“I can’t have it; I am a man. A young man!” – men, fibromyalgia and masculinity in a Nordic context

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Research shows that gender has a substantial impact on the health behaviour such as expression of physical symptoms like persistent pains and aches. However, there is yet little knowledge about the gendered aspect of pain by men who suffer from typical female diseases like fibromyalgia. The purpose of the study was to elucidate the interplay between illness and gender by exploring life-stories of men who suffer from fibromyalgia.

Methods: The data were collected through life-story interviews of eight men suffering from fibromyalgia. A narrative methodology for analysis was applied to explore the storytelling and the linguistic and performative aspects of the life-stories.

Results: The masculine identity of the participants was re-negotiated by comparisons to other men and life before symptom onset, and by discussing expectations and beliefs of how men should act in contemporary societies. The transition from experiencing a strong, active and reliable body to experiencing a painful, vulnerable and helpless body was perceived as fundamental.

Conclusions: Self-management and rehabilitation of fibromyalgia it is not only about learning to manage the symptoms but also about the struggle to find coherence in life through re-constructing gender identity that is acceptable both for the individual and for the community.

KEYWORDS:

• Nordic countries
• narrative research
• life-story interview
• chronic pain
• gender

Acknowledgments

We are deeply grateful to all the men who wanted to share their stories with us. The contact persons in the given rheumatism associations, fibromyalgia groups and in the rehabilitation centre are acknowledged for their valuable help in searching for potential participants for the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-COFUND) under grant agreement n° 609020 - Scientia Fellows.

Notes on contributors

Merja Sallinen

Merja Sallinen PhD is currently Principal Lecturer in Rehabilitation at the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences in Pori, Finland. In 2016-2019 she held a researcher position in Oslo University under Marie Curie- cofund research grant. She is a member of the executive committee of International Organiszation for Physiotherapists in Mental Health. He research interest are related to rehabilitation ethics,  elderly care, narrative methodology and experiences of chronic illness, especially chronic pain.

Anne Marit Mengshoel

Anne Marit Mengshoel PhD is professor in health sciences in the department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Institute of Health and Society in Oslo University, Norway. She has a professional background in physiotherapy. Her recent research has mainly focused on patients' experiences of living with long-term illnesses (especially fibromyalgia), recovery processes and rehabilitation within the field of rheumatology.

Kari Nyheim Solbrække

Kari Nyheim Solbrakke holds a PhD in sociology and is professor in the Institute of Health and Society in Oslo University Norway. She is currently head of the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences.  Her main research interest are related to medical sociology, gender studies, medicalization, assisted reproductive technologies, and qualitative methodologies and narrative approaches  in health and illness