Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

It is well known that men often risk rather than promote their health and are more likely to deny than discuss health issues. In efforts to promote men's health, women often step in to encourage men to change lifestyle behaviours or visit health care providers for diagnosis and treatment of health problems. Our research indicates that women's involvement in men's health can afford men opportunities to advance their own well-being while preserving their masculine identities. However, in some situations women's efforts to influence men's health are unsuccessful, and can create new problems for women. These findings raise important questions for discussion: What are the consequences of relying on women to influence men's health? What do we need to understand about women and men, and the way they influence each others' health practices? How can men be encouraged to engage in promoting their health?