Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Men’s adherence to masculinity norms has been implicated as a risk factor for
unhealthy behaviors (e.g., drinking to intoxication, having unprotected sex with multiple,
simultaneous partners) and lack of engagement in healthy behaviors (e.g., blood pressure
screening, cholesterol screening, wearing protective clothing while in the sun, receipt of
annual medical and dental exams) (Boman & Walker, 2010; Courtenay, 2000a, 2000b,
2011; Hammond, Matthews, & Corbie-Smith, 2010; Iwamoto, Cheng, Lee, Takamatsu,
& Gordon, 2011; Locke & Mahalik, 2005; Mahalik, Lagan, & Morrison, 2006; Mahalik
et al., 2003; Nicholas, 2000; Pachankis, Westmaas, & Dougherty, 2011; Pleck,
Sonenstein, & Ku, 1993; Wade, 2009). Masculinity has been defined as behaviors,
beliefs, and personality characteristics associated more often with men than women as
well as characteristics and behaviors that society prescribes and reinforces in men
(Thompson, Pleck, & Ferrera, 1992). Rooted in geographical, cultural, and temporal
environments, diverse masculinities have emerged throughout the United States and the
world (Connell, 1995; Courtenay, 2011). Traditional masculinity beliefs and behaviors in
the United States include the sturdy oak (men should be tough, self-reliant, stoic, and
confident), no sissy stuff (men should avoid feminine characteristics and behaviors), the
big wheel (men should strive for success and status), and give ‘em hell (men should
embrace aggressiveness, daring, and violence) (Brannon, 1976).
Numerous qualitative studies have suggested that some men find cancer screening
examinations involving the rectum (i.e., endoscopy for colorectal cancer [CRC] screening
or digital rectal examination [DRE] for prostate cancer screening) an affront to their
masculinity (see Table 1 for quotations from these studies) (Bass et al., 2011; Beeker,
Kraft, Southwell, & Jorgensen, 2000; Getrich et al., 2012; Goldman, Diaz, & Kim, 2009;
Harvey & Alston, 2011; Holt et al., 2009; Jilcott Pitts et al., 2013; Jones, Devers, Kuzel,
& Woolf, 2010; Rivera-Ramos & Buki, 2011; Thompson, Reeder, & Abel, 2011;
Wackerbarth, Peters, & Haist, 2005; Winterich et al., 2009). However, to the author’s
knowledge, no quantitative studies have considered the role of masculinity in CRC
screening adherence. Unfortunately, current CRC screening rates fall below the 70.5%
Healthy People 2020 screening objective (U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, 2012).Research is needed to better understand relationships between men’s masculinity
norms and CRC screening adherence so that interventions may be developed to reduce
barriers to screening, improve screening rates, and, ultimately, decrease men’s mortality
from CRC. The present study will address this gap in the literature by examining the
masculinity norms and CRC screening adherence of male veterans aged 51-75 years who
are at average CRC risk (Levin et al., 2008). First, the prevalence of CRC, its risk factors
and warning signs as well as CRC screening techniques, screening rates, and
characteristics of individuals who are adherent and non-adherent to CRC screening
guidelines are summarized. Next, the concept of masculinity, theoretical and empirical
support for studying masculinity norms within the context of CRC screening, and
potential relationships between masculinity norms and colorectal cancer screening
behaviors are described. Finally, the study methods, results, and future directions and
limitations of this research are described.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:IUPUI/oai:scholarworks.iupui.edu:1805/7903 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | Christy, Shannon M. |
| Contributors | Mosher, Catherine E., Rawl, Susan M., Rand, Kevin L., Haggstrom, David A. |
| Source Sets | Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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