Class-based masculinity, cardiovascular health and rehabilitation

Abstract

Men in economically advanced societies are more at-risk of dying prematurely due to heart disease than women, and this risk is inversely related to their socioeconomic status (SES). While the strong influence of socioeconomic factors on self-management of chronic diseases is important, the impact of masculinity must also be considered. This study examines the social variation in preventive health lifestyles of men from two contrasting socioeconomic groups who have suffered from a cardiovascular incident requiring hospitalization. It draws chiefly on Pierre Bourdieu's sociocultural theory of the practice (habitus and symbolic violence). Qualitative data was collected through 60 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Canadian men (average age 57.3). Results indicate that participants from both socioeconomic groups share aspirations towards personal fulfilment (achieving a sense of security, preserving autonomy and gaining social recognition) after their heart incident, but apply different strategies in pursuit of these aspirations that have distinctive effects on healthy lifestyles. This study emphasise the importance of drawing on theoretical approaches in public health that have the potential to combine universal with context-specific views of human experience in order further understand health and lifestyle inequalities.