Abstract
There is a pressing need for health promotion programs focused on increasing healthy eating and active living among “unreached” rural-based men. The purpose of the current study was to describe rural-based working men’s views about health to distil acceptable workplace approaches to promoting men’s healthy lifestyles. Two focus group interviews included 21 men who worked and lived in northern British Columbia, Canada. Interviews were approximately 2 hours in duration; data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Themes inductively derived included (a) food as quick filling fuels, (b) work strength and recreational exercise, and (c) (re)working masculine health norms. Participants positioned foods as quick filling fuels both at work and home as reflecting time constraints and the need to bolster energy levels. In the theme work strength and recreational exercise, men highlighted the physical labor demands pointing to the need to be resilient in overcoming the subarctic climate and/or work fatigue in order to fit in exercise. In the context of workplace health promotion programs for men, participants advised how clear messaging and linkages between health and work performance and productivity and cultivating friendly competition among male employees were central to reworking, as well as working, with established masculine health norms. Overall, the study findings indicate that the workplace can be an important means to reaching men in rural communities and promoting healthy eating and active living. That said, the development of workplace programs should be guided by strength-based masculine virtues and values that proactively embrace work and family life.
Highlights
Engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors including healthy eating and physical activity has been directly linked to reduced risk of developing chronic illnesses and cancer (Khaw et al, 2008; Lee et al, 2012; World Health Organization, 2004); many men continue to live unhealthy lifestyles (Bauman et al, 2009; Northern Health, 2010; Shay et al, 2012; World Cancer Research Fund International, 2007)
Three themes were developed: (a) food as quick filling fuels, (b) work strength and recreational exercise, and (c)working masculine health norms. These themes are discussed and summarized in the results section, and the findings are theorized using masculinities (Connell, 2005) and place (Massey, 1994) frameworks. The men positioned their ability to take up a healthy lifestyle in the context of living and working in northern British Columbian communities
Participants prided themselves on their ability to work in, and overcome harsh conditions, and awareness of healthy eating and active living were entwined with workplace and family responsibilities
Summary
Engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors including healthy eating and physical activity has been directly linked to reduced risk of developing chronic illnesses and cancer (Khaw et al, 2008; Lee et al, 2012; World Health Organization, 2004); many men continue to live unhealthy lifestyles (Bauman et al, 2009; Northern Health, 2010; Shay et al, 2012; World Cancer Research Fund International, 2007). Men can be reticent to seek advice from health care professionals, attend lifestyle education sessions, and/or independently seek out health promotion information (Caperchione et al, 2012; Deeks, Lombard, Michelmore, & Teede, 2009; Yousaf, Grunfeld, & Hunter, 2014). These common male practices have been cited as deeply implicated in reports that men, compared. The purpose of the current study was to describe rural-based working men’s views about health to distil acceptable workplace approaches to promoting men’s healthy lifestyles
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