Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of illness and death in the United States and around the world. Doctors and researchers are paying particular attention to this disease because it is more modifiable and preventable than many other diseases and causes of death.
But importantly, improvement and prevention depend on early detection and reduction of risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Unfortunately, detection and mitigation is less than optimal across the United States. Experts estimate that up to 75% of young people with risk factors such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol are unaware of their condition.
A recent study led by researchers at the University of Chicago found that boys and men who behave more closely in line with stereotypical gender norms in their social environments are more likely to be diagnosed and treated for cardiovascular disease risk factors. They were found to be less likely to report. Their findings add to existing research showing that sociocultural pressure to perform a male gender identity is associated with harmful health-related behaviors such as drug use and refusal of medical treatments and recommendations. Based on.
It is well known that male gender and male gender are associated with a decreased ability to seek help for a variety of health conditions. Especially mental health and primary care. However, previous studies have not investigated in more detail the social processes by which male gender is repeatedly formed through interactions between individuals and their surroundings. In this new paper, we used innovative measurement techniques to examine the structure of male gender and how it relates to cardiovascular disease prevention. ”
Dr. Nathaniel Glasser, general internist and pediatrician at the University of Chicago School of Medicine and lead author of the paper
Glasser and colleagues analyzed data from Add Health. Add Health is a nationally representative longitudinal study that collected health measures and survey responses from more than 12,300 people at multiple time points over a 24-year period (1994-2018). They identified the subset of survey questions that self-identified male and female participants answered most differently and measured how well male participants’ responses to those questions matched those of their same-sex colleagues. We quantified male gender expressiveness among Add Health participants.
“When we talk about gender expression, we don’t look at the physiological things that can be influenced by the Y chromosome,” Glasser pointed out. “We focus purely on self-reported behaviors, preferences, and beliefs, and how similar these reported behaviors and attitudes are to those of same-sex peers.”
Focusing on cardiovascular disease, the researchers compared Add Health’s biological measurements to health-related survey responses, and found that men with detectable risk factors, such as high blood pressure, were more likely to be diagnosed and treated for those diseases. We checked to see if they had reported receiving it. They found that men who displayed a more stereotypical gender presentation were significantly less likely to report being told about their specific cardiovascular disease risk status by a medical professional. Even if these men reported having been previously diagnosed, they were still less likely to report taking medications to treat these symptoms.
The risk factors investigated in this study are all conditions that are typically detected through screening, which is part of basic primary care. It is unclear whether the reported decline in diagnosis and treatment among people with high male gender expression indicates that men are less likely to get tested. Having been screened but not paying attention to the diagnosis. Or they think they’re just downplaying the diagnosis when asked about it. Whatever the underlying reasons, the findings highlight a missed opportunity to prevent or reduce serious cardiovascular disease later in life.
“Our hypothesis is that social pressures are driving behavioral differences that impact cardiovascular risk reduction efforts. This is concerning because it may lead to worse long-term health outcomes. It should be done,” Glasser said.
Ultimately, the authors see the implications of this study reaching far beyond traditional themes of masculinity.
“We’re seeing how the pressure to communicate identities rooted in gender, race, sexuality, etc. impacts health behaviors,” Glasser said. “We feel strongly that adapting to society and achieving belonging is a complex challenge, and that increasing society’s compassion, empathy, and patience with others grappling with that challenge is good for people’s well-being. ”
sauce:
University of Chicago Medical Center
Reference magazines:
New Jersey Glasser et al. (2024). Male gender expression and the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease risk in men. JAMA network open. doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.41281.
