Synthesising global evidence about engaging marginalised and vulnerable adolescent boys and young men in health and social services: What do we know?
1
Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Darwin, Australia
2
Deadly Male, Darwin, Australia
3
One Percent Program, Darwin, Australia
4
The Man Cave, Melbourne, Australia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Australian men are often regarded as risk takers and reluctant to seek help, traits that negatively impact their health outcomes. A common explanatory framework is that gender-norms associated with hegemonic masculinity promote risk-taking practices among men. Such positioning has been used to explain why males, particularly adolescent boys and young men (ABYM), have higher rates of risky health practices when compared with female counterparts. That is, gender stereotypes have often been the sole lens from which researchers, policy makers, and practitioners have viewed the health and social practices of ABYM.
METHODS:
In this presentation, we will present preliminary findings from an Australian Research Council Mid-Career Industry Fellowship that synthesises the global evidence about strategies for engaging ABYM from marginalised and vulnerable backgrounds in health and social services. This is a partnership between Flinders University and a range of not-for-profit organisations committed to advancing young men’s health.
RESULTS:
Growing global evidence shows that gender closely intersects with systemic and structural determinants of health. This is critical for unpacking how and why ABYM do or do not engage with health and social services. It is not just a matter of ABYM being disinterested in health or resisting health messaging, rather that health and social systems have not been adequately equipped to deal with the complex set of determinants influencing their health and wellbeing. Importantly, these intersections are more complex and have greater potential to exacerbate health and social inequities among ABYM from marginalised backgrounds if left unaddressed.
CONCLUSIONS:
With the support of a Young Men’s Advisory Committee, we intend to amplify the lived-experiences of young ABYM from marginalised and vulnerable backgrounds by (a) identifying and strengthening strategies that encourage help-seeking and proactive health and social service engagement among ABYM; and (b) driving policy innovation and system reforms that better support ABYM.
Australian men are often regarded as risk takers and reluctant to seek help, traits that negatively impact their health outcomes. A common explanatory framework is that gender-norms associated with hegemonic masculinity promote risk-taking practices among men. Such positioning has been used to explain why males, particularly adolescent boys and young men (ABYM), have higher rates of risky health practices when compared with female counterparts. That is, gender stereotypes have often been the sole lens from which researchers, policy makers, and practitioners have viewed the health and social practices of ABYM.
METHODS:
In this presentation, we will present preliminary findings from an Australian Research Council Mid-Career Industry Fellowship that synthesises the global evidence about strategies for engaging ABYM from marginalised and vulnerable backgrounds in health and social services. This is a partnership between Flinders University and a range of not-for-profit organisations committed to advancing young men’s health.
RESULTS:
Growing global evidence shows that gender closely intersects with systemic and structural determinants of health. This is critical for unpacking how and why ABYM do or do not engage with health and social services. It is not just a matter of ABYM being disinterested in health or resisting health messaging, rather that health and social systems have not been adequately equipped to deal with the complex set of determinants influencing their health and wellbeing. Importantly, these intersections are more complex and have greater potential to exacerbate health and social inequities among ABYM from marginalised backgrounds if left unaddressed.
CONCLUSIONS:
With the support of a Young Men’s Advisory Committee, we intend to amplify the lived-experiences of young ABYM from marginalised and vulnerable backgrounds by (a) identifying and strengthening strategies that encourage help-seeking and proactive health and social service engagement among ABYM; and (b) driving policy innovation and system reforms that better support ABYM.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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