Marcos Marcos, JorgeRomo Avilés, Nuriadel Río Lozano, MaríaPalomares Cuadros, JuanGarcía Calvente, María del Mar2014-02-122014-02-122013-09-16Marcos Marcos J, Romo Avilés N, del Río Lozano M, Palomares Cuadros J, García Calvente M del M. Performing masculinity, influencing health: a qualitative mixed-methods study of young Spanish men. Glob Health Action 2013; 6: 21134.http://hdl.handle.net/10668/1500Journal Article;Background: The literature shows how gender mandates contribute to differences in exposure and vulnerability to certain health risk factors. This paper presents the results of a study developed in the south of Spain, where research aimed at understanding men from a gender perspective is still limited. Objective: The aim of this paper is to explore the lay perceptions and meanings ascribed to the idea of masculinity, identifying ways in which gender displays are related to health. Design: The study is based on a mixed-methods data collection strategy typical of qualitative research. We performed a qualitative content analysis focused on manifest and latent content. Results: Our analysis showed that the relationship between masculinity and health was mainly defined with regard to behavioural explanations with an evident performative meaning. With regard to issues such as driving, the use of recreational drugs, aggressive behaviour, sexuality, and body image, important connections were established between manhood acts and health outcomes. Different ways of understanding and performing the male identity also emerged from the results. The findings revealed the implications of these aspects in the processes of change in the identity codes of men and women. Conclusions: The study provides insights into how the category ‘man’ is highly dependent on collective practices and performative acts. Consideration of how males perform manhood acts might be required in guidance on the development of programmes and policies aimed at addressing gender inequalities in health in a particular local context.enGenderMasculinityMen’s healthYoung menSocial theoryHealth inequalitiesQualitative researchAdolescenteActitud Frente a la SaludConducción de AutomóvilImagen CorporalDisparidades en el Estado de SaludHumanosMasculinoMasculinidadHombresSalud del HombreConducta SexualEspañaTrastornos Relacionados con SustanciasViolenciaAdulto JovenMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::AdolescentMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Attitude::Attitude to HealthMedical Subject Headings::Disciplines and Occupations::Human Activities::Automobile DrivingMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Psychological Phenomena and Processes::Mental Processes::Perception::Body ImageMedical Subject Headings::Disciplines and Occupations::Social Sciences::Demography::Health Status::Health Status DisparitiesMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Check Tags::MaleMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Behavior::Social Behavior::MasculinityMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::MenMedical Subject Headings::Health Care::Population Characteristics::Health::Men's HealthMedical Subject Headings::Psychiatry and Psychology::Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms::Behavior::Sexual BehaviorMedical Subject Headings::Geographicals::Geographic Locations::Europe::SpainMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Substance-Related DisordersMedical Subject Headings::Disciplines and Occupations::Social Sciences::Criminology::Crime::ViolenceMedical Subject Headings::Named Groups::Persons::Age Groups::Adult::Young Adultresearch article24044583open access1654-9880PMC3776322