Young Australian Men Research Articles

‘It’s pretty sad if I’m just betting by myself … ’: navigating shame and stigma in everyday sports betting

ABSTRACT Smartphone technologies and prominent marketing campaigns continue to contribute to the growth of sports betting in contemporary Australia, shifting the practice from pubs and clubs into the domestic and intimate lives of young bettors. This article seeks to build on prior studies of sports betting in the lives of young Australian men by focusing on how gambling shame and stigma is navigated by bettors and their romantic partners. Data collected from 20 interviews with young sports bettors and their intimate partners is used to highlight and contrast how men and women perceive and engage with modern sports betting. Drawing on the work of Elspeth Probyn, we show how shame directed by betting men towards problem gambling behaviours and perceived illegitimate forms of gambling, such as betting alone or betting on racing, helps legitimise men’s own betting practices and position them favourably in masculine betting hierarchies. In contrast to men’s shaming responses, women who have been romantically involved with sports bettors instead show feelings of understanding and indifference towards the practice, provided their partners bet at a recreational level. These findings illustrate the ways young Australian gamblers use ‘betting shame’ to navigate and justify their engagement with a rapidly transforming, stigmatised leisure practice.

The impact of gendered scripts onchlamydiaand safe-sex on young Australian men and women’s performance of gender and sexual responsibility

Over the last decade, young Australian’s rates of chlamydia infection have been steadily increasing with notable differences between young men and women (Kirby Institute, 2018). We explore the impact of gendered scripts on chlamydia and safe-sex on young heterosexual men and women’s performance of gender and sexual responsibility. We examine findings from a Foucauldian discourse analysis (FDA) of key Australian public health websites, alongside in-depth interviews, and qualitative survey responses of students from an Australian university. The FDA identified gendered scripts in public health resources that generally avoided focussing on men in favour of encouraging women to take responsibility for couple’s safe-sex behaviour. Interviews revealed heteronormative gendered scripts framed many sexual practices with stronger focus on unwanted pregnancy than STIs, disproportionate targeting of women for STI testing by doctors and more open discussions on sexual health among women. Interviews also highlighted the absence of a normative ‘formula’ – or script – for safe-sex discussions.

Using the health belief model to understand the factors influencing the perceptions of people of Chinese ancestry about reducing salt consumption for hypertension prevention: A cross-sectional study.

High-salt diets are linked to hypertension. Chinese people in Australia, are at increased risk of hypertension due to the combination of routine addition of high quantities of salt to food during cooking and high salt levels in processed western foods. There is a scarcity of salt-related behavioural studies on this population group. This study aimed to explore the habitual salt consumption of Chinese Australians and factors that influence their perceptions about sustaining salt-related behavioural changes for hypertension prevention. A cross-sectional descriptive study using an adapted Determinants of Salt-Restriction Behaviour Questionnaire was conducted on 188 Chinese Australians. A non-probability sampling method was used to attract participants from different parts of Australia. Statistical analyses such as descriptive analysis, t-tests and Pearson correlation tests were performed in the study. Over 97% of participants did not measure the amount of salt added to their meals. Many participants reported that salt was added to their meals based on their experience (39.4%) and food taste (31.9%). Over 80% of participants did not know the recommended level of daily salt consumption. Although salt-related knowledge had no significant correlation with individuals' salty food taste preferences, there were significant correlations with the perceptions of the severity of disease and health benefits of reducing salt consumption (p = .001 and < .001 respectively). People with stronger salty taste preferences perceived a higher level of health threat than people with lighter salty taste preferences (p = .003). Findings from this study show that knowledge about salt-reduction alone had no significant effects on salt-related behaviours. Adequate culturally relevant practice-based education in salt-reduction strategies may facilitate salt-related behavioural changes in Chinese Australians. Overall, single young Chinese Australian men with stronger salty taste preferences is the group who needs salt reduction interventions the most.

Young men and anxiety: Resisting, reckoning and responding.

Anxiety is the most prevalent mental disorder experienced by young men, and when untreated, is predictive of co-morbid mental health challenges and suicide. Despite the rising prevalence, there is a conspicuous absence of qualitative research to distil and theorise young men's anxiety. Twenty-five young Australian men (15-25years), who had been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or self-reported anxiety symptoms, took part in individual semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a constructivist grounded theory approach. A three-process grounded theory (Resisting-Reckoning-Responding; Triple R Anxiety Model) depicted young men's experiences of anxiety, gilded and guided by their masculine socialisation. Initially, young men noticed somatic symptoms (i.e., headaches, nausea and myalgia) but did not connect these symptoms to anxiety. Avoiding anxiety (e.g., denying, distracting) proved unhelpful in the longer term and as symptoms diffused, a subsequent process of reckoning anxiety (i.e., meaning making) ensued. As young men gained insight to the life limiting bounds of their anxiety, some were prompted towards actions of acceptance, seeking help proactively and employing strength-based adaptive coping strategies. This theoretical conceptualisation of young men's anxiety has the capacity to enhance identification and treatment efforts, improving young men's mental health outcomes across the lifespan.

A Mediterranean diet intervention for young men with depression: patient experiences, challenges and benefits (the “AMMEND study”) – A cross-sectional study

Recent research has highlighted the beneficial effects of following a Mediterranean diet (MD) for depression. Unfortunately, adherence to specific diets presents many challenges and while previous research has aimed to understand these challenges, the focus has primarily been on weight-loss interventions in patients with obesity or cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to understand the experiences and challenges expressed by young men with clinical depression who completed a 12-week Mediterranean diet intervention. An online questionnaire was used to collect data from 36 young Australian men aged between 18 and 25 with diagnosed depression who participated in the Mediterranean Diet arm of the Mediterranean Diet for Men with Depression (AMMEND) study. Descriptive analyses were undertaken for each variable with results reported as percentages and frequencies. Positive aspects highlighted by participants included enjoying the taste of foods, being highly motivated to continue with the diet and a perceived benefit to their depressive symptoms. The main challenges included increased cost and time commitment, and the negative attitudes of their friends and family towards the diet. We recommend that the influence of friends and family attitudes towards the diet and the impact this has on following a Mediterranean diet in young men be explored further, as this posed a challenge for many of our participants. These results may assist clinicians when promoting a Mediterranean diet to this specific demographic.

Young men\u2019s perceptions about the risks associated with sports betting: a critical qualitative inquiry

BackgroundGambling is an inherently risky activity. New technologies have led to the development of new, online forms of gambling such as sports betting, with round the clock availability and accessibility. While young men have been identified as a group that may be particularly vulnerable to the harms associated with these new online products, few studies have qualitatively explored young men’s perceptions of the risks associated with these products. Using concepts associated with the sociology of risk, this paper sought to explore the range of factors that may influence how 18–24 year old young Australian men conceptualise the risks associated with sports betting.MethodsUsing a critical qualitative inquiry approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with sixteen participants in Victoria, Australia, who engaged in sports betting at least monthly. The data interpreted for this study included questions relating to awareness of gambling, the contexts associated with early gambling experiences; the factors that influenced current gambling behaviours, and why they engaged in gambling. A reflexive approach to thematic analysis was used to interpreted themes from the data.ResultsFour key themes were constructed from the data relating to the factors that influenced risk perceptions. These included: 1) ‘The role of early experiences’, including exposure to gambling advertising in sport, and the gambling behaviours of social networks; 2) ‘The influence of peer rivalry and competition’, in which sports betting was used to form connections within and across peer groups; 3) ‘The normalisation of gambling’, including the embedding of gambling in everyday activities; and 4) ‘The influence of perceptions of knowledge, skill, and control’, including the belief that they could engage in responsible behaviours and stop gambling if they needed to.ConclusionThis study indicated that a range of factors may influence how young men conceptualise the risks and benefits associated with sports betting. Current public health strategies for gambling that focus on individual determinants and responsibility paradigms must be broadened to target the social and commercial factors that influence young men’s attitudes towards, and engagement in sports betting.

Jack London's “Mauki” and the Colonial Pacific

Jack London's “Mauki” and the Colonial Pacific

The relationship between psychosocial variables and drive for muscularity among male bodybuilding supplement users

ABSTRACT Objective Given that a high drive for muscularity (DM) has been found to be associated with negative mental health outcomes for men, this research examined pathways involving social influence which may explain why some men are more susceptible to a DM than others. Method Building on previous qualitative research, this study examined psychosocial factors (self-esteem, perception of body by others, and body satisfaction during youth) and social influences (peer pressure and social media) associated with DM among young Australian men who lift weights and take bodybuilding supplements daily (N= 250) – both precursors for developing risky body enhancement strategies. This investigation extends the conceptualisation of social influence factors to include social identity (ingroup identification with a muscularity centred subculture). Results Path analysis found social media and peer pressure were directly associated with DM. Self-esteem and perception of body by others had a direct association with DM and an indirect association mediated by peer pressure and social media. Ingroup identification with a muscularity-centred subculture was associated with perception of body by others, peer pressure, and social media. Conclusions These findings highlight the mediating role of social influences on DM in young men, reinforcing the role of peers especially via online mediums. Key Points What is already known about this topic: Men are increasingly reporting body dissatisfaction, often associated with an increased drive for muscularity. Research indicates a drive for muscularity is associated with psychosocial factors (e.g., self-esteem) and increasingly social influences (e.g., social media). Questions remain as to why some men are more susceptible than others to perform muscularity enhancing behaviour.What this topic adds: An online survey of 250 young men who weight-train and take supplements found social media and peer pressure had strong direct associations with DM. Psychosocial factors had direct and indirect associations with DM, mediated by the social influences of peer pressure and social media. Ingroup identification with a muscularity-centred subculture did not have a direct association with DM but was linked via other social influence constructs.

Bioequivalence of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from foods enriched with a novel vegetable-based omega-3 delivery system compared to gel capsules: a randomized controlled cross-over acute trial

PurposeTo evaluate bioavailability of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) from foods enriched with novel vegetable-based encapsulated algal oil across Australian and Singaporean populations.Methods27 men (n = 12 Australian European; n = 15 Singaporean Chinese), 21–50 yr; 18–27.5 kg/m2, with low habitual intake of omega-3 LCPUFA completed a multicentre randomised controlled acute 3-way cross-over single-blind trial. They consumed, in random order 1-week apart after an overnight fast, standard breakfast meals including 400 mg docosahexanoic acid (DHA) from either extruded rice snacks or soup both containing cauliflower-encapsulated HiDHA® algal oil or gel capsules containing HiDHA® algal oil. Blood samples for analysis of plasma DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were taken pre-meal and after 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 h. Primary analyses comparing 24-h incremental area under the plasma DHA, EPA and DHA + EPA concentration (µg/ml) curves (iAUC0-24 h) between test foods were performed using linear mixed models by including ethnicity as an interaction term.ResultsPlasma iAUC0-24 h did not differ significantly between test foods (adjusted mean [95% CI] plasma DHA + EPA: extruded rice snack, 8391 [5550, 11233] µg/mL*hour; soup, 8862 [6021, 11704] µg/mL*hour; capsules, 11,068 [8226, 13910] µg/mL*hour, P = 0.31) and did not differ significantly between Australian European and Singaporean Chinese (treatment*ethnicity interaction, P = 0.43).ConclusionThe vegetable-based omega-3 LCPUFA delivery system did not affect bioavailability of omega-3 LCPUFA in healthy young Australian and Singaporean men as assessed after a single meal over 24 h, nor was bioavailability affected by ethnicity. This novel delivery system may be an effective way to fortify foods/beverages with omega-3 LCPUFA.Trial registrationThe trial was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04610983), date of registration, 22 November 2020.

Understanding and addressing gender-based violence: an Australian Indigenous approach

ABSTRACT Addressing the gendered dimensions of family violence is central to preventing violence against women (PVAW). What is seen as more important for Indigenous PVAW programmes, however, is situating gender-based violence within the broader context of colonial violence. In this paper, the significance of this focus is highlighted through a case study of a healing and behavioural change programmefor young Indigenous men within Victoria (Australia). Drawing on the voices of two leading facilitators, the paper examines how this program recognizes and responds to the ongoing impacts of colonisation on the lives of its young Indigenous male participants. It details the significance of safe relations and spaces as requisite for healing the trauma of young Indigenous Australian men towards addressing their perpetuation of gender-based and other forms of violence.

Exploring the harms arising from polysubstance use among performance and image enhancing drug users among young Australian men

Evidence suggests young men who use performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) in Australia also engage in alcohol and party drug use. Such polysubstance use is concerning as it could exacerbate the harms that come from using either PIEDs or other drugs alone. The present study employed semi-structured interviews with 12 young men which aimed to explore patterns of PIED and other drug use among a sample of young men who use PIEDs in Australia. Analysis of interview data identified typical patterns of PIED use and other drug use among this group. The analysis yielded two themes: 1) extent of compound use for body enhancement and 2) alcohol and other drug use resulting in harms for PIED users. The present findings underscore that young men who use PIEDs represent an at risk population for alcohol and party drug use and the increased array of harms that the combination of multiple substances produces.

‘It’s literally giving them a solution in their hands’: the views of young Australians towards patient-delivered partner therapy for treating chlamydia

ObjectivesPatient-delivered partner therapy (PDPT) is a method for providing antibiotic treatment for the sexual partners of an index patient with an STI by means of a prescription or medication that...

Investigation into the diets and nutritional knowledge of young men with depression: The MENDDS survey.

Currently 1 million Australians are living with depression each year, with an average of one in eight men experiencing the disorder. Studies have shown that individual nutrients, fruit and vegetable intake, polyphenols, and whole dietary patterns can have a positive effect on depressive symptoms. In particular, the Mediterranean diet has shown promising preliminary findings. The aim of this study was to assess the diet quality and knowledge of young men in relation to depressive symptoms. This was a cross-sectional online survey. We collected data from 384 young Australian men between 18 and 25 y of age with diagnosed depression. Pearson's χ2 test was used for ordinal categorical variables. Dietary intake among this population was poor. Discretionary foods were consumed two to three times per week and included pizza (41%), fried potatoes such as French fries or hash browns (29%), and chocolate (25%). Roughly half of participants (47%) reported never consuming whole grains or legumes and only 9% said they eat vegetables twice or more per day. Healthy eating is perceived as both time consuming (82%) and expensive (70%). One-third (32%) of participants perceived their diet as having a major effect and 29% a slight effect on their mental health, with only 5% reporting that diet has no effect on their mental health. However, the majority of participants (84%) believe it is important or very important to eat an overall healthy diet and 77% reported being willing to change their diet if it would improve their symptoms of depression. These results highlighted the relatively poor diets of this population. This group of young men would greatly benefit from a quality diet such as the Mediterranean diet. The reported willingness to change their diets is encouraging and supports the viability of dietary intervention trials in this demographic. The dietary data presented in this study can be used to develop targeted interventions aimed at improving the diets of young men with depression.

Australia's Adonis: Understanding what motivates young men's lifestyle choices for enhancing their appearance

ObjectiveIncreasing numbers of young Australian men are training and dieting to attain high muscle mass and low body fat and using steroids and performance and image enhancing drugs to expedite this process. This study explored men's identification with a muscularity‐centred subculture and what contributes to the pursuit of masculine body image defined by muscularity.MethodParticipants were 14 young men who (a) weight‐trained >3 times per week, (b) used bodybuilding supplements daily, and (c) used/had used steroids/other performance and image enhancing drugs.ResultsInterview analysis identified precipitating (e.g., low self‐confidence), perpetuating (e.g., social media pressures), and resultant factors related to strict regime adherence, including simultaneous recreational drug use. This range of influences gives support to a sociocultural framework for explaining the development and maintenance of striving for a muscular ideal among this cohort.ConclusionsUnderstanding the factors contributing to the attainment of a muscularity‐defined masculine body image is important given the risky health behaviours young men may engage in to reach this ideal.

Meat, Masculinity, and Health for the "Typical Aussie Bloke": A Social Constructivist Analysis of Class, Gender, and Consumption.

Food choice is complex and influenced by a range of social, environmental, structural, and individual factors. Poor diet is one of the major contributors to the burden of disease, in particular for men who habitually have lower intakes of fruits and vegetables and higher intakes of meat. Food choice has been linked to the expression of masculine identities. This research used a Bourdieusian framework to explore the influential drivers of young Australian men’s eating habits based on occupational groupings. Twenty men aged 19–30 years participated in in-depth semistructured interviews. Analysis used a grounded theory, social constructivist approach and identified five themes: performative masculinities and meat; meat cuts across social class; the influence of masculine autonomy on dietary choice; women protecting Australian men’s health; and the role of environmental and structural barriers. These results indicated that habitus remains a useful conceptual framework to explain the results, and cultural capital is reinforced as a phenomenon. Occupation and gender appear to no longer be primary drivers of food choice in this group of men. Rather there is a shift toward an understanding of multiple masculinities and the development of microcultures with interactions between structure and agency. Meat still features in the food world of Australian men, but there are shifts to deprioritize its importance. There needs to be a more nuanced understanding of the importance of autonomy and control as well as the role of women in relation to men’s dietary intakes and how this can be harnessed for positive dietary change.

Socioeconomic Disadvantage, Mental Health and Substance Use in Young Men in Emerging Adulthood

Emerging adulthood is a neglected phase of the life course in health research. Health problems and risk behaviors at this time of life can have long-term consequences for health. The 2016 Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing reported that the influence of socioeconomic factors was under-researched among adolescents and young adults. Moreover, the influence of socioeconomic factors on health has been little researched specifically in emerging adult men. We aimed to investigate associations between socioeconomic disadvantage and mental health, suicidal behavior, and substance use in young adult Australian men. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between Year 12 (high school) completion and area disadvantage on mental health, suicidal behavior, and substance use in 2,281 young men age 18–25 participating in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health (Ten to Men). In unadjusted analysis both Year 12 non-completion and area disadvantage were associated with multiple adverse outcomes. In adjusted analysis Year 12 non-completion, but not area disadvantage, was associated with poorer mental health, increased odds of suicidal behavior, and substance use. Retaining young men in high school and developing health-promotion strategies targeted at those who do exit education early could both improve young men’s mental health and reduce suicidal behavior and substance use in emerging adulthood.

Intimations of masculinities among young male sports bettors

ABSTRACTThis study explored intimations of masculinities within narratives of young Australian men who bet regularly on sport. Qualitative data collected from white, heterosexual Australian men aged 18–34 revealed their sports betting as characterised by four interrelated intimations of masculinities. Sports betting was portrayed as masculine leisure with the young men’s sports betting interest often influenced by older males and male peers. A foundation and context for social interactions among male peers, sports betting provided a backdrop for formative masculine identity construction. An entrenched male peer group norm, sports betting success produced cultural capital and subsequent social status by virtue of analytic skill, risk-taking and boisterous, competitive social interactions. However, sports betting was widely perceived as stigmatised leisure capable of prejudicing the young men’s prospective or existing intimate relationships with women. The young men negotiated this dilemma by adopting softer projections of masculinity in which sports betting was concealed in the presence of their spouse or prospective female partners. We therefore theorise sports betting as an augmentation to sport as a bastion for the construction of heteronormative masculinity, whilst lending further support to conceptualisations of masculine identities as plural and fluid.

“It’s Ok, We’re Safe Here”: The Karrabing Film Collective and Colonial Histories in Australia

Windjarrameru (The Stealing C*nt$) tells the story of four young Indigenous Australian men who are accused of stealing beer and then chased by police into a marsh that has been contaminated by mining. The film subverts representations of Indigenous Australians in ethnographic film and makes visible the way these representational tools are part of the same destructive force enacted by colonial structures of power that support the mining industry.

Negotiations between progressive and ‘traditional’ expressions of masculinity among young Australian men

This article draws on feminist theory and critical studies on men and masculinities to explore expressions of masculinity among young, relatively privileged men between the ages of 20 and 29 in Australia. Narrative interviews conducted with these men in 2014 revealed assertions of progressive attitudes alongside reworkings of more hegemonic expressions of masculinity. In particular, participants demonstrated distancing from ideas of protest masculinity and spoke of iterations of softer masculinities in relation to their work lives and friendships. At the same time, they borrowed or co-opted aspects of a perceived version of protest masculinity, such as ‘hard work for hard bodies’. Through such practices and beliefs, participants could juggle contradictory requirements of masculinity in late modernity and perpetuate more privileged modes of masculinity. This article argues that sociological attention must continue to be focused on ongoing, privileged expressions of masculinity, even as encouraging changes emerge in late modern, post-industrial societies.

Correlates of physical activity and sedentary time in young adults: the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study

BackgroundThe socioecological model proposes a wide array of factors that influence behaviours. There is a need to understand salient correlates of these activity behaviours in a specific population. However, few studies identified socio-demographic, behavioural, physical, and psychological correlates of objectively-assessed physical activity and sedentary time in young adults.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional analysis of participants in the Raine Study (a pregnancy cohort started in 1989). Australian young adults (mean 22.1 years ± SD 0.6) wore Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometers on the hip 24 h/day for seven days to assess moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time (n = 256 women, n = 219 men). Potential correlates were assessed via clinical assessment and questionnaire and included socio-demographic variables (ethnicity, relationship status, work/study status, education, mothers education), health behaviours (food intake, alcohol consumption, smoking status, sleep quality), and physical and psychological health aspects (anthropometrics, diagnosed disorders, mental health, cognitive performance). Backwards elimination (p < 0.2 for retention) with mixed model regressions were used and the gender-stratified analyses were adjusted for demographic variables, waking wear time and number of valid days.ResultsIncreased time spent in MVPA was associated with: being single (IRR 1.44 vs in a relationship living together, 95%CI: 1.17, 1.77, p = .001) in women; and better sleep quality in men (lower scores better IRR 0.97, 95%CI: 0.93, 1.00). Less time spent sedentary was associated with: lower mother’s education (− 32.1 min/day, 95%CI -52.9, 11.3, p = 0.002 for having mother with no university degree vs at least a baccalaureate degree) and smoking (− 44.3 min/day, 95%CI: - 72.8, − 15.9, p = .0002) for women; lower education status (− 32.1 min/day, 95%CI: -59.5, − 4.8, p = 0.021 for having no university degree vs at least a baccalaureate degree) and lower depression scores in men (− 2.0, 95%CI: - 3.5, − 0.4, p = 0.014); more alcoholic drinks per week for women (− 1.9 min/day, 95%CI: -3.1, − 0.6, p = 0.003) and men (− 1.0, 95%CI: -1.8, − 0.3, p = 0.007).ConclusionsLess desirable correlates were associated with positive levels of activity in young Australian adult women and men. Interventions to increase MVPA and decrease sedentary activity in young adults need to specifically consider the life stage of young adults.