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Perceptions of masculinity and body image in men with prostate cancer: the role of exercise

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Abstract

Purpose

The goal of this study was to explore the association between levels of exercise and patterns of masculinity, body image, and quality of life in men undergoing diverse treatment protocols for prostate cancer.

Methods

Fifty men with prostate cancer (aged 42–86) completed self-report measures. Self-reported measures included the following: the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ), Masculine Self-esteem Scale (MSES), Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ), Body Image Scale (BIS), and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Prostate (FACT-P). Masculinity, body image, and quality of life scores were compared between men obtaining recommended levels of exercise (aerobic or resistance) and those not obtaining recommended level of exercise. Secondary outcomes included the association between masculinity, body image, and quality of life scores as they relate to exercise levels.

Results

There were significantly higher scores of masculinity (p < 0.01), physical well-being (p < 0.05), prostate cancer specific well-being (p < 0.05), and overall quality of life (p < 0.05) in those obtaining at least 150 min of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise. In the 48% of men who had never received androgen deprivation therapy, significantly higher levels of masculinity, body image, and quality of life were observed in those meeting aerobic guidelines.

Conclusions

Whether treatment includes androgen deprivation or not, men who participate in higher levels of aerobic exercises report higher levels of masculinity, improved body image, and quality of life than those who are inactive. Future longitudinal research is required evaluating exercise level and its effect on masculinity and body image.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre 1403 29th ST. NW, Calgary, AB, T2H 2T9, Canada

    David Michael Langelier & Christopher Grant

  2. Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada

    David Michael Langelier, William Bridel, Natalia Albinati, Jena Shank, Julia Teresa Daun, Colin Davey & S. Nicole Culos-Reed

  3. Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Level 5, 215 Spring Street, Melbourne, V1C 3000, Australia

    Prue Cormie

  4. O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada

    Christopher Grant

  5. Information Technologies, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada

    Tak S. Fung

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  1. David Michael Langelier
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  2. Prue Cormie
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  10. S. Nicole Culos-Reed
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Nicole Culos-Reed.

Ethics declarations

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of The University of Calgary Health Research Ethics Board of Alberta (HREBA)–Cancer Committee (HREBA.CC-16-0625_REN1), and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Langelier, D.M., Cormie, P., Bridel, W. et al. Perceptions of masculinity and body image in men with prostate cancer: the role of exercise. Support Care Cancer 26, 3379–3388 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4178-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4178-1

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