Abstract
Background: In Denmark, more men than women live with type-2 diabetes and more men are expected to be diagnosed with this chronic illness in the future. A previous study based on a literature review highlights that little is known about how men live with, calibrate differing logics of health or develop tactics of self-care in everyday life with type-2 diabetes. Thus, a health promoting perspective is needed to grasp potential resources for future self-management.
Methods, theory and findings: This paper presents an analysis of qualitative interviews with men categorized as being in vulnerable positions. Embedded in a theoretical understanding of men’s health in a gender-relations approach, this study explores how strategies of self-care are invisible to the often-female health professionals in medical encounters. As problematized by other scholars, a prevailing men’s health discourse emphasizing the health differences with its binary opposite (women), produces a stereotyped approach to men as disadvantaged patients. Our study demonstrates how men manage living with chronic illness and develop strategies of self-care.
Conclusion: These findings illustrate current barriers in the gendered medical encounter and contribute with new insights into self-understandings and social imaginaries concerning illness and health relevant for future health promotion strategies.
Methods, theory and findings: This paper presents an analysis of qualitative interviews with men categorized as being in vulnerable positions. Embedded in a theoretical understanding of men’s health in a gender-relations approach, this study explores how strategies of self-care are invisible to the often-female health professionals in medical encounters. As problematized by other scholars, a prevailing men’s health discourse emphasizing the health differences with its binary opposite (women), produces a stereotyped approach to men as disadvantaged patients. Our study demonstrates how men manage living with chronic illness and develop strategies of self-care.
Conclusion: These findings illustrate current barriers in the gendered medical encounter and contribute with new insights into self-understandings and social imaginaries concerning illness and health relevant for future health promotion strategies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication date | 15 Jun 2023 |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Jun 2023 |
| Event | 10th Nordich Health Promotion Research Conference: Sustainability and the impact on health and well-being - Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden Duration: 14 Jun 2023 → 16 Jun 2023 Conference number: 10 |
Conference
| Conference | 10th Nordich Health Promotion Research Conference |
|---|---|
| Number | 10 |
| Location | Halmstad University |
| Country/Territory | Sweden |
| City | Halmstad |
| Period | 14/06/2023 → 16/06/2023 |
Keywords
- Men’s health
- everyday life
- vulnerable positions
- type-2 diabetes
