Exploring perspectives on masculinity and mental wellbeing: The case of students in higher education in New Zealand

Abstract

This study sits at the intersection of research on mental wellbeing, masculinity and higher education. Men’s mental wellbeing has been a focal point for academic research in recent years, as has the mental wellbeing of higher education students. However, there is a paucity of research that explores this topic in the New Zealand context. This study explores perceptions of masculinity and mental wellbeing by male students in New Zealand tertiary institutions. It considers the ways in which masculinity may both constrain and enable mental wellbeing. The research adopts a cultural studies approach which focuses on values and practices that participants perceive to be associated with masculinity. Twelve in-depth interviews were used to gather rich insights into this topic. The findings suggest a persistence of a cultural script across young men in New Zealand. The most prominent themes identified surrounded sport and drinking, findings which support earlier works on masculinity in New Zealand. It was also found that, on the one hand, the devaluation of emotion, high levels of competition and inter-group hierarchy constrain mental wellbeing. Whilst on the other hand, mental wellbeing is facilitated through the social bonding that shared masculine practices and values provide. In closing, the thesis outlines implications for future research and practice.