Evaluating an Australian school-based program for adolescent boys and young men: preliminary protocol for a mixed-methods study of masculinities, mental wellbeing, and relationships
1
Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
2
The Man Cave, Brunswick, Australia
3
Flinders University Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Research on masculinities (the socially constructed ways associated with being a man) has often been conducted through a deficit lens. In Australian public discourse, conforming to rigid, stereotypical masculine norms has been linked to increased suicidal ideation and a higher likelihood of perpetrating physical intimate partner violence.1 Although some studies show that promoting healthier expressions of masculinity for adult men’s wellbeing, support-seeking, and relationships can be beneficial, more work is needed to understand this approach for adolescent boys and young men (ABYM) in Australia.
METHODS:
This project will explore the impacts of The Man Cave’s (TMC) school-based programs that promote healthier masculinities and positive mental wellbeing among ABYM, with a particular focus on their potential impacts on intimate relationships. This research will interrogate TMC’s existing database of over 60,000 ABYM responses to various validated and bespoke measures of masculinities and mental wellbeing, collected at baseline and further post-intervention timepoints. This PhD is a partnership between The Man Cave and Flinders University, and was awarded a 2026 Australian Government National Industry PhD Scholarship.
RESULTS:
Preliminary findings will be presented, focusing on: 1) program effects on mental wellbeing; 2) program effects on alternate expressions of masculinity; and 3) the extent to which changes in mental wellbeing are associated with changes in masculinities across measurement timepoints.
CONCLUSIONS:
This project will examine whether masculinities and mental wellbeing coexist and interact during adolescence in ways that support functional intimate relationships. To strengthen the relevance and translation of findings, this project will be supported by a newly established, diverse youth advisory group comprising former participants. The outcomes of this project have the potential to advance violence prevention scholarship, inform early intervention approaches, and support integrated policy responses targeting healthy masculinities and adolescent wellbeing.
Research on masculinities (the socially constructed ways associated with being a man) has often been conducted through a deficit lens. In Australian public discourse, conforming to rigid, stereotypical masculine norms has been linked to increased suicidal ideation and a higher likelihood of perpetrating physical intimate partner violence.1 Although some studies show that promoting healthier expressions of masculinity for adult men’s wellbeing, support-seeking, and relationships can be beneficial, more work is needed to understand this approach for adolescent boys and young men (ABYM) in Australia.
METHODS:
This project will explore the impacts of The Man Cave’s (TMC) school-based programs that promote healthier masculinities and positive mental wellbeing among ABYM, with a particular focus on their potential impacts on intimate relationships. This research will interrogate TMC’s existing database of over 60,000 ABYM responses to various validated and bespoke measures of masculinities and mental wellbeing, collected at baseline and further post-intervention timepoints. This PhD is a partnership between The Man Cave and Flinders University, and was awarded a 2026 Australian Government National Industry PhD Scholarship.
RESULTS:
Preliminary findings will be presented, focusing on: 1) program effects on mental wellbeing; 2) program effects on alternate expressions of masculinity; and 3) the extent to which changes in mental wellbeing are associated with changes in masculinities across measurement timepoints.
CONCLUSIONS:
This project will examine whether masculinities and mental wellbeing coexist and interact during adolescence in ways that support functional intimate relationships. To strengthen the relevance and translation of findings, this project will be supported by a newly established, diverse youth advisory group comprising former participants. The outcomes of this project have the potential to advance violence prevention scholarship, inform early intervention approaches, and support integrated policy responses targeting healthy masculinities and adolescent wellbeing.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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