The Health Effects of Masculine Self-Esteem Following Treatment for Localized Prostate Cancer Among Gay Men

Abstract

Purpose: To identify factors associated with masculine self-esteem in gay men following treatment for localized prostate cancer (PCa) and to determine the association between masculine self-esteem, PCa-specific factors, and mental health factors in these patients. Methods: A national cross-sectional survey of gay PCa survivors was conducted in 2010-2011. To be eligible for the study, men needed to be age 50 or older, reside in the United States, self-identify as gay, able to read, write, and speak English, and to have been treated for PCa at least 1 year ago. One hundred eleven men returned surveys. Results: After simultaneously adjusting for the factors in our model, men aged 50-64 years and men aged 65-74 years reported lower masculine self-esteem scores than men aged 75 years or older. Lower scores were also reported by men who reported recent severe stigma. Men who reported feeling comfortable revealing their sexual orientation to their doctor reported higher masculine self-esteem scores than men who were not. The mental component score from the SF-12 was also positively correlated with masculine self-esteem. Conclusion: PCa providers are in a position to reduce feelings of stigma and promote resiliency by being aware that they might have gay patients, creating a supportive environment where gay patients can discuss specific sexual concerns, and engaging patients in treatment decisions. These efforts could help not only in reducing stigma but also in increasing masculine self-esteem, thus greatly influencing gay patients' recovery, quality of life, and compliance with follow-up care.

Sexual minority men and the experience of undergoing treatment for prostate cancer: An integrative review

“…Five articles (Allensworth‐Davies et al, ; Crangle, Latini, & Hart, ; Thomas et al, ; Ussher et al, ; Ussher, Rose et al, ) reported that prostate cancer treatment had a resounding impact on GBQ men's mental and emotional health, with treatment being directly correlated with increased symptoms of anxiety and depression. Other men reported feeling grief and regret.…”

“…One man said that, after treatment, he was “still kind of getting out of this, but for a long time I felt like I was severely damaged; [and] therefore, completely undesirable. I withdrew (Rosser et al, ).” Another said that prostate cancer treatment was like going through “menopause in a male body” (Allensworth‐Davies et al, ; Rosser et al, ; Thomas et al, ; Ussher et al, ).…”

Marital relationship and health‐related quality of life of patients with prostate cancer and their spouses: A longitudinal clinical study

“…It is important that patients with prostate cancer can discuss sexual concerns in supportive environment with health professionals. A cross‐sectional survey study in the USA showed that men who reported feeling comfortable revealing their sexual orientation to their doctor reported higher masculine self‐esteem scores than men who did not (Allensworth‐Davies et al., ).…”

The effects of radical prostatectomy on gay and bisexual men's mental health, sexual identity and relationships: qualitative results from the restore study

“…The doctoral dissertation compared 341 heterosexual men with 111 gay men, finding GBM to report lower masculine self-esteem and less partner affection than heterosexual men with prostate cancer(Allensworth-Davies, 2012). The author posits that greater sensitivity to stigma as a sexual minority could result in poorer overall quality of life compared to heterosexual men.…”