Macho-Macho Man

By Kirsten Hudson

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Only an extreme problem will get Andrew Imel, Dallas senior, under a stethoscope. The last time he went to the doctor was a year ago when he sprained his ACL while playing club soccer — an injury that kept him off the field for three weeks. Before that it was for bronchitis.

According to a 2001 survey by the United States Census Bureau, 33 percent of men went a year without once seeing a doctor compared to only 21 percent of women.

But why is it that men are more reluctant to visit the doctor than women? Is it the sterile smell? The seemingly endless time in the waiting room? Sheer laziness? What is it about the doctor that has men running?

photo

Photo by Adam Buhler

Photo illustration

Reluctant patient: Men statistically see doctors less often than women for a multitude of possible reasons, from the appearance of “toughness” to a lack of awareness of their bodies compared with that of women.

What makes us decide to go to the doctor?

Four factors that get you into the waiting room.

Whether you’re a hypochondriac or would rather suffer in pain than go to the doctor, there are certain factors that make you pay the doc a visit.

1) It’s an important body part.

“If what’s affected is a valued body part, like your face, you’re more likely to go to the doctor than if the problem is with your calf,” says Nancy Hamilton, associate professor of psychology.

2) It’s something you can see.

Notice a weird bump on your leg? Is your ankle swelling? Chances are you’ll get it checked out.

3) If it’s scary.

You will probably go see a doctor if you develop symptoms and don’t know why they’re there. “If you have a pain in your left arm and you know that it’s from getting hit by a softball yesterday,

you’re less likely to go to the doctor than if you didn’t know why the pain is there,” Hamilton says.

4) If it’s sanctioned.

When friends and family suggest you go to the doctor, you tend to listen.

Rub some dirt on it

Men might be more hesitant to visit the doctor because it’s less acceptable in our culture for them to do so. “There are societal expectations that men should just tough things out,” says Nancy Hamilton, associate professor of psychology.

Not relying on a doctor makes Imel feel responsible. “I take pride in being able to take care of myself,” he says. He doesn’t deliberately choose not to go to the doctor because it makes him feel less manly. “It’s subconscious. None of the men in my family go to the doctor, so I don’t either,” he says.

But these stereotypes are out there and they may be worse for college-age men. “When you’re young and healthy you think you can handle things on your own, but sometimes you can’t,” Hamilton says.

Often men, more than women, need a push from family and friends to get general or mental health care, says Sarah Kirk, director of the KU Psychological Clinic. Because of social expectations for men to be tough, “it’s important for them to be supported,” she says.

Men are from Mars

Another reason that men visit the doctor less than women is simply because of the differences in our bodies. “Women require more routine maintenance,” Hamilton says. Annual pap smears and birth control measures require women to visit the doctor more often.

Plus, for women, doctor appointments aren’t one-stop shopping. “It’s more fragmented. They have to visit one doctor for a pap smear, another for a sinus infection — while men usually just see one general practitioner,” Hamilton says. These different appointments increase the number of times women visit the doctor. “Even if you factor out those numbers, women still visit the doctor more than men, and for more ambiguous reasons,” she says.

Men are taught early on to visit the doctor only if they have an injury, while women learn to seek preventative health care through annual check-ups, says Patty Quinlan, supervisor of nursing at Watkins Memorial Health Center.

Casey Finch, Lincoln, Neb., senior, says the last time he visited the doctor was because of intestinal pain from running a marathon. He doesn’t go to the doctor just for colds.

Women might also visit the doctor more often because they are more in-tune with their bodies. “In part, women are hardwired to detect symptoms better than men,” Hamilton says. Women notice smaller changes in body temperature and can detect pain earlier than men.

Sick and tired

Then there’s just the general unpleasantness that comes with a visit to the doctor.

Finch dislikes going to the doctor because “it’s expensive and time consuming – plus most things tend to take care of themselves,” he says. Imel hates going to the doctor because doctor’s appointments mean missing class and getting behind in work. Then there’s also the fact that Imel hates getting his blood drawn. His hard-to-find veins make visiting the doctor a prickly, unpleasant experience. “I’m 22-years-old and I still get nervous.”

Hey, we’re not all tough all the time – and maybe we shouldn’t try to be.

Comments

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.

Advertisement