Psychological Well-being Of Men Research Articles

Благополучие мужчин и женщин различного брачного статуса: Россия в международном контексте

Presented are the results of foreign research devoted to «his and her marriages» in different countries. It is concluded that, in developed countries at the century, the differences in the psychological and physical well-being of men and women of different married status had decreased significantly in comparison to the second halfof the 20th century, when the classic book of Jessie Bernard «The future of marriage» was published. This is in no small part due to the economic and legal liberation of women. At the same time the well-being of men and women in marriage differs in various countries, ethnic/racial and professional groups. This article deals with empirical data concerning similarities/differences in the indicators of psychological well-being and lifestyles of parents of underage children, men and women ofvarious marital, professional, age and religious groups in Russia. Data from the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS-NRI-HSE, representative sample for the year 2016), Comprehensive monitoring of living conditions (GKS RF, KOUZH-2016) and Statistical Survey of Income and Participation in Social Programs (GKS RF, VNDN-2012, 2016) have been used. Confirmed is the hypothesis on the advantages of married status (including remarriage) in terms of the well-being of parents, men and, to a lesser extent, women in Russia. Determined are the differences in lifestyle and the psychological well-being of men and women of varying marital status among certain professional groups and creeds. Indicated are certain directions for further research in the field of marriage.

Mindfulness for men with pregnant partners: An integrative literature review (Part two)

Background Both men and women can experience depressive or anxious episodes when transitioning to parenthood. Mindfulness interventions are one way to teach men coping strategies to manage these feelings. Aim This integrative review examined original research, evaluating mindfulness as an intervention for men during the perinatal period. Methods A comprehensive search resulted in 157 articles. After applying defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 2 original research papers remained. Thematic analysis identified five themes, the first three of which were discussed in Part I of this article. Findings Mindfulness based stress reduction strategies for men have been shown to be effective across a range of health issues, although there is little research during the perinatal period. Research suggests that men engaged in mindfulness based stress reduction in the perinatal period experienced better regulation of emotions and stress, and felt more present for their pregnant partners. Conclusions To improve men's wellbeing, innovative ways of providing perinatal mindfulness based stress reduction are needed. New or adapted mindfulness based stress reduction programmes are needed to improve men's awareness, empathy, self-esteem and psychological wellbeing to better support their pregnant partners.

Effect of androgen deprivation therapy on sexual function and bother in men with prostate cancer: A controlled comparison.

The adverse sexual effects of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on men with prostate cancer have been well described. Less well known is the relative degree of sexual dysfunction and bother associated with ADT compared to other primary treatment modalities such as radical prostatectomy. We sought to describe the trajectory and relative magnitude of changes in sexual function and bother in men on ADT and to examine demographic and clinical predictors of ADT's adverse sexual effects. Prostate cancer patients treated with ADT (n=60) completed assessments of sexual function and sexual bother 3 times during a 1-year period after the initiation of ADT. Prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy only and not receiving ADT (n=85) and men with no history of cancer (n=86) matched on age and education completed assessments at similar intervals. Androgen deprivation therapy recipients reported worsening sexual function and increasing bother over time compared to controls. Effect sizes for the differences in sexual function were large to very large, and for bother were small to very large. Age younger than 83years predicted relatively poorer sexual function, and age younger than 78years predicted greater sexual bother at 12months in men on ADT compared to men not on ADT. Most men on ADT for prostate cancer will never return to baseline levels of sexual function. Interventions focused on sexual bother over function and designed to help couples build and maintain satisfying relationship intimacy are likely to more positively affect men's psychological well-being while on ADT than medical or sexual aids targeting sexual dysfunction.

“Tell Them that My Dayly Thoughts are with Them as Though I was Amidst Them All”: Friendship among Property-Owning Free People of Color in Nineteenth-Century Natchez, Mississippi

There is a considerable body of work about friendships between enslaved African Americans and the rewards that strong emotional ties conferred upon men and women living in bondage. However, much less has been paid to the bonds of friendship between free people of color, the tangible benefits these relationships provided, as well as their effect on the psychological well-being of men, women, and children. This article examines practices of friendship among property-owning free people of color in Natchez, Mississippi in the nineteenth century. It argues that free blacks formed friendships for the usual reasons of providing companionship and emotional support. Further, though, property-holding free men and women of color had to be particularly strategic in their choice of friends. They often limited their circles to other free people—family members especially—and to powerful whites because a well-chosen friend was often the key to maintaining one's freedom and property in a society that continued to constrict the liberties of free blacks up to the Civil War.

Cancer, Benign Gynecology, and Sexual Function--Issues and Answers.

The diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship of cancer have a profound effect on the quality of lifeand psychological well-being of men and women. Indeed, the perturbation of sexual function because of neoplasm has far-reaching implications. To explore the prevalence, pathophysiology, and treatment of sexual issues in persons with cancer and offer evidence-based recommendations regarding optimal prevention and treatment strategies. A committee of multidisciplinary specialists was formed as part of the larger International Sexual Medicine Consultation working with urologic and sexual medicine societies over a 1-year period to review the result of chronic-illness management on sexual function and satisfaction. The aims, goals, data collection techniques, and report format were defined by a central committee. Expert consensus was based on evidence-based medical and psychosocial literature review, extensive group discussion, and an open presentation with a substantial discussion period. This summary evaluates contemporary literature concerning the prevalence, pathophysiology, and psychological impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment on sexual dysfunction. Evidence-based recommendations and guidelines for evaluation and management are presented. The diagnosis and treatment of cancer have a significant negative impact on sexual function and satisfaction. Comprehension of baseline sexual function, role of psychological supports, and available treatment options could attenuate the heavy burden of decreased sexual function.

Health-related quality of life and psychological well-being in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia: An integrative review.

This integrative review aims to summarize the evidence regarding the health-related quality of life, psychological well-being, and the relevant influencing factors in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. An integrative published work review was adopted. Articles published in English from 2002 to 2014 that addressed the variables of health-related quality of life, psychological well-being, or the relevant influencing factors in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia were included. Of the 4708 articles retrieved, 16 were deemed relevant. Analysis of the published work suggests that benign prostatic hyperplasia has a negative impact on health-related quality of life, citing two major predictive factors: lower urinary tract symptoms and medical management. The psychological well-being of men with benign prostatic hyperplasia remains inconclusive as very limited studies have been conducted to investigate this aspect in these men. Limited studies collectively investigate the relationship among concepts such as health-related quality of life, psychological well-being, and sociodemographic and clinical factors related to benign prostatic hyperplasia. This review highlights the need to conduct further study on health-related quality of life and the psychological well-being of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, especially in an Asian context. Such efforts promote patient-centric care and improve patient satisfaction through incorporating the concept of health-related quality of life into clinical practices.

Monogamy Agreements in Male Same-Sex Couples: Associations With Relationship Quality and Individual Well-Being

In this study, the authors explored whether type of sexual agreement (for monogamy, unrestricted nonmonogamy, or restricted nonmonogamy) is associated with the relationship quality and psychological well-being of men in same-sex relationships. A geographically diverse sample of 219 U.S. men in cohabiting same-sex relationships reported on sexual agreement type, several relationship characteristics central to long-term couple health, and two indices of psychological well-being (depressive symptoms and internalized heterosexism). Results indicated no differences by sexual agreement type in the majority of indices of relationship health, including self-reported relationship satisfaction, hostile conflict, felt constraint, confidence in the relationship, and perceived instability. There were also no group differences in depressive symptoms or internalized heterosexism. However, men in relationships with nonmonogamous agreements reported higher perceived quality of alternatives to their relationship and lower dedication commitment than did those with monogamous agreements. These findings add to a growing literature suggesting that male same-sex relationships that adopt nonmonogamous agreements can be quite healthy and happy but raise the possibility that nonmonogamy may create some vulnerability to long-term couple stability by raising attractiveness of alternatives to the relationship and lowering commitment.

Assessing depression, anxiety and couple psychological well-being in pregnancy: a preliminary study

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate symptoms of depression and anxiety and psychological well-being in men and women in their third trimester of pregnancy, and to compare them with two control groups of men and non-pregnant women, both with children and without children. Background: Perinatal research has largely focused on maternal depression, anxiety and the state of the marital relationship, but few studies exist including partners and comparisons with control groups of men and women both with and without children. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey. The total sample was 156 participants. Approximately equal numbers of participants in each group were recruited through a local community health centre in Zaragoza (Spain) and completed questionnaires in the presence of a psychologist. Anxiety, depression and the couple’s self-ratings of their well-being were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Psychological Well-being in the couple Scale, respectively. Results: The results show higher levels of depression symptoms in the ‘pregnancy group’; specifically, pregnant women reported higher levels of depression than their male partners. Also, the ‘pregnancy group’ (men and women) show lower scores on psychological well-being in the couple compared with the control groups. No significant differences in anxiety-state between the groups and sex were obtained. Conclusion: These findings are important for both researchers and clinicians in practice, in order to improve the identification of women with antenatal depressive symptoms and offer more psychological support for women and their partners during and after pregnancy.

Health-related social control among older men with depressive symptomatology

Objectives: Social control attempts, or attempts by social network members to influence a person's behavior, significantly predict men's health behaviors and psychological well-being. Despite the fact that depression is associated with compromised interpersonal functioning and poor health behaviors, the association between social control processes and depression has not been studied. Thus, this pilot study explored differential vulnerability to spouses’ social control attempts among older, male primary care patients with varying levels of depression symptom severity and the degree to which these attempts predicted patients’ behavioral and affective responses.Method: Participants included 88 older men referred by their primary care providers for a behavioral health assessment at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Data on sociodemographics, depressive symptomatology, health behaviors, spouses’ positive and negative social control attempts, and patients’ behavioral and affective responses to attempts were collected by telephone.Results: The sample was primarily Caucasian (mean age = 65.3 (SD = 8.1) years). Patients’ higher depressive symptoms were significantly associated with positive and negative affective responses to their spouses’ social control attempts. The frequency of control attempts and patients’ behavioral responses, however, were unrelated to patients’ depressive symptoms. Multiple regression models revealed that while spouses’ control attempts were unrelated to patients’ positive behavioral responses, more frequent negative attempts predicted greater negative behavioral responses (e.g., ignoring spouses’ attempts). Moreover, negative control attempts predicted greater negative affective responses (e.g., resentment, sadness).Conclusion: The findings highlight the value of identifying effective social control strategies that maximize positive behavioral change, emotional responses, and health outcomes among older men with depressive symptoms.

The acute effects of exercise on cortical excitation and psychosocial outcomes in men treated for prostate cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Regular exercise improves psychological well-being in men treated for prostate cancer (PCa). For this population and among cancer survivors in general, the effect of a single bout of exercise on self-report or objective measures of psychological well-being has not been examined. We examined the acute effect of a single bout of exercise on the cortical silent period (CSP) and on self-reported mood in men that have received treatment for PCa.Methods: Thirty-six PCa survivors were randomly assigned to 60 min of low to moderate intensity exercise or to a control condition. Outcomes were assessed immediately before and after either the exercise or the control condition.Results: No significant between-group differences were observed in CSP or mood were observed following the exercise session or control conditions. Participants with higher scores of trait anxiety had significantly shorter CSP at baseline, as well as those receiving androgen deprivation therapy. Age and baseline CSP had a low-moderate, but significant negative correlation. Changes in CSP following the exercise condition were strongly negatively correlated with changes in self-reported vigor.Conclusion: While we did not observe any acute effect of exercise on the CSP in this population, the associations between CSP and trait anxiety, age, and vigor are novel findings requiring further examination.Implications for Cancer Survivors: Exercise did not acutely affect our participants in measures of psychological well-being. Additional mechanisms to explain the chronic psychosocial benefits of exercise previously observed in men with PCa require further exploration.Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01715064 (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01715064).

Impact of trait anxiety on psychological well-being in men with prostate cancer.

The aim of the present study was to determine state anxiety following radical treatment for localized prostate cancer (PCa), and the impact of trait anxiety on psychological well-being in affected patients. The present study was a cross-sectional survey of 70 men with localized PCa performed between February 2012 and July 2012. Of those, 21, 24, and 25 patients were treated by radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP), permanent prostate brachytherapy (PPB), and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), respectively. State anxiety, trait anxiety, and general health were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and 8 Items Short Form Health Survey (SF-8). The rate of very high and high state anxiety in patients who received RRP was 47.6%, while that in patients who received PPB and EBRT was 40.0% and 37.5%, respectively. In contrast, the rate of very high and high trait anxiety in the RRP group was much lower (23.7%). Trait anxiety showed a high correlation with state anxiety and the mental health component summary of SF-8 (correlation coefficient=0.715, -0.504). Trait anxiety was associated with the degree of state anxiety regarding treatments for PCa, followed by change in state anxiety, which might have effects on psychological well-being. Information regarding state anxiety as a consequence of treatments and trait anxiety measurement tool are important considerations for treatment decision-making in newly diagnosed PCa patients.

Predictive validity of social support relative to psychological well-being in men with spinal cord injury.

Compare predictive validity (relative to psychological well-being) of long and short versions of 2 measures of social support for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Sixty-nine men with SCI completed (a) a long and short version of the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List (ISEL), (b) a structured interview regarding the frequency with which a person receives 11 kinds of support from each of their most important supporters (maximum of 5), and (c) a global measure of the same 11 kinds of support. Approximately 3 years later they completed 4 measures of psychological well-being--the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CESD), the Life Satisfaction Index A (LSIA), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). Comparisons were made among the social support measures with regard to their ability to predict each of the 4 measures of psychological well-being at a later point in time. The long version of the ISEL had more predictive power than the long version of the structured interview. The long version of the ISEL is a good choice for measuring social support in persons with SCI and the short ISEL may be an acceptable choice when minimizing respondent burden is critical if the number of response options is increased to 4.

PCN154 - Associations Between Overall Care Experience Ratings and Utility and Psychological Well-Being in Men Recently Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer: Findings from a Population-Based Study

PCN154 - Associations Between Overall Care Experience Ratings and Utility and Psychological Well-Being in Men Recently Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer: Findings from a Population-Based Study

Written Evidence from Mr. J. Douglas in Response to Health Committee Public Health Inquiry

There has been a concerted effort in the professional literature, from a small cabal within the medical fraternity, to argue the case for reinstating non-therapeutic circumcision at the expense of the NHS, frequently using professed concern for the well-being of boys of certain ethnic or religious backgrounds receiving circumcision in non-medical settings, as a pretext. Recently, there has been a string of mainstream media items favourable to male circumcision, which amount to nothing less than a marketing campaign to motivate parents to have their sons circumcised. Many of these articles draw upon established marketing concepts (in turn derived from insights of behavoiural science), most notably, the use of “experts”. In the context of promoting circumcision to parents, such “experts” generally include medical practitioners who work at private circumcision clinics and religious officials. Regardless of whether it is performed in a medical or non-medical setting, a significant number of boys subjected to the practice of circumcision will later fulfill the DSM-IV criteria for a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Circumcision removes the most sexually sensitive parts of a boy’s penis, including the foreskin, the frenulum, and the ridged band of nerves. The male foreskin is also designed to protect the glans of the penis throughout a man’s life, ensuring that the internal mucosal tissue remains moist and sensitive (much the same way that a woman’s clitoral hood protects the clitoris). In addition, the foreskin acts as a natural gliding mechanism to reduce chafing and dryness during intercourse. The British Medical Association advises against routine male circumcision, and no national medical association in the world recommends that boys be forcefully circumcised for preventive health reasons. There has been little incentive for the medical profession to investigate the long-term affects on men's sexual and psychological health and well-being, but the growth of groups such as NORM-UK (an organisation registered with the Charities Commissioners for England and Wales), suggests that a substantial number of men genuinely resent being circumcised. It is imperative that Department of Health and Public Health England mandate that all staff, contractors, agencies, facilities and departments under their auspices, including GPs and GP practices: Must not offer among their services the harmful male genital mutilation known as circumcision; Must not permit on their premises individuals or organisations promoting the harmful male genital mutilation known as circumcision; Must not be refer patients explicitly for the harmful male genital mutilation known as circumcision; Must not be employed or associated with any facility offering the harmful male genital mutilation known as circumcision; Must not allow their facilities to be used for the harmful male genital mutilation known as circumcision.; and Must not stock or allow on their premises literature or other material promoting the harmful male genital mutilation known as circumcision. Given the dearth of research in this area, it would be appropriate for the Department of Health and Public Health England to partner with registered charities such as NORM-UK and to create incentives for medical researchers to investigate the long-term affects of circumcision on men's sexual and psychological health and well-being.

Physical and Psychological Health in Persons with Deafblindness that is due to Usher Syndrome Type II

Introduction The objectives of the study reported here were to describe the physical and psychological health of persons with Usher syndrome Type II (USH2) and to explore any differences in terms of gender. Methods The participants were recruited from the Swedish Usher database. In the first step, 122 persons received the questionnaire by mail, and 96 (aged 18–84, with a mean age of 55, 53% of whom were female) agreed to participate. The Health on Equal Terms questionnaire was used, which covered such items as health, living conditions, and social relationships. Results for the participants with USH2 were compared to those of a reference group of 5,738 persons who were drawn from a random sample of the Swedish population retrieved from the Swedish Public Health Institute. The odds ratio (adjusted for gender and age), and its 95% confidence interval were calculated. Results The participants with USH2 reported that their physical and psychological health was significantly poorer than that of the Swedish reference group. They revealed major problems involving headache, fatigue, depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts. For the male participants, the psychological differences were even more marked than those of the male reference group. Discussion The identification of factors associated with physical and psychological health and well-being is important for the design of future rehabilitation strategies for people with USH2. Special focus must be placed on the psychological well-being of men with USH2. Implications for practitioners The management of rehabilitation services for persons with USH2 calls for interdisciplinary teamwork to provide adequate resources to cope with the physical and psychological health issues demonstrated in this study.

A randomised controlled trial of a mindfulness intervention for men with advanced prostate cancer

BackgroundProstate cancer is the most common male cancer in developed countries, and in Australia approximately one-fifth of men with prostate cancer have advanced disease. By comparison to men with localised prostate cancer, men with advanced disease report higher levels of psychological distress; poorer quality of life; and have an increased risk of suicide. To date no psychological intervention research specifically targeting men with advanced prostate cancer has been reported. In this paper we present the protocol of a current randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of a professionally-led mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) group intervention to improve psychological well-being in men with advanced prostate cancer.Methods/designNinety-five men per condition (190 men in total) will be recruited through clinicians in the Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group and in major treatment centres in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. Patients are randomised to: (1) tele-based MBCT intervention or (2) patient education. A series of previously validated and reliable self-report measures will be administered to men at four time points: baseline/recruitment, and at 3, 6, and 9 months after recruitment and intervention commencement. Engagement with the principles of mindfulness and adherence to practice will be included as potential mediators of intervention effect. Primary outcomes are anxiety, depression and cancer-specific distress. Secondary outcomes are health-related quality of life (QoL) and benefit finding. Disease variables (e.g. cancer grade, stage) will be assessed through medical records.DiscussionThis study will address a critical but as yet unanswered research question: to identify an effective way to reduce psychological distress; and improve the quality of life for men with advanced prostate cancer.Trial registrationhttp://ACTRN12612000306819

Men’s Psychological Functioning in the Context of Women’s Breast Cancer

Previous research indicates that men are affected when their female partners have breast cancer. However, little is known about what predicts men's psychological well-being in this context. The current investigation involved couples in which the woman had early stage breast cancer and explored the degree to which men's positive and negative well-being was related to women's well-being, women's physical symptoms, relationship functioning, and relationship duration. The findings indicate that all of these factors play a role and interact in predicting men's well-being. In particular, when women have a high level of physical symptoms, the typical associations between men's well-being with women's well-being and relationship adjustment no longer persist. Implications for working with couples addressing health problems are provided.

Why is the sex gap in feelings of depression wider in high gender equity countries? The effect of children on the psychological well-being of men and women

This study uses data from 23 countries in the World Values Survey and the National Survey of Families and Households and finds that the sex gap in feelings of depression is wider in high gender equity societies even though overall levels of feelings of depression are lower. Using hierarchical logistic modeling, we find that the sex difference in feelings of depression is wider in high gender equity societies because children increase depression for women in high gender equity societies, while they reduce depression for women without paid employment in low gender equity societies. There is little difference in the effect of children on feelings of depression for men across societies.

The Long-term Effects of Father Role Meanings on Men's Psychological Well-being in the U.S.

This study aims to explore the men's perceived meanings attached to the father role and to investigate the relationship between the father role meanings and men's psychological well-being. Using two waves of data from the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) across 5 years, this study estimated the influences of the father role meanings at T1 on psychological well-being of fathers at T2 with hierarchical Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression models. Findings showed that the majority of fathers felt the father roles interesting, appreciated, sociable, and well-done. However, stepfathers reported significantly more negative meanings of the father role than fathers having biological children. Positive role meanings attached to the father role in terms of interesting and well-done were Significantly associated with men's psychological well-being. Although this study has some limitations by using the secondary survey data (NSFH), this study has an advantage in exploring the association between fatherhood experiences and men's psychological well-being from men's own perspectives. Also, this study has strength in a sense that long-term effects of the father role meanings were investigated and empirically provide findings in consistent with role identity.

Psychological well-being in retirement: The effects of personal and gendered contextual resources.

Although prior research points to the gendered nature of work and private routines, surprisingly few studies have explored the influence of gender on the sources of psychological well-being in retirement. Drawing on resource theories and theories on the gendered division of labor, this study examines how preretirement resources relate to retirees' psychological well-being by using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. It is hypothesized that possessing key resources prior to retirement as well as losing or gaining resources in the transition to retirement influence retirees' well-being and that these effects are partially conditioned by gender. Results indicate that preretirement physical health, tenacity in goal pursuit, and flexibility in goal adjustment are beneficial for men's and women's well-being alike. By contrast, financial assets and job dissatisfaction are more strongly related to men's psychological well-being in retirement and preretirement social contacts to that of women. Thus, the study underscores the importance of considering gendered resources in retirement research.