Title: Seeking healthcare services in hockey: Understanding health behaviours in a masculine sport subculture
Supervisor: Dr. Andrea Bundon
Committee members: Dr. Moss Norman, Dr. Desmond McEwan
Abstract: Despite men receiving more power, privilege, and opportunity than women in most societal contexts, they experience a lower life expectancy, higher rates of life-threatening chronic diseases, and a higher rate of successful suicide. We laud sports as an opportunity to improve health through physical activity and social connection, yet we fail to consider the consequences certain sport cultures may have on men’s health behaviours, specifically regarding seeking healthcare services. Little attention is paid to the effects of masculinity within hockey culture on players’ perception of health and, consequently, their health behaviours. It is critical to shift the scrutiny of hockey culture away from its image as a hotbed for toxic masculinity ridden sport and instead elevate the experiences of players themselves. As such, the purpose of the proposed constructionist inquiry is to: a) understand how hockey culture shapes men’s health behaviours and beliefs relating to seeking healthcare services for preventative and reactive means; and b) contribute empirical data to the limited body of literature with the goal of encouraging effective policy change and program development. In approaching this research through a constructionist paradigm, this study will allow for an in-depth understanding of how the sociocultural context of a highly masculinized sport subculture impacts the meaning elite youth hockey players ascribe to their experiences and relationship with seeking healthcare services.