The Psychology Of Men's Health (Health Psychology) Book

How do traditional concepts of masculinity restrict men's life choices and affect their health? Why is it that men die earlier than women? Can men find new ways of negotiating masculinity that are not injurious to their physical and emotional health?

This is the first book to provide a comprehensive overview of the psychology of men's health. It represents a wide-ranging introduction, grounded in a thorough review of the international literature in this rapidly developing field, examining the ways in which the social and cultural definitions of appropriate behavior for men affect their lives and choices in ways that damage their health.

At an individual level, the book covers men's health behaviors and use of health services, emotional expression, risk-taking, sexuality, and men's relationships with their bodies. At a social level, it explores the ways in which social definitions of masculinity affect men's relationships with work and family, and the gendered issues that arise as men age.

The authors seek to place the psychology of men's health in a broad social perspective, and argue that a male centered, patriarchal society does not necessarily benefit all, or indeed any, men. They argue that less restrictive and less gender-typed models of human behavior would benefit men's physical and emotional health, as well as helping to create a more equitable society.