PurposeProstate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common forms of cancer amongst males. Men’s coping responses are an important determinant of functioning and adjustment to this disease. Previous qualitative research exists in this area, but the current review sought to systematically review and summarise these studies.MethodsA systematic review was conducted to identify studies concerned with men’s coping strategies in their attempts to live with PCa. A search of relevant electronic databases was conducted to identify studies that met inclusion criteria for this review. Methodological quality assessment was also undertaken for each included study.ResultsOne hundred twenty-one publications were identified for initial screening, and 18 studies were included in the review. A total of five coping strategy categories or ‘meta-themes’ were identified across included studies. These categories were labelled ‘avoidance, minimisation, and withdrawal’, ‘directing cognition and attention’, ‘reframing masculinity and seeking support’, ‘retain pre-illness identity and lifestyle’, and ‘symptom/side-effect management’.ConclusionsA range of coping strategies were reported by men with PCa. Some of these strategies appear to be partially influenced by gender roles and masculinities. Coping meta-themes reported in this review have also been found in other research on men’s coping. Strategies relating to flexible interpretation of gender roles/masculinities may be a particularly relevant category of coping responses due to the hypothesised beneficial impact of flexibility on psychological well-being.Implications for cancer survivorsPCa survivors utilise a range of coping strategies, and the types of strategies used may have implications for men’s well-being. The ability to be flexible in both coping responses used, and in the view of oneself as a man may be particularly important skills in meeting the challenges associated with this disease.

PurposeThis study seeks to gain some understanding about the attitudes of anabolic‐androgenic steroid (AAS) users towards the media and whether their constructs of masculinity are influenced by this. It also aims to explore their attitudes towards health information.Design/methodology/approachA self‐completion questionnaire containing 35 items of both open and closed questions was designed for the study. All participants were English‐speaking, injecting male steroid users, 16 years or older whose trigger for using was confidence and self‐esteem, and were registered clients at either of the two included UK needle exchange services.FindingsParticipants and other AAS users were open about their use to each other, but not to people external to that sub‐culture. They denied media influence, although they thought that most men in the media with muscular bodies used AAS. They associate masculinity with strength and muscle. They seemed knowledgeable about the health implications of AAS, but would not tell a health professional unless asked directly. There appears to be a sub‐culture normalisation regarding AAS use, with the trivialisation of health messages, their minimisation of the possibility of negative effects happening to them, and comparison of oneself to others they regard as inferior in some way.Originality/valueThe paper explores the need for a credible and non‐judgmental source of information for users of AAS.

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Psychological inflexibility or experiential avoidance (EA) is an important construct in the understanding of psychological distress. Both EA and many forms of masculinity can be characterized by inflexibility in men’s responses to negative intrapersonal experiences. The current cross-sectional, community-based study investigated whether experiential avoidance mediated the relationship between gender role conflict (GRC) and psychological distress (PD). A total of 120 men (M = 35.63, SD = 12.22) completed an online questionnaire measuring key study variables. Results indicated that experiential avoidance significantly mediated the relationship between each of the four recognized patterns of GRC and PD. These findings suggest that EA may be a potential mechanism through which GRC is associated with PD.