Men's mental health and addiction research

UK project addresses mental health needs of black and minorith ethnic men

The UK-based Improving the Mental Health of BME Men project aims to enhance understanding of black and minority ethnic men's beliefs, attitudes and behaviours around mental health and their experiences of mental health services. The project report will be released later this year. Its findings will help health care professionals work better with BME men and will support the development of resources for BME men.

Not just a "dumb jock": Fit teenage boys are smarter

In the first study to demonstrate a clear positive association between adolescent fitness and adult cognitive performance, US and Swedish researchers found that better cardiovascular health among teenage boys correlates to higher scores on a range of intelligence tests -- and more education and income later in life. The results are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Macho men are a liability on the roads

The more "macho" the man, the more risks he may take on the road, according to a University of Montreal study in which men were asked in a driving simulation to catch another car. Interviews with the men also revealed a link between macho men and speed.

Deep, masculine voice not enough to challenge a man's dominance

Men with a deep, masculine voice are seen as more dominant by other men, but a man's own dominance -- perceived or actual -- does not affect how attentive he is to his rivals' voices, according to a study in the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.

Prenatal and postpartum depression strike new fathers

About 10 per cent of fathers experience prenatal or postpartum depression, with rates being highest in the three- to six-month postpartum period, according to a meta-analysis appearing in the May 19 issue of JAMA.

Older men prefer talking to friends and spouses, not doctors, about sexual issues

A new study suggests that it may not help older men and women with sexual problems to talk to a doctor, but men who talk to their partner report greater happiness -- and those who talked with friends felt less depressed. The study is published in the April issue of the Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences.

Aggression in boys may be triggered by earlier or later puberty

Puberty that arrives earlier or later in adolescent boys relative to their peers can trigger chemicals that are related to antisocial behavior, according to researchers, whose findings have key implications for parents with aggressive boys. The findings appear in the May issue of Psychoneuroendocrinology.

 Fathers of sexually abused children need support

The preliminary results of a University of Montreal study show that fathers of sexually abused children can suffer from anxiety, depression and grief. These men are often overwhelmed by a desire for vengeance, yet little literature exists to help them deal with their pain.

Smoking cessation by Latino men influenced by acculturation

Latino men who are more adapted to U.S. culture are more likely to quit smoking than their less-acculturated counterparts, according to research at the University of Texas, published in the December issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.