Psychology of Men and Masculinity

Academic fathers pursuing tenure: A qualitative study of work-family conflict, coping strategies, and departmental culture.
Although past research has emphasized considerable strain and institutional biases for female academics balancing work and family, research on male academics with young children is limited. This qualitative study addressed this void by examining how junior male tenure-track faculty with children negotiated work and family responsibilities. Analysis of in-depth interviews (n = 12) revealed three broad, nonoverlapping themes regarding men's negotiation of their various roles. These themes included (a) tenure and family balance/conflict; (b) coping responses; and (c) attitudes toward policy and work culture. Prototypical quotes are used as illustrations of subthemes found within each of the three general categories. Respondents negotiated their multiple responsibilities by using compartmentalization strategies, significant time management, communicating with spouses and peers at work, and overextending themselves in work and family responsibilities, though with little knowledge or utilization of university policies that could ease their considerable workload and conflicts. The results are discussed within the context of research on men's work and family lives as well as departmental culture and institutional policies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Gender role attitudes and characteristics of stay-at-home and employed fathers.
Research on fathers has increased substantially over the last several decades, but research comparing the gender-typed characteristics and gender role attitudes of stay-at-home and employed fathers is still in its infancy. Stay-at-home (n = 35) and employed (n = 49) fathers completed measures on gender-typed characteristics and gender role attitudes. Stay-at-home fathers also rated the importance of various reasons they stayed home. Compared to employed fathers, stay-at-home fathers reported similar levels of traditional feminine and masculine characteristics, but less traditional gender role attitudes. Wanting to be a stay-at-home father was rated the most important reason for staying home. The more important the female partner was in influencing the decision to stay home, the lower the levels of masculine characteristics and the more enjoyment men reported in being a stay-at-home father. Future research should focus on comparisons of paternal involvement in stay-at-home and other fathers, the reasons men decide to become or not to become stay-at-home fathers, and the factors that influence those reasons, such as their partners' attitudes and experiences with prejudice and discrimination. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Urban fathers' involvement in their child's health and healthcare.
Despite the known positive child outcomes associated with father involvement, how fathers are involved in the health and healthcare of their children is largely unexplored. This qualitative study conducted interviews with a subsample of fathers from the national Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study to explore fathers' perceptions of their involvement in their child's health and healthcare. Using an integration of Grounded Theory and Consensual Qualitative Research qualitative methodologies, results indicated that fathers reported being involved in their child's health through encouraging healthy eating and exercise, monitoring their child's well-being and development, and understanding their child so they know how to respond when their child becomes sick. Some fathers also expressed “messing up”, not adhering to medical advice, and lacking confidence in the healthcare setting. This study concluded that fathers are involved in their child's health in ways that promote child health and well-being as well as respond to acute care situations. Findings were applied to models of father involvement and led to an expanded conceptualization of father involvement. Health professionals are encouraged to educate and support fathers regarding proper medical care of children and to increase fathers' self-efficacy in this involvement domain through parenting education and active support. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Predicting men's anger management: Relationships with gender role journey and entitlement.
Treatment and prevention of intimate partner violence incorporates issues pertaining to gender role socialization and anger management. The present study examined the direct and interactive contributions of attitudes and reactions to traditional gender role norms and healthy and unhealthy entitlement in the prediction of self-reported anger management strategies in a sample of college-age men (n = 198). Results of four hierarchical regressions revealed that attitudes of gender role ambivalence, in conjunction with unhealthy entitlement, were significant positive predictors of maladaptive anger management strategies. Contrary to hypotheses, acceptance of traditional gender roles emerged as a negative predictor of maladaptive anger management strategies, and healthy entitlement was not related to adaptive or maladaptive anger management. Feminist activism and gender role transcendence attitudes were significant positive predictors of adaptive anger management strategies, and unhealthy entitlement moderated the relationship between self-awareness of rising anger and acceptance of traditional gender roles. Results are discussed in relation to gender role journey theory (O'Neil, Egan, Owen, & Murry, 1993). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Factors associated with suicide by firearm among U.S. older adult men.
Suicide is a leading cause of death in older adulthood, and most (80%) older men who die of suicide do so with firearms. This paper examines a number of risk factors and precipitating circumstances that contribute to suicidal behavior involving firearms among men aged 65 and older. Data were obtained from the 2003 to 2007 National Violent Death Reporting System restricted access database. Using multivariate logistic regression, a model was developed to differentiate older male suicide decedents who used firearms from those who used other suicide methods. The results show that the presence of a health problem at the time of death was one of the best predictors of suicide with a firearm. Place of suicide (predominantly rural) and veteran status further increased likelihood of firearm use among older men. Suicides occurring in mostly rural counties and in the South were significantly more likely to involve firearms. We conclude with a discussion of the implications for suicide researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and men and masculinity scholars. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Asian American male college students' perceptions of people's stereotypes about Asian American men.
Although Asian American men are a heterogeneous group with diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, they are frequently depicted in rigid, stereotypical ways that assume few differences exist among them. Guided by social identity theory, the purpose of this study was to examine 158 Asian American male college students' perceptions of people's stereotypes about Asian American men. Based on a discovery-oriented exploratory analysis of participants' open-ended responses, the following categories of perceived stereotypes about Asian American men were identified: (a) interpersonal deficits, (b) intelligence, (c) intense diligence, (d) unflattering physical attributes, (e) physical ability distortions, (f) perpetual foreigner, and (g) sexual/romantic inadequacies. Next, a latent class cluster analysis was conducted to identify meaningful clusters of participants based on the foregoing categories of perceived stereotypes. The results revealed three clusters of participants; these clusters were labeled Body-Mind Stereotypes, Nerd Stereotypes, and Outsider Stereotypes. Participants in the Outsider Stereotypes cluster reported higher levels of depressive symptoms than those in the other two clusters, whereas those in the Nerd Stereotypes cluster reported the lowest levels of interdependent self-construal. These findings are discussed in terms of practical implications for addressing the deleterious nature of stereotypes about Asian American men. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Gender similarities in the relationship between psychological aspects of disordered eating and self-silencing.
A recent and major focus in the psychology of men and masculinity has been the attempt to better understand men's experiences of disordered eating. Previously, research with women suggested emotional self-denial in the context of interpersonal relationships, self-silencing, predicted disordered eating. Based on evidence suggesting that both men and women share the same basic psychological aspects underpinning disordered eating, the current study sought to document a relationship between self-silencing and disordered eating. Measures of the psychological aspects of disordered eating (Eating Disorders Inventory) and the standard measure of self-silencing (Silencing the Self Scale) were administered and analyzed in a non-clinical, collegiate sample of 82 men and 140 women between the ages of 18–22 years. Results show that self-silencing predicted disordered eating equally well in both men and women, and the magnitude of the relationship was large (r = .63, p <.001; r = .75, p <.001). Canonical correlations suggest that the factor structures of the measures that assessed these relationships were similar for both men and women. Implications of these findings for further research and practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

Psychology of Men & Masculinity - Vol 13, Iss 1