Snell, Gracie Elizabeth, Seage, Catherine Heidi, Mercer, Jenny · Journal of health psychology · 2024 · DOI
This study interviewed five men with ME/CFS to understand how they experience the illness differently than women might. The men struggled to accept their diagnosis because they felt their symptoms conflicted with what they thought it meant to be male. They also felt that doctors didn't take their ME/CFS seriously, so they looked for support and validation from other people with the condition instead.
Most ME/CFS research has focused on women's experiences, leaving men's perspectives underrepresented and potentially under-served by healthcare systems and support services. This study reveals that men may face unique psychosocial barriers to accepting their diagnosis and seeking appropriate care, which could inform better clinical approaches and workplace accommodations. Understanding gender-specific experiences is essential for developing inclusive, effective interventions for all ME/CFS patients.
This small qualitative study cannot determine how widespread these experiences are among men with ME/CFS globally, nor does it establish causation between masculinity perceptions and symptom acceptance. The findings reflect the subjective experiences of five participants and may not represent all men with ME/CFS, particularly across different cultures, ages, or socioeconomic backgrounds. The study documents associations between themes but does not provide quantitative evidence about prevalence or severity of these psychological barriers.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
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