Conceptions of masculinity were investigated for their potential relations to both help-seeking and health outcomes among men who experienced traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries. Results indicated that 9 of 17 masculinity-related indicators correlated negatively with attitudes toward psychological help-seeking. Regarding outcomes, desire for status and success correlated positively with ratings of improvement in functional independence from initial hospitalization to one-year follow-up. Conversely, the belief that men should have power over women correlated negatively with life satisfaction, and masculine role conflict correlated negatively with perception of environmental barriers to successful functioning in the community. Suggestions for practice and further research are discussed.
Objective: To increase understanding of masculine role attitudes and conflicts associated with alcohol use among men with serious injuries. Participants and Measures: Fifty-two Midwestern adult men with spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury completed masculine role attitudes and conflicts and alcohol consumption instruments. Age and blood alcohol content at injury were obtained from records. Results: Younger men reported greater pursuit of status, drive for dominance, and risk taking but less self-reliance and overall masculine role conflict. Earlier age of injury was associated with greater pursuit of status and drive for dominance but less self-reliance, restrictive emotionality, and overall masculine role conflict. Endorsement of dominance correlated positively with number of alcoholic drinks per drinking episode (r s ϭ .43) and binge drinking (r s ϭ .47). Masculine role conflict associated with success, power, and competition correlated with number of drinks per drinking episode (r s ϭ .46). Implications: Greater awareness and sensitivity to masculinity-related attitudes and conflicts may (a) reduce psychological barriers to accepting assistance, (b) promote active engagement in rehabilitation activities, (c) avoid counterproductive ambivalence and resistance, and (d) improve the therapeutic working alliance associated with favorable outcomes among men with serious injuries.
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