Older Men's Social Participation: The Importance of Masculinity Ideology

Abstract

The central question was, independent of marital status and health, is the satisfaction that older men derive from their social networks linked to gender ideology? Based on the 135 older men within a larger study of community-based older adults, findings show that masculinity ideology is inversely related to the size of networks and the extent of men's social participation; however, endorsing the traditional masculinity ideology is directly associated with the satisfaction men derived from their social participation. Older men who believe in the traditional masculinity script felt satisfied in their relationships, whereas men who reject this ideology and reported a greater need to discuss private feelings had developed larger networks and increased their involvement in their networks during the year between the T 1 and T 2 interviews. Discussed in the context of covert and face-to-face intimacy pursuits, abiding by the cultural of hegemony masculinity seems to yield less interaction but greater satisfaction among older men.

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