One in every 4 people living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are women. The leading cause of infection is heterosexual contact. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine the relationship between gender ratio perception and masculine ideology and a woman's decision to use condoms during her sexual activity. The theory of gender and power and the theory of planned behavior served as the theoretical frameworks for this study. The perceptions of gender ratios, as measured by the Gender Ratio Imbalance Beliefs and Behaviors Scale (GRIBBS) subscale, GRIBeliefs, and masculine ideologies, as measured by the Gender Role Beliefs Scale (GRBS), served as independent variables, while condom use behaviors, as measured by the Gender Ratio Imbalance Beliefs and Behaviors Scale (GRIBBS) subscale, GRIBehaviors, served as the dependent variable. Covariates included demographic factors, as well as behavioral factors. A purposeful, convenience sample (n=55) via the Walden University research pool was utilized, enabling researchers to use readily available data that represented college educated women. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, correlational analysis, as well as multiple linear regression were used to examine the aforementioned perceptions of study participants. Correlation analyses and multiple regression indicated no statistically significant correlations between gender ratio imbalance, masculine ideology, and condom use, while controlling for race, employment status, religion, religious devoutness, sexual orientation, relationship status, STD history (self), and partner STD history. Social change is indicated via the results illustrating the possible empowerment of women regarding their sexual health.

Men experience high rates of negative health outcomes and often have difficulty identifying and seeking support for their issues. Traditional masculine socialization has been identified as a potential determinant of this effect, as masculine ideals often conflict with prosocial help-seeking behaviors. Men who experience this sort of socialization need better support for their mental health and are less likely to seek it out in a professional setting. Therefore, other models of support, like social support, should be investigated. Additionally, factors that impact the way that men perceive social support should be explored, one of which may be self-compassion. The current study examined the ways in which men who adhere to traditional masculine norms perceive social support and if that can be impacted by self-compassion, both by their own tendency to be compassionate to themselves and by a self-compassion induction. Hypotheses were tested that examined the associations among these constructs and any moderating effects that may be present. An online survey was conducted with a sample of 198 men from the US with self-report measures of traditional masculine ideology, gender role conflict, self-compassion, and perceived social support. Next, participants were randomly assigned to a self-compassion induction or control writing task, followed by a perceived social support vignette task in which they rated offered support on its perceived helpfulness. Hypotheses were generally supported—some aspects of masculine socialization were negatively associated with self-reported perceived social support. Self-reported self-compassion was not a significant moderator of this effect. However, the self-compassion induction moderated the association between perceived helpfulness in the vignette task and some aspects of masculine socialization—Men who were lower on this aspect of masculine socialization who received the self-compassion induction perceived the social support as less helpful than those who received the control. However, when this aspect was high, participants who received the induction perceived the support as more helpful. Furthermore, gender role conflict was positively associated with perceived helpfulness. These findings illustrate the complexity involved in understanding the role of masculine socialization in how men may engage with their environment and ultimately how they might improve their mental health outcomes.

Sexual assault in the United States continues to be a major societal problem which often results in serious long-term consequences for the survivors, with perpetrators most commonly being men. Sexual assault prevention programs for college men often lack theories to guide the research and demonstrate mixed results. Previous research has demonstrated that more traditional male gender role identity is linked to sexual assault supportive attitudes and behaviors, suggesting that masculine ideology could be a contributing factor to college men?s reactions to a sexual assault prevention program. The purpose of this study was to test a model of how male gender role identity constructs influence college men?s reactions to a sexual assault prevention program through the Elaboration Likelihood Model. Participants were 97 college men, ages 18 to 22. They completed measures of adherence to masculine ideologies, then participated in an hour long sexual assault prevention program focused on bystander prevention, and finally completed measures of central route processing and outcome variables. Structural equation modeling was used to test a model of how masculine ideologies and central route processing contributed to outcome results. These results indicated that men who adhered to more traditional masculine ideologies were less likely to engage in central route processing, a thoughtful processing of the information provided in the prevention program. Additionally, less adherence to traditional masculinity predicted more behavioral intentions to change as a result of the program and less acceptance of rape myths. More engagement in central route processing also predicted more positive outcomes such as behavioral intentions to change and less rape myth acceptance. Results from hierarchical linear regression analysis indicated that central route processing was more influential on the outcome variables than masculine ideology. Implications for this research include support of sexual assault prevention programs based on the Elaboration Likelihood Model as being potentially effective regardless of the men?s existing masculine ideologies.

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