Healthy Aging CORE Research Spotlight: October 2024

Research Spotlight: UBC Men's Health Research Program

The UBC Men's Health Research Program focuses on masculinities as it influences men’s health behaviours and illness management, and its impact on partners, families and overall life quality. Findings from their research inform men’s health interventions and offers guidance to clinicians and researchers to advance men’s health promotion. Core research areas include mental health, health promotion, quitting smoking, and beating prostate cancer. On their website you can find out more about topics such as how men build relationships, suicide prevention research, and the benefits of peer support and social connection. Visit their In Good Company project website to learn more about why it’s important for men to connect, and how they can connect better with their buddies.

New Research on CORE

• [Report] The Mental Health Benefits Of Men’s Sheds In Rural Alberta (Clark Banack, Kyle Whitfield, Serena Isley)
• [Report] A Report on Current Views and Experiences of Social Prescribing in Men’s Sheds (Bryony Porter, Pippa Belderson, Kristy Sanderson, Sarah Hanson, et al.)

New Statistics Canada Research

Statistical checkup of Canadian men’s health

This Statistics Canada article summarizes men's health trends in Canada. The data suggests Canadian men are more likely to die young or die from preventable or avoidable causes than women, more likely to smoke or drink alcohol, and have higher rates of suicide and accidental deaths. On a more encouraging note, the mortality rate among men for certain cancers has declined, while a majority of men recently reported excellent or very good mental health. 

New Journal Articles

Open Access Articles: Articles that are free and accessible to the general public.

Heinz, M., Kent-Thomas, K., & Hinders, J. (2024). US Men’s Sheds: Promoting Meaning, Purpose, and Connection. Activities, Adaptation & Aging, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/01924788.2024.2339051

In order to better understand Men's Sheds in the USA the authors conducted a survey of Men’s Sheds members and received 76 responses. Most of the members were male, older adults, and in good health. Most frequently members reported joining to make new friends or learn a new skill. Almost all respondents strongly agreed or agreed (97%) that participating in the Men’s Shed was beneficial to them.

Handlovsky, I., Wonsiak, T., & Amato, A. T. (2024). Older, self‐identifying gay men's conceptualisations of psychological well‐being (PWB): A Canadian perspective. Nursing Philosophy, 25(1), e12466. https://doi.org/10.1111/nup.12466

In this study the authors interviewed 26 older (50+) self-identifying gay men living in British Columbia about their perspectives on psychological well-being. From the interviews, three key themes emerged 1) being emotionally balanced, 2) living gratitude (i.e., expressing gratitude and maintaining a positive outlook on life) and 3) fully embracing self-acceptance.