Special Issue "Masculinities' Influence on Health"

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2022.

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ramon Flecha
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sociology, University of Barcelona, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: masculinities; gender violence; social impact; health; social theory
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Adriana Aubert
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sociology, University of Barcelona, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: feminism; violence against women; education; cultural groups; business

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Research has shown that in the same way that healthy relationships improve mental and physical health, toxic relationships deteriorate health. The connection between the brain and the rest of the body is a central mechanism that explains such a process. Current studies on the gut–brain axis, and others on the connections between emotions and the immune system, sustain a better understanding of what research has also shown, which is, among others, that abusive relationships often produce gastrointestinal illness, and that violent interactions produce negative emotions that debilitate the immune system, making the person more prone to infection and to a number of inflammatory diseases. Evidence has also shed light on the fact that, in the context of healthy close relationships, health improves, for example, via dialogic reconstruction of memories of past toxic relationships.

Recent research has also shown that healthy or toxic intimate relationships are related to the kind of masculinities of the male partners. The traditional dominant masculinity generates toxic relationships, creating psychological and physical health problems. New alternative masculinities generate healthy relationships that improve mental and physical health. This Special Issue will explore the influences on health of the different masculinities. Since the problem is multidimensional, this Special Issue seeks manuscripts reporting evidence of success in overcoming toxic relationships and their associated health problems, from all sciences, including interdisciplinary contributions, among others.

We welcome manuscripts that report a wide diversity of research methods; qualitative studies may include case studies, including a single case or biographical methods, among others. Studies that report quantitative methods and surveys as well as contributions using a mixed-methods approach are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Ramon Flecha
Prof. Dr. Adriana Aubert
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2300 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • toxic relationships
  • healthy relationships
  • kind of masculinities
  • dialogic memory
  • violent relationships
  • disdainful relationships

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

Article
Health and Well-Being Consequences for Gender Violence Survivors from Isolating Gender Violence
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(16), 8626; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18168626 - 15 Aug 2021
Viewed by 1020
Abstract
Recent scientific literature has published about the Isolating Gender Violence (IGV), the violence exerted by harassers against those who support their victims. IGV provokes suffering to advocates with health and well-being consequences that have been analyzed by more recent research; but IGV provokes [...] Read more.
Recent scientific literature has published about the Isolating Gender Violence (IGV), the violence exerted by harassers against those who support their victims. IGV provokes suffering to advocates with health and well-being consequences that have been analyzed by more recent research; but IGV provokes also suffering on the victims of gender violence when they see the suffering of those who have supported them and also for their isolation. Thus, the aim of the present study is to explore the health and well-being consequences of IGV on gender violence survivors. The methodology includes three narratives of gender violence survivors whose advocates supporting them were victimized by IGV. The results show, on the one hand, an increase of the health and well-being effects of gender violence already analyzed by scientific literature; on the other hand, new health and well-being effects appear. All survivors interviewed say that, besides those new consequences for their health, the support of those advocates has decreased the global health effects of the total gender violence they suffered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Masculinities' Influence on Health)
Article
The Influence of Masculinity and the Moderating Role of Religion on the Workplace Well-Being of Factory Workers in China
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(12), 6250; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126250 - 09 Jun 2021
Viewed by 726
Abstract
This paper explores how the intersection of masculinity and religion shapes workplace well-being by focusing on Christianity and the social construction of masculinity among factory workers in a city in China. While existing work on public and occupational health has respectively acknowledged masculinity’s [...] Read more.
This paper explores how the intersection of masculinity and religion shapes workplace well-being by focusing on Christianity and the social construction of masculinity among factory workers in a city in China. While existing work on public and occupational health has respectively acknowledged masculinity’s influences on health and the religious and spiritual dimensions of well-being, there have been limited efforts to examine how variegated, and especially religious, masculinities influence people’s well-being in the workplace. Drawing on ethnography and in-depth interviews with 52 factory workers and 8 church leaders and factory managers, we found that: (1) Variegated masculinities were integrated into the factory labor regime to produce docile and productive bodies of workers. In particular, the militarized and masculine cultures in China’s factories largely deprived workers of their dignity and undermined their well-being. These toxic masculinities were associated with workers’ depression and suicidal behavior. (2) Christianity not only provided social and spiritual support for vulnerable factory workers, but also enabled them to construct a morally superior Christian manhood that phytologically empowered them and enhanced their resilience to exploitation. This paper highlights not only the gender mechanism of well-being, but also the ways religion mediates the social-psychological construction of masculinity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Masculinities' Influence on Health)
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Article
Alternative Friendships to Improve Men’s Health Status. The Impact of the New Alternative Masculinities’ Approach
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 2188; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042188 - 23 Feb 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1119
Abstract
Background: Men who develop behaviors connected with the model of hegemonic masculinity present several health problems. Previous research has shown the types of problems that men commonly suffer in this regard such as chronic diseases, dietary disorders, and traffic accidents. To combat and [...] Read more.
Background: Men who develop behaviors connected with the model of hegemonic masculinity present several health problems. Previous research has shown the types of problems that men commonly suffer in this regard such as chronic diseases, dietary disorders, and traffic accidents. To combat and overcome this situation, several campaigns, policies and recommendations have been undertaken, and consequently, their influence has been analyzed. However, there have been few investigations into the role of men’s friendship in the reduction of these physical health problems. The findings presented in this article are focused on this issue, illustrating the impact of male friendship on the shaping of healthy behaviors. Methods: Drawing upon a qualitative-based methodology articulated in a case study of the Men in Dialogue association, located in Spain, the study has followed the premises of the communicative approach, a total of 15 structured online open-ended questionnaires have been performed and analyzed. The median age of the participants is 37.5 years. Results: The findings show how men involved in Men in Dialogue are promoting a kind of masculine friendship that is improving men’s emotional well-being and, consequently, their physical health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Masculinities' Influence on Health)

Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Traditional Masculinity and Aggression in Adolescence: Its Relationship with Emotional Processes
Authors: Malonda, E.; Samper, P.; Llorca, A.; Muñoz, R.; Mestre, M.V.
Affiliation: University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Abstract: Reactive aggression is characterized as a reaction to a provocation or a threat, which can be real or imagined, and proactive aggression is characterized by its emotional coldness and is used to obtain benefits such as power, or domination. Encourage traditional masculinity favors the development of aggression. However, most studies on aggression have only focused on analyzing differences between boys and girls. Furthermore, adolescents who are able to manage negative affect, have more personal resources that protect them from negative behaviors. This study examines the role of gender stereotypes (masculinity-femininity) in reactive and proactive aggression, through regulatory emotional self-efficacy and emotional coping. A longitudinal study (two waves) of 390 adolescents was conducted in several schools in Valencia (Spain). Participants completed the Reactive–Proactive Aggression Questionnaire, Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale, Resilience Appraisals Scale, and Instrumentality and Expressiveness Scale. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The results showed that reactive and proactive aggression (W2) were positively related to traditional masculinity, and negatively to femininity (W1). Furthermore, femininity had an indirect effect to reactive aggression through regulatory emotional self-efficacy and emotional coping (W1). The conclusions provide information in the design of intervention programs based on gender and emotional processes aimed at the development of adapted behaviors in adolescence.

Title: Health Consequences for Gender Violence Victims from Isolating Gender Violence
Authors: Adriana Aubert; Ramon Flecha
Affiliation: Department of Sociology, University of Barcelona, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Abstract: Recent scientific literature has outlined the violence exerted by harassers against those who support their victims. Isolating Gender Violence (IGV) provokes suffering to advocates with health consequences that have been analyzed by more recent research; but IGV provokes also suffering on the victims of gender violence when they see the suffering of those who have supported them and also for their isolation. This paper presents, for the first time in the world, an analysis of the health consequences from IGV for victims of gender violence. The methodology includes interviews and one discussion group of victims of gender violence whose advocates supporting them were victimized by IGV. The results show, on the one hand, an increase of the health effects of gender violence already analyzed by scientific literature; on the other hand, new health effects appear. All victims interviewed say that, besides those new consequences for their health, the support of those advocates has decreased the global health effects of the gender violence they suffered.

Title: The Contribution of Dialogue with Friends to Overcoming Eating Disorders Related to Disdainful Hookups
Authors: Roseli Rodrigues de Mello 1; Marta Soler Gallart 2; Marifa Salceda 3; Esther Roca Campos 4
Affiliation:
1 Department of Pedagogical Theories and Practices, Federal University of São Carlos, Brazil
2 Department of Sociology, University of Barcelona, Spain
3 Department of Education, Universidad Nebrija, Spain
4 University of Valencia, Spain
Abstract: In spite of the extent literature on eating disorders, more research is needed to better understand what leads to this problem and, most importantly, how to overcome it. One of the research lines has made relevant contributions finding psychological therapy interventions to overcome eating disorders. There is a need for evidence about other ways to overcome eating disorders. To that end, this paper presents two case studies of two women who have overcome anorexia through dialogue with friends. Two communicative daily life stories have been conducted with two women who developed anorexia during their teens and twenties after engaging in disdainful hookups and later overcame it. Results from both case studies point out that engaging in an egalitarian dialogue with diverse friends in which they recognized and deepened on their past disdainful hookups in relation to their health problems helped participants overcome their disease. These case studies highlight the potential of dialogue with friendships to help young women break free from the coercive discourse and overcome the health consequences related to disdainful hookups with dominant masculinities.

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