226131 Implications of Black men's “Hierarchy of Responsibilities” for health behavior interventions

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 10:45 AM - 11:00 AM

Derek M. Griffith, PhD , School of Public Health, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Katie Gunter, MPH/MSW , School of Public Health, Center on Men's Health Disparities, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Henry C. Gaines, BS , c/o School of Public Health, Center on Men's Health Disparities, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Julie Ober Allen, MPH , School of Public Health, Department of Health Behavior & Health Education, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Health behavior interventions have tended to focus more on Black Americans' food preparation and access to physical activity than where health fits in the context of their lives. Black men's personal health is often considered a low priority until health problems impair more highly valued aspects of their lives or social roles (e.g., provider, father, spouse). Gendered cultural and social demands present unique stressors in the lives of Black men and constrain their opportunities and efforts to prioritize diet and physical activity. This presentation describes data from 14 exploratory focus groups examining factors that influence Black men's eating behaviors and physical activity that were conducted with 110 urban men with a mean age of 55 from Flint and Ypsilanti, Michigan. Thematic content analysis reveals that gendered and cultural responsibilities and roles, which Black men describe as a “hierarchy of responsibilities”, influence how men prioritize employment and family needs over eating a healthy diet and engaging in regular physical activity. Black men were socialized to prioritize work and family roles over their own personal health, and this pattern is reinforced by today's gendered social and cultural norms. While it is critical to overcome knowledge limitations, personal preferences and environmental barriers, these data suggest that interventions designed to improve Black men's eating behaviors and physical activity consider how they cope with chronic life stressors. There are key culturally anchored beliefs and priorities that influence men's willingness to engage in healthy behaviors and constrain their ability to make and sustain lifestyle changes.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the health implications of the interaction of race and gender as Black men engage in valued social and cultural roles. 2. Assess the implications of Black men’s experiences of the “hierarchy of responsibilities” for interventions to improve Black men's health behaviors. 3. Describe how chronic life stressors influence men’s health behavior and health outcomes.

Keywords: Male Health, Gender

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the PI of the project that provided the basis for this presentation and developed the presentation in collaboration with my co-authors.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.