Masculinity, socioeconomic status, and self-reported health among African American men

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of masculinity and socioeconomic status (i.e., income) on the self-reported health of a sample of African American men. Study participants (n = 122) were barbershop patrons from Chicago, Illinois, who ranged in age from 18 to 66. We used logistic regression to assess the relationship between masculinity and self-reported health. Masculinity was measured as the average of responses to a subset of 10 items from the Male Role Norms Inventory and the Male Attitude Norms Inventory II. Self-reported health was measured with a five point Likert scale and dichotomized as excellent versus other health status. Analyses suggested that masculinity, but not socioeconomic status, was positively associated with excellent self-reported health. Such results offer understanding of how masculinity and self-reported health impact health outcomes in African American men.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167002/1/Thompson_Watkins_2016 masculinity SES and selfrated health AA men.pdfDescription of Thompson_Watkins_2016 masculinity SES and selfrated health AA men.pdf : Main Article doi:10.2979/spectrum.4.2.0