A Systematic Review of Adolescent Masculinities and Associations with Internalizing Behavior Problems and Social Support

Abstract

Interest in the connection between masculinities and mental health continues to grow. However, no previous systematic review has explored this association for adolescents. We present the systematic review of 29 articles that explore the connection between adherence to stereotypical male gender role norms (e.g., emotional restriction), attributes (e.g., “ambitious”), and identity (most commonly, gender “typicality”) and internalizing behavior problems and social support. A total of 24,795 adolescent boys (6th‐12th grade) were included in the reviewed studies from 1997–2017. In the quantitative articles (n = 20), associations varied by aspect of masculinity assessed. Specifically, we found that greater endorsement of “masculine” traits (e.g., ambitious, assertive) was generally associated with fewer internalizing behavior problems and greater social support. However, lower gender “typicality” and higher adherence to stereotypical gender role norms were generally associated with more internalizing behavior problems and lower social support. In the qualitative articles (n = 9), the most predominant theme was emotional restriction (i.e., a gender role norm) and consequences for mental health. While research in this area is newer for community psychologists, the connection between masculinities and mental health is directly relevant to the field. Given the focus on individual‐level conceptions of masculinity and mental health found in our review, we describe key future directions for masculinities research in community psychology.

Princess Power: Longitudinal Associations Between Engagement With Princess Culture in Preschool and Gender Stereotypical Behavior, Body Esteem, and Hegemonic Masculinity in Early Adolescence

“…When emotion was displayed, boys who endorsed highly hegemonic masculine ideas tend to feel that anger was the only acceptable emotion, leading such boys to be less likely to back down from a physical fight when challenged. Research on hegemonic masculinity in young children is limited, but does find the beginnings of similar attitudes and patterns displayed by adults, such as increased internalizing problems (Exner-Cortens, Wright, Claussen, & Truscott, 2021). For example, one study of middleschool-aged children (seventh and eighth grade) found that children who prescribed more masculine norms (especially emotional stoicism) decreased both school liking and engagement (Rogers, Updegraff, Santos, & Martin, 2017).…”

Men Tackling Isolating Gender Violence to Fight against Sexual Harassment

“…The role of toxic masculinity regarding mental health has been previously investigated. Toxic masculinity is associated with reduced mental well-being and less help-seeking behaviors [ 28 ], and are harmful to men and those around them [ 29 ]. However, research has shown that men’s health improves when they participate in egalitarian groups that foster alternative masculinities and friendship relationships [ 24 ].…”

“To Be a Guy Is to Be Human”: Outcomes of the WiseGuyz Program Through Photo-Based Evaluation

“…Themes of freedom to be oneself and express emotions also align with past qualitative WiseGuyz work, but we found that the photo-based method allowed participants to more clearly articulate their perceived growth in these areas. As emotional restriction and lack of social support are likely key causes of adverse outcomes related to strong adherence to stereotypical male gender role norms ( Evans et al, 2010 ; Exner-Cortens, Wright, et al, in press ; Wong et al, 2017 ), participants’ emphasis on the emotional freedom they felt after participating in WiseGuyz is an especially promising finding.…”