendency to downplay their health issues.
The story begins with Dr. Wilson’s own experience—a minor cat bite that he brushed off, as many might, only to end up hospitalized with lymphangitis, a serious infection. This personal story sets up the research, which suggests that men, especially those with traditionally "masculine" traits, are more inclined to ignore or downplay their health concerns.
For the study, researchers dug into data from the US National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, an ongoing project following around 20,000 teens over 30 years. They focused on 4,230 male participants and measured their "male gender expressivity" by analyzing answers where boys and girls responded most differently. From these responses, they created a sort of “manliness score” for each guy.
Fast-forward three decades, and the researchers looked at three common health conditions: diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Interestingly, the rates of these conditions were similar for men with both high and low manliness scores. However, there was a big difference in how these men reported their health. Those with higher masculinity scores were much less likely to admit they had high blood pressure or high cholesterol—even when tests showed they did.
This reluctance to acknowledge health issues has serious consequences. Men who scored higher in "manly" traits were less likely to seek treatment for these conditions, which, if left untreated, could lead to much bigger health problems down the road.
Dr. Wilson links this tendency to societal pressures. From a young age, boys are often taught to “hide emotions, avoid vulnerability, and stay silent when hurt.” As this study shows, those lessons can stick around and affect men’s health well into adulthood.
So, what’s the takeaway? Men, especially those who identify strongly with traditional masculine ideals, need to prioritize their health. Getting regular checkups, being open about symptoms, and seeking treatment when necessary are crucial. As Dr. Wilson aptly puts it, “fixing problems—that’s a manly thing, right?”
Societal pressure to express masculinity could jeopardize a man’s cardiovascular health.
