Dying to be Men

<p>Masculinity has a powerful effect on the health of men and boys. Indeed many of the behaviors they use to be men actually increase their risk of disease injury and death. In this book Dr. Will Courtenay an internationally recognized expert on men's health provides a foundation for understanding this troubling reality. With a comprehensive review of data and literature he identifies specific gender differences in the health-related attitudes beliefs and behaviors of men and boys and the health consequences of these differences. He then describes the powerful social environmental institutional and cultural influences that encourage their unhealthy behaviors and constrain their adoption of healthier ones. In the book's third section he more closely examines the health needs of specific populations of men such as ethnic-minority men rural men men in college and men in prisons. Courtenay also provides four empirical studies conducted with multidisciplinary colleagues that examine the associations between masculinity and men and boys' health beliefs and practices. Finally he provides specific strategies and an evidence-based practice guideline for working with men in a variety of settings as well as a look to the future of men's health. </p> <p></p> <p>Medical professionals social workers public health professionals school psychologists college health professionals mental health practitioners academics and researchers from a broad array of disciplines and anyone interested in this topic will find it to be an extensively researched and accessible volume.</p>