Alternative Friendships to Improve Men’s Health Status. The Impact of the New Alternative Masculinities’ Approach

Oriol Ríos-González, Mimar Ramis-Salas, Juan Carlos Peña-Axt and Sandra Racionero-Plaza
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Oriol Ríos-González: Department of Pedagogy, Rovira i Virgili University, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Mimar Ramis-Salas: Department of Sociology, University of Barcelona, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Juan Carlos Peña-Axt: Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Instituto de Estudios Sociales y Humanísticos IDESH, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, 1090 Temuco, Chile
Sandra Racionero-Plaza: Department of Sociology, University of Barcelona, 08034 Barcelona, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: Background: Men who develop behaviors connected with the model of hegemonic masculinity present several health problems. Previous research has shown the types of problems that men commonly suffer in this regard such as chronic diseases, dietary disorders, and traffic accidents. To combat and overcome this situation, several campaigns, policies and recommendations have been undertaken, and consequently, their influence has been analyzed. However, there have been few investigations into the role of men’s friendship in the reduction of these physical health problems. The findings presented in this article are focused on this issue, illustrating the impact of male friendship on the shaping of healthy behaviors. Methods: Drawing upon a qualitative-based methodology articulated in a case study of the Men in Dialogue association, located in Spain, the study has followed the premises of the communicative approach, a total of 15 structured online open-ended questionnaires have been performed and analyzed. The median age of the participants is 37.5 years. Results: The findings show how men involved in Men in Dialogue are promoting a kind of masculine friendship that is improving men’s emotional well-being and, consequently, their physical health.

Keywords: friendship; new alternative masculinities; solidarity; self-confidence; happiness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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