IT’S fair to assume that few people — male or female — look forward to getting older, but men in particular are finding it difficult to deal with. In fact, it’s the very ideals of masculinity that make aging difficult for many men.

    According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, these masculine ideals are creating distinct challenges for men as life expectancy increases and gender roles continue to evolve in society. Trying to hold on too dearly to “manly” stereotypes can lead to painful, lonely, and difficult years for men as they age. In response, many in the research, medical, and psychology fields are seeking new ways to help men grow old healthfully and change their ideas of what it means to be a man in their twilight years.

    Research on men and aging looks at the concept of “masculine norms,” of which there are 11 typically cited. As the WSJ article highlights, these are some of the key aspects of masculinity that men tend to want to hold on to as they age — notably, physical strength, self-reliance, taking risks, and emotional control. While the WSJ article explored these concepts among experts and subjects in their later years, these fears and anxieties about aging can pop up long before retirement is even on the horizon.

    “Ultimately, it comes down to a feeling of a loss of control,” said Laura Hsu, an assistant professor at Merrimack College whose research explores the psychological process of aging and how it can affect physical and mental health. “The norms of masculinity have an undercurrent of being in control and having some element of power, including a feeling of power and control over their own decisions, physical fitness, and ability to generate an income. When one’s body or social position can no longer reinforce those feelings, increasing feelings of helplessness can ultimately take a toll on one’s mental and physical health.”

    These concerns resonated with quite a few middle-aged men. “It’s the ongoing ‘breakdown’ of my body that I notice and dread,” explains Robert Haynes-Paterson, a 51-year-old writer based in New York City. “I’m healthy so far: no prescription meds, no heart trouble. But I notice how much things have changed in the past couple of years — hair thinning, strength diminishing, muscles randomly pulling for no major reason.”

    For Bart Irace, 45, a project manager who lives in Brooklyn, the importance of work in a man’s life is top of mind. “A change to active working life concerns me the most at the moment,” said Irace. “With the exception of senior executives, age is not typically seen as an asset, and aging workers are eased, or in some cases forced, out of their positions. I hope that I’m about 10 years away from advanced age making me a target for job loss, but in the meantime I’m trying to prepare for the possibility by thinking of occupations and/or skills that are more immune to this pattern.”

    When queried on what they’re doing to combat their aging woes, many confessed that it takes a great deal of focus and thinking about consequences. “Since I can’t drink my misery away, I’m being more healthy all around. I’m eating clean meals, trying my best to stay away from fast food. I’m also working out at a gym, and walking outside when I can,” said Greg Simms Jr., a writer based in Ohio.

    According to Hsu, staying physically active is important, but mental shifts can often be much more powerful and effective in adding more healthy years to your life. “Having a positive view of aging, which many don’t, regardless of one’s sex, is important,” she said. Hsu points to a study from 2002 that found “individuals with more positive self-perceptions of aging measured up to 23 years earlier lived an average of 7.5 years longer, compared to individuals with less positive self-perceptions.”

    So despite the very real physical effects of getting older, it appears that mental fortitude may be the ultimate defense for men (and women) against the frailties of getting older. Fear is, after all, merely a state of mind.

    (SD-Agencies)