Title: Masculine beliefs, parental communication, and male adolescents' health care use.

POPLINE Document Number: 313333

Author(s):

Marcell AV
Ford CA
Pleck JH
Sonenstein FL

Source citation:

Pediatrics, 2007 Apr;119(4):e966-e975.

Abstract:

Male adolescents frequently become disconnected from health care, especially as they get older, which limits physicians' abilities to address their health needs and results in missed opportunities to connect them to the health care system as they enter adulthood. In this study we tested the ability of modifiable (beliefs about masculinity, parental communication, sex education, and health insurance) and nonmodifiable (age, race/ethnicity, and region of residence) factors to prospectively predict health care use by male adolescents. We conducted a prospective analysis of data from 1677 male participants aged 15 to 19 years who completed the National Survey of Adolescent Males, a household probability survey conducted throughout the United States in 1988 (wave 1, participation rate: 74%) and in 1990-1991 (wave 2, follow-up rate: 89%). We present percentages and adjusted relative risks of the factors that predict male adolescents' self-report of a physical examination by a regular provider in the past year measured at wave 2. On average, 1067 (66%) of 1677 male adolescents at wave 2 reported having a physical examination within the last year. Factors associated with a lower likelihood of a physical examination included living in the South, Midwest, and West; being older in age; and holding more traditional masculine beliefs. Factors associated with a higher likelihood of a physical examination included communicating about reproductive health with both parents and being insured. Male adolescents who were sexually active or engaged in = 2 other risk behaviors had neither a higher nor lower likelihood of a physical examination. Efforts to enhance male adolescents' health through health care should include work to modify masculine stereotypes, improve mothers' and fathers' communication about health with their sons, expand health insurance coverage, and identify interventions to connect male adolescents at increased risk for health problems with health care. (author's)

Keywords:

United States
Research Report
Surveys
Men
Adolescents, Male
Households
Beliefs
Parental Involvement
Communication
Health Services
Sex Education
Utilization of Health Care
Program Accessibility
North America
Americas
Developed Countries
Sampling Studies
Studies
Research Methodology
Demographic Factors
Population
Adolescents
Youth
Age Factors
Population Characteristics
Family and Household
Sociocultural Factors
Culture
Child Rearing
Behavior
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Education
Program Evaluation
Programs
Organization and Administration