Alpha Alpha Alpha Male: Relations Among Fraternity Membership, Traditional Masculine Gender Roles, and Sexual Violence

One in four women experiences sexual assault during her time in college (e.g., Cantor et al., 2015). Fraternity membership has been associated with greater acceptance and perpetration of sexual violence, as has endorsement of traditional masculinity (e.g., Murnen & Kohlman, 2007). In this dissertation, I explore mechanisms by which fraternity membership is associated with sexual violence, whether prospective fraternity membership is associated with sexual violence, and whether fraternity members are more likely than other college men to be excused for sexual violence. In Study 1, I used Structural Equation Modeling to test whether endorsement of traditional masculinity explains how fraternity membership is associated with greater rape myth acceptance and more sexually deceptive behavior in a sample of 365 undergraduate men. Assessments of traditional masculinity included conformity to masculine norms, pressure to uphold masculine norms, and acceptance of objectification of women. Results suggest that conformity to masculine norms, pressure to uphold masculine norms, and acceptance of objectification of women, together, mediate the relation between fraternity membership and acceptance of sexual violence. Universities should include discussions of masculinity and the pressure men feel to uphold it in their sexual assault prevention programs, especially those delivered to fraternity members. In Study 2, I surveyed 88 men interested in Greek life before the rush process (T1) and again 4 months later (T2) to examine predictors and consequences of fraternity membership. Participants completed measures of endorsement of traditional masculine gender roles, hostile and benevolent sexism, and acceptance of rape myths. Among men interested in joining a fraternity, none of the measures were associated with whether or not they joined a fraternity. From T1 to T2, men who joined a fraternity maintained similar levels of endorsement of masculine gender roles, benevolent sexism, and rape myth acceptance, whereas men who did not join a fraternity decreased in their endorsement. Results suggest that joining a fraternity prevented decreases in endorsement of traditional gender roles and acceptance of sexual violence. These results lend support to the hypothesis that fraternity membership is associated with sexual violence over time. In Study 3, I examined the influence of fraternity membership on perceptions of guilt in a sexual assault scenario. A sample of 408 undergraduate students listened to a podcast in which a female student describes an ambiguous sexual assault scenario. In the experimental condition, the female student reveals that the perpetrator is a fraternity member. In the control condition, no information is given about his fraternity affiliation. Participants then filled out measures of perceptions of the perpetrator and victim (perpetrator culpability, victim culpability, perpetrator guilt, and victim credibility), as well as semantic differentials for the perpetrator and victim (e.g., responsible, attractive, chaste). Results indicate that male participants rated a perpetrator as less guilty, and a victim as more culpable, less credible, and more negative when the perpetrator was a fraternity member compared to when no information was given about his fraternity status. There were no differences in perceptions of the victim and perpetrator among female participants. These results suggest that fraternity members are less likely to be blamed by other men for their sexual aggression. This leniency may contribute to high rates of sexual assault on college campuses by creating a cycle in which fraternity members perpetrate more sexual aggression, but are less likely to be punished, thus reinforcing sexually aggressive behaviors.PHDPsychology and Women's StudiesUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138689/1/rcbrook_1.pd

Development of a positive psychology intervention for patients with acute cardiovascular disease

The management of depression and other negative psychological states in cardiac patients has been a focus of multiple treatment trials, though such trials have not led to substantial improvements in cardiac outcomes. In contrast, there has been minimal focus on interventions to increase positive psychological states in cardiac patients, despite the fact that optimism and other positive states have been associated with superior cardiovascular outcomes. Our objective was to develop an 8-week, phone-based positive psychology intervention for patients hospitalized with acute cardiac disease (acute coronary syndrome or decompensated heart failure). Such an intervention would consist of positive psychology exercises adapted for this specific population, and it would need to be feasible for practitioners and patients in real-world settings. By adapting exercises that were previously validated in healthy individuals, we were able to generate a positive psychology telemedicine intervention for cardiac patients that focused on optimism, kindness, and gratitude. In addition, we successfully created a companion treatment manual for subjects to enhance the educational aspects of the intervention and facilitate completion of exercises. Finally, we successfully performed a small pilot trial of this intervention, and found that the positive psychology intervention appeared to be feasible and well-accepted in a cohort of patients with acute cardiac illness. Future studies should further develop this promising intervention and examine its impact on psychological and medical outcomes in this vulnerable population of cardiac patients

Prevalence of intimate partner violence and beliefs about partner violence screening among young men

PURPOSE Few clinical guidelines focus on how physicians can identify intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration or victimization among male patients, and lit- tle is known of men’s experiences and beliefs regarding screening in health care settings. Our objective was to determine prevalence of men’s experiences with IPV screening in health care settings and associations with men’s beliefs regard- ing health care clinician identification of IPV. METHODS Using a cross-sectional online survey of a nationally representative sample of 916 men aged 18-35 years, we conducted survey-weighted descrip- tive analyses to determine IPV prevalence, screening experiences and beliefs, and multivariate logistic regression to examine associations of demographics, IPV perpetration, and IPV victimization with men’s screening experiences and beliefs. RESULTS Of 916 men surveyed, 19% reported perpetration and 27% reported victimization in relationship with current or previous spouse/partner, 90% believed health care clinicians should ask about perpetration, 92% believed health care clinicians should ask about victimization, but only 11% had been asked about perpetration and 13% about victimization. Beliefs regarding IPV were associated with African American non-Hispanic race, IPV perpetration, and IPV victimization. Experiences being asked about IPV were associated with educa- tional attainment and IPV perpetration. CONCLUSIONS Among young US men, 9 in 10 support IPV identification by health care clinicians, nearly 1 in 5 report using IPV, but only about 1 in 10 report health care clinicians asking about IPV. These represent missed opportuni- ties for health care IPV identification. Beliefs and experiences regarding health care IPV identification vary by race, education, and men’s IPV perpetration and victimization. These disparities can inform tailored health care identification approaches.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163751/1/2020-Walsh-Prevalenceofintimatepartner.pdfDescription of 2020-Walsh-Prevalenceofintimatepartner.pdf : Main articl

Prescription opioid misuse and intimate partner violence perpetration among a nationally representative sample of young men

Background: Drug use is associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration among men, but few studies have examined the relation between prescription opioid misuse and IPV perpetra- tion. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine the relation between prescription opioid misuse and IPV perpetration while controlling for demographic, depression, alcohol, and illicit drug use risk factors among a non-clinical, nationally representative sample of young men aged 18–35. Methods: Cross-sectional survey in August 2014 of 1,053 partnered men aged 18–35 in a nationally representative sample of the adult U.S. population. The survey assessed physical IPV perpetration, depressive symptoms, alcohol misuse, marijuana use, illegal drug use, prescription opioid misuse, and demographic characteristics. We calculated descriptive statistics and conducted weighted bivariate and multivariate logistic regression to assess associations of IPV perpetration with prescription opioid misuse and other known IPV risk factors. Results: Weighted analyses show 19.4% of men reported IPV perpetration in the current or most recent relationship, and 7.3% reported prescription opioid misuse in the past year. After controlling for marijuana use, illegal drug use, depressive symptoms, and demographic characteristics, prescription opioid misuse in the past year (A.O.R. 1⁄4 1.94, 95% CI 1⁄4 1.33–2.84) was associated with increased odds of young men’s physical IPV perpetration in the current or most recent relationship. Conclusions/importance: Prescription opioid misuse is associated with IPV perpetration at a population-level among young men and is not unique to clinical samples. Prevention and intervention strategies should be devel- oped to simultaneously target prescription opioid misuse and IPV perpetration.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163756/1/2020-Seabrook-Prescriptionopiodmisuse.pdfDescription of 2020-Seabrook-Prescriptionopiodmisuse.pdf : Main articl

Men's Knowledge of Anticipatory Guidance Topics: Results From a Nationally Representative Survey

OBJECTIVE: 1) To describe young men's knowledge of infant routines, discipline, development, safety, sleep, and nutrition, using items assessing the American Academy of Pediatrics Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents. 2) To report differences in knowledge between fathers and non-fathers. 3) To examine factors associated with men's greater knowledge. METHODS: Participants were men (N = 1303) aged 18 to 35 years responding to a cross-sectional survey that was administered to a national panel established through probability sampling of the civilian, non-institutionalized US population. Survey weights allow reporting of nationally representative analyses. RESULTS: Participants (mean age = 27; 58% white, 36% fathers) correctly answered 52% of the infant knowledge questions. Fathers and non-fathers answered 64% and 46% of the items correctly, respectively. The difference in knowledge between fathers and non-fathers was statistically significant (B = 0.16, P< .001). The subscale with the highest number of correct responses was routines (80% accuracy), followed by discipline (59% accuracy), safety (52% accuracy), sleep (51% accuracy), development (50% accuracy), and nutrition (40% accuracy). Multivariate analyses showed that depressive symptoms (B = 0.07, P < .05) were associated with lower infant knowledge, while higher education (B = 0.06, P < .05) and current employment (B = 0.06, P < .01) were associated with higher infant knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: Significant gaps exist in men's knowledge of infant development. Pediatric health care providers can address gaps in parenting knowledge by providing anticipatory guidance to fathers.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167725/1/2021 Lee Men's knowledge Academic Pediatrics.pd

Mental Health Week Launch

This is a recording of the Mental Health Week breakfast launch held in the George Building, Hawthorn Campus, on 26 April 2016