Perceptions of masculinity and body image in men with prostate cancer: the role of exercise

Langelier, David; Cormie, Prue; Bridel, William; Grant, Christopher J.; Albinati, Natalia K; Shank, Jena; Daun, Julia T.; Fung, Tak; Davey, Colin; Culos-Reed, S. Nicole

doi:10.1007/s00520-018-4178-1

Cited by 33 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Exercise not only helped participants to improve their mood and energy levels, but also gave them a sense of achievement and control over their body. The present study deepened the latter finding, which was only partially explored by previous literature . Participants defined being able to exercise as a reassuring demonstration of their abilities and strength, despite cancer.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

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Body image issues and attitudes towards exercise amongst men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) following diagnosis of prostate cancer

et al. 2019

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Background Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is an established treatment for prostate cancer (PCa), but its side‐effects can affect body appearance and functioning. However, research into the impact of ADT on body image is limited. Exercise can help patients to counterbalance some side‐effects, potentially improving body image too. However, adherence to exercise recommendations is low. Therefore, we explored body image after ADT and attitudes towards exercise. Methods Twenty two semi‐structured interviews were conducted with PCa patients receiving ADT (Mage = 67.9 years old, SD = 9.99). Results Participants expressed appearance dissatisfaction focusing on body feminization. Participants exercised to counterbalance ADT side‐effects and improve mood. Exercise also helped them to re‐establish a sense of control over their body and experience a sense of achievement. However, some men described being worried that their appearance and physical performance would be judged by others, so they often exercised alone or gave up exercise. Time management and fatigue were also identified as exercise barriers. Conclusion These findings highlight the need to further investigate body image concerns and exercise barriers in PCa patients undergoing ADT. These results could also inform support groups and health care professionals on the topic. However, further research should explore the most effective and acceptable ways to provide support to PCa patients on body image issues.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

“…Indeed, some studies have supported this preliminary evidence. For example, a correlational study by Langelier et al found that higher levels of aerobic exercise were associated with higher levels of masculinity, improved body image, and QOL in PCa patients …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body image issues and attitudes towards exercise amongst men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) following diagnosis of prostate cancer

et al. 2019

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“…It is clear that prostate cancer and its treatments negatively effect masculinity, body image, and a man's sense of personal identity. While this review supports that exercise provides a number of benefits, levels of exercise are not improving without direct intervention . This highlights the need to address established exercise barriers and preferences .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…This theory is supported by a recent cross-sectional study that demonstrated significantly higher scores of masculinity when men achieved recommended levels of aerobic exercise compared with those achieving recommended levels of resistance exercise. 41 However, the small number and heterogeneity between the exercise programs limits our current understanding; thus, future research must address the impact of exercise type on masculinity outcomes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While this review supports that exercise provides a number of benefits, levels of exercise are not improving without direct intervention. 41 This highlights the need to address established exercise barriers and preferences. 44,47 This review provides cautious optimism to the clinicians and researchers that perhaps by understanding and appealing to male masculinities, body image changes, and personal identity issues, they may offer the unique opportunity to acknowledge masculinity preferences within an exercise program.…”

Section: Clinical and Research Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exercise interventions and their effect on masculinity, body image, and personal identity in prostate cancer—A systematic qualitative review

et al. 2019

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Objective Men with prostate cancer face various body composition and psychosocial challenges following diagnosis. Movement‐based interventions such as exercise may represent novel strategies to improve these important biopsychosocial changes. This systematic qualitative review aimed to examine the various exercise interventions and their effect on male perception of masculinity, body image, and personal identity. Methods A systematic search across nine electronic databases was conducted in July 2017 and repeated in August 2018. Eligible studies included qualitative works examining masculinity, body image, or personal identity within an exercise intervention. Thematic content analysis allowed for qualitative synthesis across numerous studies. Results Six studies met eligibility criteria for inclusion. Four interventions used multimodal aerobic and resistance training, one incorporated aerobic exercise through football practice, and one utilized a home‐based aerobic plus yoga program. Exercise was implicated to improve masculinity through creation of a safe community, allowed for refocusing on valued male traits, provided a source of distraction, and offered a means of establishing control over one's illness. Exercise also facilitated a process of self‐reflection secondary to changes in physique and helped to re‐establish male self‐efficacy. Conclusions Regardless of prostate cancer stage, treatment status, or prior androgen deprivation therapy exposure, both aerobic or aerobic and resistance training exerted positive effects on perceived feelings of masculinity, body image, and personal identity.

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The impact of hegemonic masculine ideals on self‐esteem in prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) compared to ADT‐naïve patients

et al. 2022

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Purpose Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for Prostate Cancer (PCa) is associated with side effects that could lead to negative body image and low masculine self‐esteem of survivors. We compared a group of PCa survivors following ADT with ADT‐naïve patients, expecting the ADT group to show lower masculine self‐esteem. We also expected patients with hegemonic masculinity ideals to show poorer masculine self‐esteem and we hypothesized that ADT would moderate this relationship, expecting PCa patients on ADT with stronger hegemonic ideals to show the worst masculine self‐esteem scores among study participants. Methods We compared 57 PCa survivors on ADT (Mage = 64.16 (7.11)) to 59 ADT‐naïve patients (Mage = 65.25 (5.50)), on the Masculine Self‐Esteem Scale (MSES), Body Image Scale (BIS), and Hegemonic Masculinity Ideals Scale (HMIS). Results While the two groups did not significantly differ on masculine self‐esteem (F [1, 115] = 3.46, p = 0.065, ηp2 = 0.029) and body image (F [1, 115] = 3.46, p = 0.065, ηp2 = 0.029), younger age was significantly associated with higher body image issues (F [1, 115] = 8.63, p < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.071, β = −0.30). Hegemonic masculinity significantly predicted more masculine self‐esteem related issues (t (2, 114) = 2.31, β = 0.375, p < 0.05). ADT did not moderate this relationship. Conclusions The results suggest that endorsing hegemonic masculinity could represent a risk factor for low masculine self‐esteem regardless of ADT status and that younger age is associated with negative body image among PCa survivors. Implications These results suggest the importance of inclusion of topics related to hegemonic masculinity when providing support to PCa survivors, both when discussing treatment side effects, as well as in the later phases of survivorship. This pilot also suggests that younger PCa survivors might benefit from body‐image focused support regardless of treatment plan.

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Perceptions of masculinity and body image in men with prostate cancer: the role of exercise

Cited by 33 publications

References 43 publications

Body image issues and attitudes towards exercise amongst men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) following diagnosis of prostate cancer

Body image issues and attitudes towards exercise amongst men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) following diagnosis of prostate cancer

Exercise interventions and their effect on masculinity, body image, and personal identity in prostate cancer—A systematic qualitative review

The impact of hegemonic masculine ideals on self‐esteem in prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) compared to ADT‐naïve patients

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