Men’s health needs, health beliefs, and health-related behaviour are different to those of women
Our current research examining young men aged 15–44 years presents worrying epidemiological evidence — a picture of men dying prematurely of conditions such as ischaemic heart disease and cancer, at a time when screening and treatment for many of these diseases has improved (Box).1 This evidence suggests that these men are either not following health advice or not using health services soon enough for effective remedial treatment. Here, we argue that there is a need for health professionals to rethink service provision for young men.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- 1 Centre for Men's Health, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, United Kingdom.
- 2 Faculty of Health, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, United Kingdom.
- 1. White AK, Holmes M. Patterns of morbidity across 44 countries among men and women aged 15–44. J Mens Health Gender 2006; 3: 139-151.
- 2. NSW Health. Moving forward in men’s health. Sydney: NSW Health, 1999. http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/health-public-affairs/men'shealth/pdf/menshealth.pdf (accessed Aug 2006).
- 3. Kraemer S. The fragile male. BMJ 2000; 321: 1609-1612.
- 4. White AK, Cash K. The state of men’s health in Western Europe. J Mens Health Gender 2004; 1: 60-66.
- 5. Brownhill S, Wilhelm K, Barclay L, Schmied V. ‘Big build’: hidden depression in men. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2005; 39: 921-931.
- 6. Courtenay WH. Constructions of masculinity and their influence on men’s well-being: a theory of gender and health. Soc Sci Med 2000; 50: 1385-1401.
- 7. Galdas P, Cheater MF, Marshall P. Men and health help-seeking behaviour: literature review. J Adv Nurs 2005; 49: 616-623.
- 8. O’Brien RK, Hunt K, Hart G. ‘It’s caveman stuff, but that is to a certain extent how guys still operate’: men’s accounts of masculinity and help seeking. Soc Sci Med 2005; 61: 503-516.
- 9. Connell RW. Masculinities. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1995.
- 10. Lee C, Owens RG. Issues for a psychology of men’s health. J Health Psychol 2002; 7: 209-217.
- 11. Fawkner HJ. Body image attitudes in men: an examination of the antecedents and consequent adjustive strategies and behaviours [PhD thesis]. Melbourne: University of Melbourne, 2005.
- 12. Addis ME, Mahalik JR. Men, masculinity, and the contexts of help seeking. Am Psychol 2003; 58: 5-14.
- 13. White AK, Lockyer L. Tackling coronary heart disease [editorial]. BMJ 2001; 323: 1016-1017.
- 14. Pearce P, Jamieson RD. Men’s health research project. Bendigo: Bendigo Health Collaborative Health Education and Research Centre, 1997.
- 15. House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs. Men’s health. Summary report of a seminar. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 1997. http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/fca/menshlth.pdf (accessed Aug 2006).
- 16. Lumb P. Why is men’s health and well-being policy not implemented in Australia? Int J Mens Health 2003; 2: 73-88.