Masculine Norms and Readiness for Change among Men in Substance Abuse Treatment

The purpose of this study was to examine adherence to traditional masculine norms as they relate to readiness for change among 137 men in inpatient substance abuse treatment. We hypothesized that, when examined concurrently, the masculine norms of winning, emotional control, risk-taking, violence, power over women, playboy, self-reliance, primary of work, and heterosexual self-presentation would each have significant, negative, and unique links to readiness for change. That is, the more men adhere to these masculine norms the more likely they would be at lower levels of readiness for change in substance abuse treatment and recovery. Results of the multiple regression analysis revealed that past treatment and adherence to the masculine norms of winning and self-reliance were uniquely related to more readiness for change; whereas, adherence to the masculine norm of power over women was uniquely related to less readiness for change. Our findings suggest that some masculine norms may be healthy for change while others may be harmful for change in a substance abuse population.