A recent study published in a prominent scientific journal has shed light on a significant yet often overlooked aspect of men’s health: the potential impact of men’s beliefs about their masculinity on erectile dysfunction (ED). Findings published in Archives of Sexual Behavior journal found a small association between what is known as precarious manhood beliefs and erectile dysfunction among men.
This study takes a different angle from prior research by examining precarious manhood beliefs — the idea that manhood is not a stable identity, but something that must be continually earned and can easily be lost. For years, discourse around men’s sexual health has been primarily focused on physical factors or broad concepts of masculinity.
In the past, studies have delved into how traditional masculinity ideologies, which emphasize characteristics like dominance and emotional stoicism, impact various aspects of men’s lives. However, the concept of “precarious manhood beliefs” is a relatively new concept in scientific discussions, and its potential impact on men’s sexual health had not been thoroughly explored.
As such, researchers Andreas Walther, Timothy Rice, and Lukas Eggenberger embarked on this study to explore whether the pressure to uphold precarious manhood beliefs could contribute to sexual performance anxiety and ED. The hypothesis was that if men believe that their status as ‘men’ is always at risk, this could lead to increased psychological stress — particularly in the context of sexual performance, which is often seen as a marker of masculinity.
To investigate this, the team conducted an anonymous online survey targeting cisgender men in German-speaking countries. The survey collected detailed information on the participants’ sociodemographic background, sexual function, precarious manhood beliefs, self-stigma, social desirability, and adherence to traditional masculinity ideologies. Specifically, the study used the International Index of Erectile Function to assess sexual function, and a range of other established scales to measure precarious manhood beliefs and related psychological factors. In total, 507 cisgender men participated in the study, providing a substantial data set for analysis.
Findings revealed that men with stronger beliefs in precarious manhood beliefs were slightly more likely to suffer from ED. This association held even after accounting for other factors, including age, education, and traditional masculinity ideologies. Interestingly, while overall adherence to traditional masculinity ideologies was not significantly linked with ED, one specific aspect, termed ‘Playboy’, related to sexual desire but not directly to erectile function.
In other words, men who strongly believe in what’s called precarious manhood beliefs (e.g., “Some boys do not become men no matter how old they get”) are more likely to experience ED. This finding suggests that psychological factors, specifically how men perceive and feel about their own masculinity, might have a real impact on their sexual health. If a man is overly concerned about proving his manhood, particularly in the bedroom, it may lead to stress or anxiety that can contribute to ED.
However, one of the key aspects of this study that may be a possible limitation is its cross-sectional design, meaning it can identify associations but not cause-and-effect relationships. Additionally, there might have been a self-selection bias, as the survey attracted men particularly interested in mental health self-assessment, possibly leading to a higher representation of those with mental distress and sexual dysfunction. Thus, while the study offers valuable insights, it reflects the perspectives of a specific group of men, potentially limiting the generalizability of the findings to all cisgender men.
Still, this study opens up new avenues for understanding the psychological underpinnings of sexual dysfunction in men, and highlights the importance of considering men’s beliefs about their masculinity, specifically the precariousness of manhood, in discussions and treatments of sexual health issues like erectile dysfunction.
The study, “Precarious Manhood Beliefs Are Positively Associated with Erectile Dysfunction in Cisgender Men“, was authored by Andreas Walther, Timothy Rice, and Lukas Eggenberger.
