Why Won’t Men Go to the Doctor? Darren R. Jones, PhD, LP HAP Worksite Wellness Forum June 19, 2014

Our Agenda A little about me Facts and figures Research: What do we know? Interventions: What can I do? Questions and comments

Why Do We Need To Talk About This? Men have poorer health outcomes than women across all age groups in most Western and some non-Western countries Findings are robust In U.S. men have higher mortality rates than women for the 15 leading causes of death (exception: Alzheimer’s) Men more likely to suffer from chronic conditions and fatal diseases (Cordier & Wilson, 2013)

Why Do We Need To Talk About This? Male suicide rates 4 to 12 times higher than women Men have higher rates of substance abuse Men have shorter life expectancy (76 vs. 81) Underprivileged men are at even higher risk Only recognized as issue in past decade Men 25% less likely to have visited provider in past year Men 40% more likely to skip recommended screenings (American Psychological Association, 2011)

Your Experiences? Have you experienced difficulty engaging your male employees in health and wellness initiatives? What have you tried already to increase engagement?

What Do We Know?

Stereotype: Men don’t like to ask for help Research validates this belief So why is that? Theory: gender socialization (thoughts and ideas) What does it mean to be a man? Self-reliance, competitiveness, emotional control, power over others, aggression May be a barrier to seeking help Must consider context (Mansfield, Addis, & Mahalik, 2003)

What Do We Know? Gender-role conflict: men’s experience of gender Four patterns have been identified Preoccupation with success, power, and competition Restriction of emotions Restriction in affectionate behavior Conflict between work and family Conflicts are associated with lower self-esteem, marital satisfaction, intimacy, and increased anxiety Also associated with negative attitudes toward help- seeking (Mansfield, Addis, & Mahalik, 2003)

What Do We Know? Social construction theory: gender is created in social situations Views gender as something that is done (not a trait) Men may deny pain in order to minimize problem Maintains gender stereotypes Steer conversations from “soft emotions” Perceived need to “take pain like a man” Reactions to stress: tend and befriend vs fight or flight/bottle it up (Mansfield, Addis, & Mahalik, 2003)

The Role of Motivation A major problem for health care People do not always act rationally But there is no pill for that Understanding and individuals motivation is key to increasing help seeking behaviors Motivations may not be obvious What might be common motivations for seeking help?

What Can We Do? : Interventions Events like this! Male-friendly events: sports, etc. Focus on a functional, fix-it view of health care Focus on facts, figures, tests Target women (motivation) Partner support important Advertising/marketing that addresses stigma (Bob Dole) Normalize health care concerns (providers especially) Use of technology to increase access and provide privacy Societal level: culture shift

In conclusion Questions? Comments? Thank you