Understanding shedders: Which socio‐demographic, health and wellbeing characteristics best inform appropriate health promotion action in men's sheds and a ‘Shed for Life’?

Abstract

Issue Addressed Men's sheds (‘Sheds’) have been identified as inherently health promoting and as potential settings to engage ‘hard‐to‐reach’ men in more structured health promotion initiatives. However, little is known about the socio‐demographic or health and wellbeing characteristics of Shed members (‘Shedders’) on which such initiatives might be based. This study captures a baseline cross‐sectional analysis of Shedders (n = 384) who participated in ‘Sheds for Life’, a health promotion initiative tailored to Sheds. Methods Objective health measures (body composition, blood pressure, blood lipids) captured via health screening as well as socio‐demographic and health and wellbeing measures (physical activity, subjective wellbeing, mental health, social capital, cooking and diet) via questionnaires were assessed. Descriptive statistics were generated and differences between groups were determined via parametric and non‐parametric testing. Bivariate analysis was used to determine associations and regression analysis then estimated various predictors on mental wellbeing, life satisfaction and loneliness. Results Participants were mostly over 65 years (77.3%), retired (88.6%) with limited educational attainment (77%). The majority were in the ‘at‐risk’ categories for objective health measures, with most being referred to their GP following health screening (79.6%). Older Shedders were also more likely to meet physical activity guidelines. Mental wellbeing was positively correlated with life satisfaction and increased social capital and these were also positively correlated with physical activity (P < .05). Conclusions Findings highlight the potential of Sheds in reaching a ‘hard‐to‐reach’ and ‘at‐risk’ cohort of men. Despite a high prevalence of ‘at‐risk’ objective health measures, participants report their health in positive terms. Future health promotion initiatives should capitalise on the inherent health‐promoting properties of Sheds. So What? Findings raise important implications for prioritising and designing health promotion initiatives in Shed settings.

Strategies for effective implementation and scale-up of a multi-level co-designed men's health initiative “Sheds for Life” in Irish Men's Sheds

“…This research has determined that currently SFL is an appropriate and acceptable model that has been widely adopted at Shed and PO level, while also establishing itself as a leading priority program for its host organization. The hybrideffectiveness design of the SFL evaluation has demonstrated that SFL has emerged as the most appropriate model to reach the target cohort of HTR men (12). Moreover, it has captured the implementation process and identified important facilitators and barriers to enhance implementation efforts.…”

“…These results are described in detail elsewhere and highlight both the efficacy of the SFL initiative in encouraging positive and sustained changes in health and wellbeing outcomes for Shedders (31), as well as supporting the case for scale-up (29). Baseline characteristics of participants also highlight that SFL was effective in engaging a cohort of HTR men (12). Implementation of SFL proceeded in the four counties outlined but due to the onset of COVID-19 Sheds remained closed for an extended period.…”

“…The Men's Sheds ("Sheds") are autonomous, grassroots organizations that originated in Australia in the 1980s and grew exponentially in Ireland from 2011 following the economic recession. Founded and sustained by Shed members ("Shedders"), membership within Sheds attracts diverse representations of men from different socioeconomic backgrounds, and importantly, are effective in attracting cohorts of HTR men (10)(11)(12). The proliferation of Sheds across Ireland was testament to a growing need for men to identify with a space that facilitated meaning, social support, safety and belonging (10,13).…”