The holistic development of college students encompasses their growth academically, socially, and personally and occurs as students master knowledge, develop connections with others, and increase their engagement in the college setting (Kuh, Kinzie, Schuh, and Whitt, 2013; Mauk, 2011; Shushok, 2008; Sungok, Shim, Ryan, and Cassady, 2012). Self-Authorship is a theory that describes holistic development in people as they transition from externalized to internalized ways of knowing (Baxter Magolda, 2009). The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how constructs of masculinity influence Self-Authorship in college men. The conceptual framework for this study was Baxter Magolda's (2008) dimensions of Self-Authorship: Epistemological, Interpersonal, and Intrapersonal. Data were collected through interviews with men in their final year of study in college. The Masculine Behavior Scale (Snell, 1996) was utilized to organize participants into three groups: high scorers, medium scorers, and low scorers, which allowed me to further examine their experiences within the dimensions of Self-Authorship. Analysis of the data revealed three key findings. First, participant scores on the Masculine Behavior Scale declined as their motivation to learn moved from external (status, power, etc.) to internal factors (learning for the sake of learning). Second, high scorers formed relationships that affirmed their abilities. Yet, medium/low scorers developed relationships for the sake of mutual benefit. Lastly, high scorers sought external validation, while medium/low scorers relied upon internal validation. / Ph. D.

The current study of 151 college men explored weight-related factors that contribute to depressive symptoms among undergraduate men using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results of SEM supported the hypothesis that perceived negative messages about one's body and body dissatisfaction were significant mediators of the relationship between BMI and depressive symptoms. Moreover, social connectedness and academic self-concept were significant moderators of the relationship between body dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms. Although self-esteem was not a significant moderator, it was significantly related to body dissatisfaction, despite the men's magnitude of perceived body pressures. These findings inform therapeutic work with college men, signifying the importance of improving the quality of their relationships in family and social systems to reduce both depressive symptoms and body dissatisfaction. Furthermore, advocacy programming to counter body related pressure from media, societal systems, and other people would likely benefit college men struggling with body dissatisfaction and depressive symptoms.

Thesis advisor: Heather T. Rowan-Kenyon / College fraternities are routinely associated with alcohol use and hazing (e.g., Wechsler, Kuh, & Davenport, 1996; Allan & Madden, 2008). These outcomes can lead to troubling consequences for fraternity members, and other stakeholders (DeSantis, 2007; Syrett, 2009). The masculine norm climates perpetuated by fraternities may contribute to fraternity men’s alcohol use and hazing motivations (Kimmel, 2008; Syrett, 2009). However, not all fraternity members conform to hegemonic masculinity (Anderson, 2008; Harris & Harper, 2014). The masculine norm climates collectively espoused by fraternities may vary between chapters, and these differences may explain members’ alcohol use and endorsement of hazing rationales (DeSantis, 2007). In addition, organizational socialization tactics have been found to relate to the outcomes of newcomers (e.g., Ashforth & Saks, 1996), and these tactics may explain differences that exist across the population of chapters for the relationships among members’ conformity to masculine norms and their alcohol use or endorsement of hazing rationales. No prior study had utilized a large, multi-institutional sample to examine if fraternity members’ alcohol use or support of hazing rationales varied between fraternity chapters, or if the masculine norm climates promoted by chapters predict these outcomes. To address this gap, this study collected data from 2,678 undergraduates from a single college men’s social fraternity represented at 76 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. Utilizing a critical postmodern quantitative inquiry, the data were analyzed through descriptive analyses and hierarchical linear modeling (HLM). The findings indicate that fraternity members’ alcohol use and endorsement of hazing rationales varied between fraternity chapters. Chapter heterosexual presentation climate was positively related to a member’s alcohol use. Risk-taking, heterosexual-presentation and playboy climates were positively related to members’ endorsement of social dominance hazing rationale, whereas the violence climate perpetuated by a fraternity chapter was negatively related to this rationale. Risk-taking climate was positively associated with the endorsement of solidarity and instrumental education hazing rationales. Investiture socialization climate was found to not moderate relationships among individual masculine norms and hazing rationales. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Leadership and Higher Education.

Thesis advisor: Heather Rowan-Kenyon / According to the National Center for Health Statistics (2007), 18-24 year olds are most likely to report heavy drinking in the past year compared to other adults. Heavy alcohol use is problematic not only in itself, but also because it is associated with a host of other negative outcomes. Research has identified traditional-age college men (age 18-24), who are White, and members of a Greek organization or athletic team as the most likely to consume alcohol in excess (Ham & Hope, 2003; Hingson & White, 2012). White men, members of Greek organizations, and college athletes are also the populations least likely to change their behavior as a result of current alcohol interventions employed by colleges and universities (Fachini, Aliane, Martinez, & Furtado, 2012; LaBrie, Pedersen, Lamb, & Quinlan, 2007; Lundahl, Kunz, Brownell, Tollefson, & Burke, 2010; Mattern & Neighbors, 2004). The primary shortcoming of previous research into this problem, is that it has failed to take an intersectional approach to the phenomenon of college men’s alcohol use. To address this gap, this study surveyed 1,457 college men across five college in the Northeastern United States, using the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI; Mahalik et al., 2003) the Revised Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM-R; Phinney & Ong, 2007) and the Social Dominance Orientation scale (SDO; Pratto, Sidanius, Stallworth, & Malle, 1994). Alcohol consumption was predicted using zero-inflated negative binomial regressions and zero-inflated Poisson regressions, and alcohol problems were predicted using logistic regressions. The study found that the college men’s drinking was primarily predicted by the masculine norms of risk taking, having power over women, emotional control, and desiring multiple sexual partners. Although the sample size was smaller, for non-White respondents in the study, men’s drinking was also predicted by a focus on heterosexual presentation, and the SDO factor of group based dominance. Alcohol problems were largely predicted by the same masculine norms. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2016. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Leadership and Higher Education.

The purpose of the current study was to examine if positive family, social, and/or academic dimensions of SC weaken (i.e., moderate) the direct relationship between physical SC (i.e., a person's evaluation of their physique, adiposity, and weight) and depressive symptoms in a sample of adult men. A convenience sample of 239 college men completed self-report measures including the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale-2 (TSCS-2) and Symptom Checklist-90 Revised. Hierarchical regressions revealed that family and social SC were significant moderators of the relationship between physical SC and depressive symptoms, suggesting how men see themselves in their family and social systems affects the aforementioned relationship. Academic SC, however, was not a significant moderator; it was negatively related to depressive symptoms no matter how men felt about their physical selves. Our findings suggest that feeling positively about one's relationships may protect men with poor physical SC from experiencing symptoms of depression at the rates or intensity of their similarly body dissatisfied peers who do not report positive family or social SC. An additional simultaneous regression assessed the contribution of various dimensions of SC to the prediction of depressive symptoms, physical (7.76%), social (8.02%) and academic (6.62%) self-concept accounted for significant amount of variance in symptoms of depression which family SC (2.61%) did not. College counselors who assist men presenting with poor physical SC or depressive symptoms should assess for the other problem, as they commonly co-occur. In addition, they may consider helping them to improve the quality of their relationships in family and social systems as reasonable interventions for both depression and poor physical SC. Importantly, men who experience their academic SC as deficient should be considered at-risk for depression, although more research is needed to help identify the types of students who report low academic SC. In addition, men with symptoms of depression would likely benefit from accommodations to support their academic functioning.

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The purpose of this grounded theory study was to develop an understanding of the role that masculinity has in identity development among self-identified Gay/Queer (GQ) collegiate men. The goal of this study was to develop a theory that explains how traditional college-age GQ men view masculinity within the context of their performance as men on a college campus. 16 college-aged GQ men attending a four-year, private liberal arts institution in the southeastern United States were the subjects in this study. The participants consisted of: two first year students, three sophomores, two juniors, eights seniors, and one individual that who had graduated from college six weeks prior to his interview. Individuals that identified as woman, or transgender students were not included in this study. Four themes were identified from the study: Creating Identity & Exploring Sexuality; Reliance of Stereotypes; Performance & Presence; and Community Expectations & Acceptance. The overarching concept that emerged from the study was that whatever qualities the participant found to be personally attracted were the same traits that he found to be the most masculine. Limitations and recommendations for the study were also provided.