Masculine norms and mental health of African men: what can psychology do?

Chika Remigious Ezeugwu; Oluyinka Ojedokun

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05650

Masculine norms and mental health of African men: what can psychology do?

Heliyon. 2020 Dec 10;6(12):e05650. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05650. eCollection 2020 Dec.

Authors

Chika Remigious Ezeugwu¹, Oluyinka Ojedokun²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology & Education, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
² Department of Pure & Applied Psychology, Faculty of Social & Management Sciences, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Abstract

In Africa, internalisation of masculine norms among men has been reported to make them more susceptible to mental health problems. In this chapter, social construction and role theories are used to explore the relationships between masculine norms and mental health among men in Africa. The authors argued that due to traditional and institutionalised beliefs, men engage in restrictive emotionality through defence mechanisms by denying their mental health challenges and status. Hence, an inclusive model of remedy was suggested that targets men's traditional beliefs as a way of aiding help-seeking behaviour among them to make them less susceptible to mental health problems.

Keywords: Africa; Masculine norms; Men; Mental health; Psychology.