Expressions of masculinity and associations with suicidal ideation among young males

Author:

King Tania L.ORCID,Shields Marissa,Sojo Victor,Daraganova Galina,Currier Dianne,O’Neil Adrienne,King Kylie,Milner Allison

Abstract

Abstract Background Adolescent boys and young men are at particular risk of suicide. Suicidal ideation is an important risk factor for suicide, but is poorly understood among adolescent males. Some masculine behaviors have been associated with deleterious effects on health, yet there has been little quantitative examination of associations between masculinity and suicide or suicidal ideation, particularly among boys/young men. This study aimed to examine associations between conformity to masculine norms and suicidal ideation in a sample of adolescents. Methods A prospective cohort design, this study drew on a sample of 829 Australian boys/young men from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health. Boys were 15–18 years at baseline, and 17–20 years at follow-up. Masculine norms (Wave 1), were measured using the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI-22). Suicidal ideation (Wave 2) was a single-item from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Logistic regression analysis was conducted, adjusting for available confounders including parental education, Indigenous Australian identity and area disadvantage. Results In adjusted models, greater conformity to violent norms (OR = 1.23, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.03–1.47) and self-reliance norms (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.15–1.70) was associated with higher odds of reporting suicidal ideation. Greater conformity to norms regarding heterosexuality was associated with reduced odds of reporting suicidal ideation (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.68–0.91). Conclusions These results suggest that conforming to some masculine norms may be deleterious to the mental health of young males, placing them at greater risk of suicidal ideation. The results highlight the importance of presenting young males with alternative and multiple ways of being a male. Facilitating a relaxation of norms regarding self-reliance, and encouraging help-seeking, is vital. Furthermore, dismantling norms that rigidly enforce masculine norms, particularly in relation to heteronormativity, is likely to benefit the broad population of males, not only those who do not conform to heterosexual and other masculine norms.

Funder

Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Business Improvement Program (BIP) Reinvestment grant

Australian Research Council Linkage Project

National Health and Medical Research Council

University of Melbourne Early Career Researcher Grant

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Subject

Psychiatry and Mental health

Reference66 articles.

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Causes of Death, Australia, 2018: Catalogue No. 3303.0. Canberra: ABS; 2018.

2. American Psychological Association, Boys and Men Guidelines Group. APA guidelines for psychological practice with boys and men. Washington: American Psychological Association. 2018. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/about/policy/psychological-practice-boys-men-guidelines.pdf.

3. Amin A, Kågesten A, Adebayo E, Chandra-Mouli V. Addressing gender socialization and masculinity norms among adolescent boys: policy and programmatic implications. J Adolesc Health. 2018;62:S3–5.

4. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) 2016: Technical Paper #2033.0.55.001. Canberra: ABS; 2018.

5. Ayton A, Rasool H, Cottrell D. Deliberate self-harm in children and adolescents: association with social deprivation. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2003;12:303–7.

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3