‘Man up’: A qualitative exploration of Scottish masculinities and their impact within therapy

Abstract

There is a need to update understanding of masculine identity and mental health to better tailor therapeutic services for masculine client preferences.This exploratory study gathered qualitative information on how four White Scottish male clients who had completed psychological therapy or counselling conceptualised and experienced their own masculinity, in relation to Scottish sociocultural norms, and experiences of therapy.An IPA analysis identified four superordinate themes: 1) Scottish masculinity as competence, control, and achievement; 2) Scottish masculinity as role in society; 3) Fear of showing weakness or incompetence; and 4) Experiences of therapy.Perceptions of competence and strength were central to participants’ accounts of Scottish masculine identity, and produced anxiety when threatened. However, participants distanced themselves from stereotypes, and successful therapy defused masculine tensions. Implications for practice and research are discussed.