The author is, incredibly, a Harvard professor.
Posted on 03/16/2007 3:55:36 AM PDT by Pharmboy
Traditional Masculinity Can Aid Recovery from Serious Injuries, MU Study Finds
COLUMBIA, Mo. - For years, experts have said that the strong, silent male is not one to ask for help when he's hurt, and therefore at a disadvantage when it comes to getting better. But new research says this might not be completely accurate. This masculine identity often associated with men in the armed forces and other high-risk occupations may actually encourage and quicken a man's recovery from serious injuries, says a new exploratory study from the University of Missouri-Columbia. The study is the first to quantitatively confirm correlations between masculinity and men's recovery.
The study assessed men's conformity to masculine roles and included a longitudinal component in which their level of improvement in functioning was assessed. It found that men with higher masculinity conformity levels were observed to display greater improvement from initial hospitalization to one year after leaving the hospital.
Though more research is needed, Glenn Good, associate professor of educational, school and counseling psychology in MU College of Education, said the study provides some unexpected findings. Previous studies have generally found that more traditional views of masculinity are barriers toward health and recovery, in that it encourages dangerous activities and discourages men from seeking help with their problems or accepting vulnerability.
"It has long been assumed that men are not as concerned and don't take as good of care of their health," Good said, "but what we're seeing here is that the same ideas that led to their injuries may actually encourage their recovery."
The tenets of traditional masculinity have been said to include the ability to withstand hardship, 'stick-to-it-iveness' and the willingness to see something through to the end, according to the study.
"The immediate message here is to encourage psychotherapy along with traditional methods of healing," Good said. "Most people with serious injuries are provided primarily biomedical treatments, but it is important to look at psycho-social issues that affect their recovery as well. In terms of a social response, this study encourages us to redefine strength and masculinity in ways that benefit every stage of health care."
This study also can shed some light on what the wounded soldiers from Iraq may be facing," Good said. "The war in Iraq is the first in which such a large number of soldiers are surviving injuries that would once have been fatal, and we as a nation are going to be living with their care for a while."
The study was published in the American Psychological Association's journal Psychology of Men and Masculinity. -30-
On the Net: University of Missouri MU College of Education
Of course, Dear. Now put down that curling iron. You scare me.
"Injury" is that pain that slowly fades after your wife or girlfriend kicks you square in the jewels because you smiled at some woman on the street. ;-P
Did this study give any consideration to the possibility that "manly men" are more likely to be in better physical condition when they get injured and that could lead to their faster recovery?
Yeah? Well, weebils wobble, but they don't fall down!
Yup. At 51, my 85 year old mother still tries to tell me how to take care of myself everytime I sniff or cough. God bless her.
What the "experts" don't know, "advocates" do.
bump
It's a means of getting weakness to leave your body.
more like we don't grab every crutch we can. becoming dependant on a crutch will slow recovery.
a crutch can be anything. wife catering to your needs, pain meds, time off work, etc.
I guess those football coaches knew something after all.
The author is, incredibly, a Harvard professor.
"The immediate message here is to encourage psychotherapy along with traditional methods of healing,"
The psychotherapy aspect of a manly man. "Get out of bed and get back to work you p*ssy"
"traditional methods of healing" Take an asprin and ignore any left over pain.
I went to graduate school with a Harvard grad (from Iowa) who was a QB for the Johnny's football team. He was a tough guy (smart and nice also). It might be rare, but it happens...
"...this study encourages us to redefine strength and masculinity..."
Why, to help the health care industry? ;')
Advocates are more informed than experts?
Then again, most so called experts are more like advocates.
I'm a lumberjack, and I'm okay,
I sleep all night and I work all day.
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