Economic and social markers now show that men and boys are falling behind in multiple aspects of American society. Researchers have begun to look more deeply into what drives this phenomenon. Much of their work finds multiple impacts across a range of areas. But it also suggests that mental health professionals can help understand these effects and use therapist resources and skills to help.
Although some blame the the COVID-19 pandemic for men falling behind, this trend began before the pandemic. It has had large impacts on families, communities, and societal and policy issues, like education and employment. It also appears to affect psychological issues, including psychosocial functioning, loneliness, and mental health outcomes.
What are men and boys falling behind in? First, boys are falling behind in education, especially among minority or disenfranchised communities. Job numbers also reflect the same trends. Unemployment among men in 2016 was as high as 51% in some places. Areas in the eastern half of the Midwest have been particularly affected (e.g., Flint, MI).
Decreased employment is highly correlated with decreased life satisfaction, unhappiness, suicide, divorce, and drug use (including harmful opioid use). These effects appear to be greater for unemployed men than unemployed women. So, men experience a social and psychological bind in a culture that largely expects them to act as providers (e.g., for families, spouses, or significant others).
So why are men and boys falling behind? First, coming from geographic areas with high job loss in the past 20 years (e.g., “Rust Belt” states) are part of the reason. Other reasons include coming from a poorer household, single-parent home, or from high-minority neighborhoods which contribute to greater differences in employment. Income disparities for black men also has a large impact. However, this difference decreases drastically in communities where men have male role models at home and in schools.
Researchers suggest that some solutions may lie within changes in policy, education, and therapy. First, more hands-on technical education may help. They also recommend early education changes, like starting boys in kindergarten one year later than girls. Some even advocate for major changes in certain classroom learning methods for boys.
There are many ways that therapists can help. Findings from developmental psychology note that men are less likely to maintain close relationships over the lifespan. This means that men are more likely to socially isolate over time, increasing risk for psychological, physical, and cognitive declines.
Additional research in the past 5 years finds that there is both a female and male loneliness epidemic. This epidemic appears to largely affect young adults in the U.S. (compared to other developed countries), as opposed to purely a gender difference.
A combination of practical resources and therapist skills appear to be the most helpful. For children, this might involve therapists connecting parents with resources that boost education and help boys feel productive and confident in the classroom.
For adolescent boys and young men, therapists can help by connecting clients to resources for technical and other training programs. In young adults and older men, findings about male social isolation later in development suggests that methods of finding social support, as well as ways to combat loneliness (for example behavioral activation, CBT, and social skills training) may be effective.
A great balanced and informative podcast episode from the Ezra Klein show highlights key research findings in this area. Harvard also published a good (free) overview of the issue and many of these findings. (Our thanks to Harvard – their article was a helpful source for this one.)
Many studies show men falling behind in many areas, and that this has implications for families and communities. Therapists help by providing resources, knowledge, and psychosocial skills to help men and boys feel effective and able to contribute in ways they value.
