Emotional Issues Associated with BI
Gender Role Strain in Men
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Gender role strain is a feeling reported by men with disabilities—such as traumatic brain injury (TBI)—that they are unable to attain the lifestyle and social roles of an adult man in their society. These men commonly express frustration about unsuccessful attempts to achieve traditional adult male roles post-injury, such as worker/economic provider, spouse/sexual partner, and parent. Often, as length of time post-injury increases, men with TBI find that their pre-injury relationships have disintegrated and they tend to become socially isolated.
Gender role strain is a particular problem for young men who sustain their TBI between the ages of 18-30, because these are the years in human development when expressing one’s gender role through adult work roles and dating/courtship activities are most important. Because of the thinking, psychological, social, and physical problems that result from brain injury, these men report that they have difficulty making the transition from adolescent to adult male gender roles. The sustained stress from unsuccessful attempts to transition from adolescent to adult male roles are believed to be the main causes of depression, anxiety, decreased motivation, and low self-esteem in men with TBI.
Often men who sustain TBI between the ages of 18-30 find that they cannot attain many of the traditional rites of passage leading to male adulthood. These include learning to drive an automobile, graduating from high school and/or obtaining a degree of higher education, moving from the parental home to independent living in the community, dating and participating in initial sexual experiences, marrying, and parenting. Men who did attain several rites of passage of male adulthood pre-injury, commonly find that they have lost them post-injury. These men report that the status of male adulthood is stripped from them post-injury because of their inability to resume former adult roles and relationships, and because of their dependency on others.
Sharon A. Gutman is an Assistant Professor at Long Island University where she teaches and conducts research in the Division of Occupational Therapy. She has practiced occupational therapy for twelve years and has specialized in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation for ten years. Dr. Gutman has practiced in both sub-acute and long-term brain injury rehabilitation for people with moderate to severe brain injury who are reintegrating into community settings, returning to work, and rebuilding social relationships.
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Excerpts taken from: Gutman, S. A. (2000). Brain injury and gender role strain: Rebuilding adult lifestyles after injury. New York: Haworth Press.