Macho men are more susceptible to mental disorders, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal Journal of Counseling Psychology. They are also less likely to be treated, as very few seek help from a health professional.
Researchers at Indiana University Bloomington in the United States performed a meta-analysis of 74 studies conducted between 2003 and 2013 with 19,500 participants. “Our research looked at what it means to be male, and how male chauvinism relates to mental health issues in men,” said lead author of the study, Joel Wong, associate professor of counseling and educational psychology. at Indiana University Bloomington.
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Being macho is bad for your health
The team of scientists focused on data regarding the adoption of 11 types of so-called masculine behaviors such as: desire to win, emotional control, risk-taking, violence, need to dominate, side play -boy (sexual promiscuity), independence, the importance of a job well done, power over women, contempt for homosexuality and obtaining a certain status.
They have correlated them with mental health disorders, the Depression, the stress, body image issues, and difficulty socializing with others.
Researchers have found that men who adhere to “male standards” tend to have mental health issues and are less motivated to seek psychological help.
“What we found overall is that the more men conform to male standards, the poorer their mental health and the less likely they are to seek mental health services,” said the author of the study. “But these results do not allow us to answer the question of why”.
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