Disentangling the Individual and Group Effects of Masculinity Ideology on PTSD Treatment

ABSTRACT

Endorsement of traditional masculinity ideology is frequently associated with interference in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, there is little empirical basis for this association. Moreover, there is increasing attention on masculinity ideology being contextual in nature, which may have important implications for our understanding of its impact on treatment. Here, we examine how the outcome of a group-based treatment for veterans with PTSD was impacted by traditional masculinity facets held at the individual level, and among other group members. Our sample consisted of (N = 255) Canadian veteran men. Results indicated that the degree of individual self-reliance and dominance attenuated positive treatment outcomes, with respect to total PTSD symptom change and PTSD-related avoidance symptoms. Self-reliance also attenuated symptom change in negative alterations in cognitions and mood and hyperarousal clusters. Other group members’ degree of masculinity did not appear to impact individual participants’ pre- to post-treatment PTSD symptom change. The R² for significant results ranged from .01-.05. This study provides evidence that, within the context of group-based treatment, an individual’s endorsement of traditional masculinity ideology may impede reduction of PTSD symptomatology, but the effect of other group members’ masculinity endorsement does not.

KEYWORDS:

• Posttraumatic stress disorder
• masculinity
• veterans
• group therapy
• treatment outcome

Acknowledgments

We wish to acknowledge funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Reserarch Council and the Veterans Transition Program. We also wish to thank Leah Baugh, Myfanwy Baaker, and Katie McCloskey for assistance in data collection. The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Veterans’ Transition Network; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [752-2018-2330].

Notes on contributors

Julia I. O’Loughlin

Julia I. O’Loughlin, PhD (Cand.) is a PhD candidate in the Counselling Psychology program at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Her research focuses on the intersections between psychology, gender, and sexuality.

Daniel W. Cox

Daniel W. Cox, Phd is an Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia and holds the Myrne B. Nevison Professorship in Counselling Psychology. His research focuses on interpersonal processes as they relate to posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and suicide.

Carl A. Castro

Carl A. Castro, PhD (Colonel, U.S. Army, retired) is a Professor in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California and Director of the Center for Innovation and Research for Veterans and Military Families. His research focuses on the impact of trauma associated with military service on military-to-civilian life transition.

John S. Ogrodniczuk

John S. Ogrodniczuk, PhD is Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Psychotherapy Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia. He is also Founder of HeadsUpGuys, a leading global resource supporting men with depression.