Role of masculinity in relationships between mindfulness, self-compassion, and well-being in military veterans.

Abstract

Research has begun to demonstrate the benefits of mindfulness and self-compassion for military veterans. However, investigation has lacked on how a prominent feature of military culture, adherence to masculine norms, may impact veterans' experiences of these practices. This research examined the interrelationships among masculinity, mindfulness, and self-compassion as well as how these variables predict well-being (coping and quality of life) in 164 military veterans. Veterans completed all study measures via an online survey. Results demonstrated that mindfulness and self-compassion both predict better coping and quality of life and are related to lower adherence to masculine norms. Masculinity was found related to less active coping, more avoidant/negative emotionality coping, and worse mental health-related quality of life. The Masculinity subscale of Success Dedication, however, was associated with greater mindfulness and active coping and better quality of life. Exploratory results demonstrated a significant moderation effect in which mindfulness predicted greater active coping for veterans with low masculinity but not for veterans with high masculinity. This study provides preliminary data on the role of masculine norms in the context of mindfulness and self-compassion. Although findings link total masculinity scores to negative outcomes, the masculinity component of Success Dedication appears to be a point of commonality between masculinity and mindfulness. Therefore, an effective strategy for clinicians may be to begin the teaching of mindfulness by emphasizing elements that appeal to veterans' norms of success. Public Significance StatementTraditional masculinity among military veterans was associated with lower levels of mindfulness, self-compassion, and mental health-related quality of life as well as with greater levels of avoidant styles of coping. However, the specific masculinity norm related to work success showed relationships with better health and, specifically, a positive relationship with mindfulness. Therefore, although traditional masculinity overall is associated with greater health risks, work success may represent an adaptive element of traditional masculinity.

Compassion‐focused therapy group for men with intellectual disabilities who had maladaptive conceptualisations of masculinity

“…However, compassion could appear to be in conflict with traditional masculine norms such as aggression, violence and not showing vulnerability (Searle et al , 2018). Indeed, research by Reilly et al (2014) found that higher levels of self-compassion were associated with lower levels of masculine norm obedience, and traditional masculinity among military veterans was associated with lower levels of mindfulness, self-compassion and mental health-related quality of life as well as with greater levels of avoidant styles of coping (Ramon et al , 2019). Furthermore, men with intellectual disabilities (IDs) can often struggle with both self-compassion and a sense of their own masculinity.…”

Social rank and compassion: How insecure striving, social safeness and fears of compassion mediate the relationship between masculinity, depression and anxiety

“…The aim of our research was to determine whether compassion offers a promising pathway to reduce the reliance of men adopting traditional masculinity norms, thus improving their mental health. There is an emerging body of work finding that positive benefits of self‐compassion for men's mental health (Health et al., 2017; Ramon et al., 2020; Reilly et al., 2014; Wasylkiw & Clairo, 2016). However, to date, research has not been grounded in social rank theory; as a result, key constructs such as social safeness, striving to avoid inferiority and fears of compassion had not been examined.…”

Compassionate mind training for ex‐service personnel with PTSD and their partners

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