Men's Sheds and the experience of depression in older Australian men

Pathways from Men's Shed engagement to wellbeing, health-related quality of life, and lower loneliness

Extensive qualitative evidence, but limited quantitative evidence, indicates that mutual aid organizations such as Men's Sheds have positive impacts on wellbeing, health-related quality of life, and loneliness. A recently developed theoretical model proposes that Men's Sheds may have these impacts via mediating factors such as broadening social networks, increasing behavioural activation and physical activity, reducing alcohol use, and providing meaning in life. The aim of this study was to quantitatively test a model whereby psychological safety (feeling safe, accepted, and valued) is associated with Men's Shed engagement (frequency of attendance, duration of membership, diversity of activities), which is associated with the hypothesized mediators, which, in turn, are associated with wellbeing, health-related quality of life, and loneliness. Men's Shed members (N = 333, Mage = 70.90 years, SD = 10.34, 98% male) completed a survey assessing the factors in the model. The hypothesized path model provided an excellent fit to the data. Findings indicated that higher psychological safety was associated with higher engagement, which, in turn, was associated with larger social networks and more meaning in life, which were associated with higher wellbeing and lower loneliness. Higher behavioural activation and less alcohol use were also associated with higher wellbeing. Higher Men's Shed engagement was not associated with higher behavioural activation and physical activity, or less alcohol use, but behavioural activation and alcohol use were directly associated with health-related quality of life. Implications for optimizing health outcomes within Men's Sheds are discussed.

Shedding light: A qualitative study of women's view on Men's Sheds in Ireland and Australia

Older men are less likely than women to meet in social groups and have greater difficulty developing social relationships beyond paid work. Yet they are joining Men's Sheds in ever greater numbers, often with the support of women, as wives, partners and daughters. Little is known about women's perspectives of Men's Sheds and what women get from men's participation in Sheds. Informed by social role theory, the present study explored narratives from 26 significant women of male Shedders in Ireland and Australia. The narratives reveal how gender roles and unspoken rules shape people's lives, with three overarching themes emerging. These include (1) older men being vulnerable, with subthemes men's masculine persona, and women's vigilance, (2) gendered spaces for older men, with subthemes companionship: men mending men and healing in the Shed and (3) the spill over effects of Men's Sheds. Retirement, whether planned or prompted by ill-health, ushers in a new stage of life, requiring new routines and social contacts. For men who lived their life according to gender social roles, which perceive men as masculine, independent and assertive and not inclined to open display of emotion and affection, adjusting to certain aspects of retirement may be difficult, particularly the lack of purposeful activity. Conversely, for women social role identity may be a source of strength for recognising and accepting vulnerability, and for seeking help. Our findings suggest women are central in encouraging older men to join Men's Sheds. In turn, women may experience an alleviation of stress when men participate in Sheds because they are not under the same pressure of their traditional social roles as carers and nurturers.

The Impact of Therapeutic Community Gardening on the Wellbeing, Loneliness, and Life Satisfaction of Individuals with Mental Illness

BACKGROUND

literature on the mental health benefits of therapeutic community gardening is not specific to individuals with mental illness and reports short-term outcomes. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on intervention effectiveness is also unknown. This study examined the impact of therapeutic community gardening prior to and across the pandemic on the wellbeing of individuals referred for support with their mental illness.

METHODS

garden members (n = 53; male = 36, female = 17) aged 47.38 ± 13.09 years reported their wellbeing at baseline and four follow-up points (FU1-FU4) across the pandemic.

RESULTS

there was significant quadratic growth in wellbeing (-1.248; p < 0.001) that varied between genders (p = 0.021). At baseline, male wellbeing scores were significantly lower (p = 0.020) than the UK population norm, but there were no significant differences at any other follow-up point. Female wellbeing was significantly lower than the UK population norm at baseline (p < 0.001), FU1 (p = 0.012) and FU2 (p < 0.001), but not FU3 and FU4.

CONCLUSION

therapeutic community gardening can improve and maintain the wellbeing of individuals with mental illness, even when wellbeing is deteriorating nationally. Future research should further demonstrate the long-term and cost-effectiveness of interventions.

Effects of a person-centred and thriving-promoting intervention on nursing home residents' experiences of thriving and person-centredness of the environment

AIM

To evaluate the effects of a person-centred and thriving-promoting intervention on nursing home residents´ experiences of thriving and person-centredness of the environment, and to evaluate if the effects varied between female and male residents.

DESIGN

A multi-centre, non-equivalent controlled group before-after intervention design.

METHODS

Six nursing homes in Australia, Norway and Sweden were allocated to either intervention or control group. The intervention comprised a staff educational programme. A survey using proxy-ratings by staff was administered before (T0), immediately after (T1) and six months after (T2) the intervention. The sample varied between 205 and 292 residents. Linear regression models were used to explore effects.

RESULTS

Statistically significant effects were found on experiences of thriving and person-centredness of the environment. These effects were significant for male residents but not for female residents. The results emphasize the importance of individually tailored social and recreational activities.

The Role of Community-Based Men’s Sheds in Health Promotion for Older Men: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review

Men’s Sheds are a community-based health promotion concept which brings men together to engage in joint activities. Prior research reported beneficial effects on health and well-being of the participants; however, evidence is limited. The main objective of this systematic review is to provide an extensive overview of current research on the effectiveness of Men’s Sheds on self-rated health, social isolation, and well-being by applying a mixed-methods approach. In addition, this review aims to identify how to successfully transfer and implement the concept. Eligible for inclusion were all studies published in English, German, or French that specifically referred to the concept of Men’s Sheds. Four databases were searched for eligible studies, followed by a hand search on websites and reference lists. Methodological quality of included studies was assessed using checklists developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Following the convergent integrated approach, quantitative data were transformed and merged with qualitative data to conduct a thematic analysis. Overall, 35 qualitative, nine quantitative, and eight mixed-methods studies were included. We found evidence regarding benefits of shed participation on self-rated health, social isolation, and well-being. We identified three key characteristics of a successful Men’s Shed, including appropriate shed facilities, sufficient funding as well as a participant-driven management and organization of the shed. This mixed-methods systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of the evidence base concerning Men’s Sheds and highlights the need for longitudinal studies investigating causal relationships and gathering sufficient information on how to successfully transfer and implement the concept of Men’s Sheds in other countries.

The impact of community Men's Sheds on the physical health of their users

With men more susceptible than women to illness and mortality, and less likely to access primary healthcare services, there have been calls for more male friendly spaces within communities to engage 'hard to reach' men in physical health improvement. Research has shown that Men's Shed (Shed) activity can provide localised support for the mental health and social wellbeing of men within communities, yet less is known about Sheds' impacts on physical health. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 62 Sheds users, this study conceptualises proposed pathways from which Shed activity can lead to positive physical health outcomes. Findings showed that in attending a community Men's Shed and taking part in activities users reported (i) increased mobility and decreased sedentary behavior, (ii) increased ability to overcome physical illness or injury, (iii) improved diet, (iv) decreased alcohol use, and (v) improved physical health knowledge. These findings support wider recommendations for community-based male friendly approaches to physical health improvement, and stress the importance of health and care service delivery beyond boundaries of 'standard' NHS settings, especially when targeting those viewed as 'hard to reach'. While initiatives like Sheds do not offer a replacement of primary healthcare services, they have the potential to fit within existing health and social care practices as an alternative local health-engagement space for men.

Study protocol: evaluation of sheds for life (SFL): a community-based men's health initiative designed "for shedders by shedders" in Irish Men's sheds using a hybrid effectiveness-implementation design

Background

Men’s Sheds (“Sheds”) offer a unique opportunity to reach a captive audience of “hard-to-reach” men. However, attempts to engage Sheds in structured health promotion programmes must respect the ethos of Sheds as highly variable, autonomous, non-structured spaces. This paper captures the key methodologies used in “Sheds for Life’ (SFL), a men’s health initiative tailored to the Shed setting.

Methods

A hybrid effectiveness-implementation study design is used to test effectiveness and implementation outcomes across multiple levels (participant, provider, organisational and systems levels). A dynamic, iterative and collaborative process seeks to address barriers and translation into the real world context. Using a community-based participatory research approach and guided by established implementation frameworks, Shed members (‘Shedders’) assume the role of key decision makers throughout the evaluation process to promote the systematic uptake of SFL across Shed settings. The protocols pertaining to the development, design and implementation of SFL and the evaluation of impact on participants’ health and wellbeing outcomes up to 12 months are outlined.

Conclusions

There is a dynamic interplay between the intervention characteristics of SFL and the need to assess and understand the diverse contexts of Sheds and the wider implementation environment. A pragmatic and context-specific design is therefore favoured over a tightly controlled efficacy trial. Documenting the protocols used to evaluate and implement a complex multi-level co-developed intervention such as SFL helps to inform gender-specific, community-based men’s health promotion and translational research more broadly.

Trial registration

This study has been retrospectively registered with the ‘International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number’ registry (ISRCTN79921361) as of the 5th of March 2021.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-10823-8.

Men's sheds as an alternative healthcare route? A qualitative study of the impact of Men's sheds on user's health improvement behaviours

BACKGROUND

Men's health is a globally underrepresented area of research and policy. With men facing numerous healthcare barriers, there are calls for more 'male friendly' approaches to health improvement that take into consideration differing male behaviours and attitudes towards health. Men's Sheds are community-based organisations delivering practical and social activities that encourage positive health behaviours. While Sheds have been recognised for their health and wellbeing benefits to men, research has yet to explore the impacts of Sheds on male health improvement and their potential role as a preventative gendered public health measure.

METHODS

The study used in-depth interviews with 62 Shed members from five Sheds to investigate the impacts of Shed activity on the health improvement behaviours and attitudes of Shed users. Findings from the qualitative study were used to propose a set of pathways in which Sheds activity led to positive health engagement.

RESULTS

The proposed pathways suggest that there are many different and interlinked ways in which Shed activities can impact on the health behaviours and attitudes of Shed users. Through participation in various practical and social activities in an inclusive environment, Shed users reported increases in their health seeking behaviours, improved perspectives on and management of their personal health, and an increased ability to overcome illness and recover.

CONCLUSIONS

Where male friendly health provision has been lacking, this study suggests how Men's Shed activities can provide positive male health outcomes, often in unexpected and non-obvious ways. In particular, the proposed visual pathways are important to inform policymakers and practitioners of the ways in that Sheds may contribute to engaging men in health improvement practices and increase their health knowledge. This study also provides a structure from which further studies can measure and evaluate Shed health impacts.

The values and meanings of social activities for older urban men after retirement

Previous studies have indicated that older men often experience disconnection from the community after retirement. Social activities have been shown to be effective in preventing social isolation among older urban men. Nevertheless, it has been reported that they often do not participate in community social activities and tend to be reluctant to do so. We explored the values and meanings of social activities for retired older men living in an urban area of Japan to understand support using social activities that are more suitable for them. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 older men (aged 68–80 years; M = 74.6 ± 3.79 years) about their interactions with family and non-family members, and their participation in various community social activities. The grounded theory approach was used for the analysis. As a result, the following five categories were derived as the values that participants place on the social activities that they engage in: “health as a resource and reward for social activities,” “feeling I am still useful,” “feeling that something is my responsibility,” “feeling of time well spent,” and “finding interest through interactions.” In addition, the following three categories were extracted as meanings of social activities: “fulfilling social life,” “maintaining stable family relationships,” and “maintaining safety and peace in the community.” When considering the social activities that older urban retired men are interested in and likely to participate in, these five values can be considered indicators. In contrast, to maintain stable family relationships and safety and peace in the community, participants sometimes used strategies to stop or abandon social activities. Therefore, in situations where a peaceful life within a family or neighborhood is threatened, it may be useful to help set aside sufficient time and allow for psychological leeway in advance to incorporate social activities into their lives.

Prevalence of Depression in Retirees: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Retirement is a final life stage characterized by the ceasing of work and the loss of a routine, social relations, role, status, accomplishments, and aspirations, etc. Many times it is accompanied by negative feelings and can provoke different psychoemotional reactions such as depression, among others. The aim of this study is to analyze the prevalence of depression, as well as its psychoeducational approach in retirees. Methods: A paired systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted in different databases—Medline, Scopus, CUIDEN, CINAHL, LILACS and PsycINFO. Original studies were included in English, Spanish and French that were published in the last 10 years, and which approached depression in retirees. Results: A total of 11 articles were selected after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. The mean value of the prevalence levels of depression in retirees obtained in the meta-analysis was 28%. Depression is more frequent in retirees, with mandatory retirement, retirement due to illness, and anticipated retirement presenting higher levels of this disease. The health role in the psychoeducational approach is highlighted in 41.6% (n = 5). Conclusions: With almost one-third of retirees suffering from depression, it is necessary to implement prevention and early detection measures to approach a public health problem.

Men's Sheds: A conceptual exploration of the causal pathways for health and well-being

Although men have a lower life expectancy than women, and are more susceptible to illness, they have been found to be less likely to engage in health-seeking behaviour. Men's Sheds, as a gendered intervention, has been identified as an effective way to engage men in meaningful activity and gain social support from others. However, links between sheds and health and well-being are not well-documented, and evidence is lacking of the potential causal pathways to health generation. This study aims to develop a plausible empirically based causal theory of how Men's Sheds influence the health and well-being of their participants and to set out future research directions to test this theory. Drawing on a scoping review of academic, peer-reviewed journal articles published between 1990 and 2018, potential causal linkages between shed activity and health and well-being outcomes are synthesised into a logic model framework. Sixteen relevant peer-reviewed journal were identified from the academic literature. The data from the articles are predominantly self-reported, and characterised by small sample sizes and/ or low response rates. Further, information is lacking on the demographics of Men's Shed participants and the contexts in which they exist. Most notably, while there is some evidence on the potential mental health and social well-being impacts of shed activities, physical health is less documented. The study shows that there is a lack of reliable and systematic evidence of the potential causal pathways between Men's Shed activities and health and well-being outcomes. In order to address research gaps, further research is required to test and develop the proposed theory and logic model.

Help-seeking experiences of older adults with a diagnosis of moderate depression

Depression is the most prevalent mental illness among older adults. However, help-seeking by older adults is frequently delayed, resulting in longer duration of untreated symptoms, poorer health outcomes, and consequent higher healthcare use. Early help-seeking and access to appropriate support benefits individuals, while providing better outcomes from health systems constrained by limited resources. The aim of this study, which is abstracted from a larger study, was to identify the factors that inhibited and enabled formal help-seeking in older adults with a diagnosis of moderate depression. Corbin and Strauss' approach to grounded theory informed data collection and analysis. Two themes and related subthemes concerning help-seeking barriers and facilitators were abstracted from the data. Help-seeking barriers were attributable to stigma, self-motivation, accessing formal support, ageism, and difficulty obtaining an initial diagnosis. Help-seeking facilitators were accepting personal responsibility, mental health literacy, therapeutic alliances, and informal support. Findings have implications for the role of mental health nurses, who are well-placed to provide support to community-based older adults with depression. More broadly, mental health nurses and other clinicians should seek to reduce help-seeking barriers and implement ways to facilitate help-seeking in this cohort.

An examination of health promotion and social inclusion activities: A cross-sectional survey of Australian community Men's Sheds

ISSUE ADDRESSED

The activities and well-being outcomes from participating at Men's Sheds are the focus of a growing body of research. Although many Men's Sheds have a clear health or social philosophy, this does not always translate into health and social activities.

METHOD

This cross-sectional survey explored the health promotion and social inclusion activities of Men's Sheds and features of Sheds that predict greater levels of these activities. All Australian Men's Sheds were invited to participate. Based on survey responses, Sheds were classified as "active" or "not active" in health promotion and social inclusion, which formed the main survey outcomes. Profiles of the responding Sheds were summarised and compared against the main survey outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analyses explored the profile variables associated with "active" Sheds.

RESULTS

Responses from 300 Sheds indicated 37% and 70% of Sheds were "active" in health promotion and social inclusivity respectively. Number of members, members with mental illness or of Indigenous descent, providing meals and targeting war veterans were associated with health promotion. Having five or more members with a disability, members with English as a second language, targeting of war veterans were associated with social inclusiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

Men's Sheds may serve as a unique community resource to reduce barriers of access to preventative health care, education and social connectedness, especially for marginalised members and those living in rural communities. SO WHAT?: A proportion of Men's Sheds reflects the health and well-being exemplars mentioned in the National Male Health Policy that can help to counter the social determinants of poor health, particularly for marginalised males.

The personal and community impact of a Scottish Men's Shed

Social isolation and loneliness are known to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, reducing social isolation and loneliness may improve such outcomes. In relation to men's health, "Men's Sheds" have been shown as one mechanism to achieve this. Studies in Australia and England have shown social, health and personal benefits; however, this remains an area that has not yet been researched in Scotland. This study, therefore, aimed to assess the characteristics of attendees, self-reported motivations for and the values and benefits of attending the Shed from the views of the attendees themselves. The participants of the study were the members of a Men's Shed in the North of Scotland, which was initially set-up by a small number of core Shedders. A convenience sample was recruited by opportunistic interviewing of participants when they attended the Shed using a mixed methods approach from 1 to 15 November 2016. In the absence of a validated questionnaire, a bespoke questionnaire was developed in several iterative stages. The answers to the questionnaire were transferred to an electronic database and analysed by frequency and thematic analysis. The participants (n = 31) had a mean age (SD) of 69.7 ± 9.5 with 96.8% being retired, thus the majority of the Shed users were older and retired. The results suggest that there were several benefits from attending the Shed, with an overwhelming majority of the sample reporting personal, social and health benefits-however, more research is needed to determine the magnitude of these. This study has also shown that the men attending the Shed frequently discussed health, which could potentially have a beneficial effect. The Shed therefore, as a community project, has the potential to have a positive impact on health welfare by focusing on the social aspects of life.

Older men's perceptions of the need for and access to male-focused community programmes such as Men's Sheds

Although participating in community social programming is associated with positive physical and mental health outcomes for older adults, older men participate less often than women. Men's Sheds is a community programme used primarily by older men that originated in Australia and is well established there. The goal of the current study was to explore men's perceptions of the need for Men's Sheds and issues concerning access to them in Canada, a country with a small but growing Men's Sheds movement. We conducted focus groups with 64 men aged 55 years and older, including Men's Sheds members and men from the community who were unfamiliar with this programme, and analysed the data using the framework analytic approach. The data revealed two primary themes concerning: (a) the need for male-focused community programmes, including the sub-themes reducing isolation, forming friendships and engaging in continued learning; and (b) access to programmes, including the sub-themes points of contact, sustaining attendance and barriers. Findings suggest that in order to reduce the likelihood of isolation and increase opportunities for social engagement, exposure to the concept of male-focused programming should begin before retirement age. In addition, such programmes should be mindful of how they are branded and marketed in order to create spaces that are welcoming to new and diverse members.

Men’s sheds: the perceived health and wellbeing benefits

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore older men’s perceptions of the health and wellbeing benefits of participating in men’s sheds.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative semi-structured interviews with eight men aged 65 and over from men’s sheds in London. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed by hand, and analysis was conducted through coding of the transcripts.

Findings

The results of this study suggested that men’s sheds improved older men’s perceived level of social interaction, men’s outlook, led to self-reported improvements in depression, and all perceived themselves to be fitter since joining. Despite the research being conducted in an urban area, it highlighted the lack of prior community engagement.

Research limitations/implications

The sample size used in the research was small and may not be representative of other men’s sheds in different areas, therefore further research with a larger sample should be conducted.

Practical implications

A health policy dedicated to males which includes the promotion and funding of men’s sheds, such as in Ireland, should be considered by the government. In addition, clinical commissioning groups should recognise men’s sheds as a non-clinical alternative for their patients through social prescribing in general practice. Finally, in order to achieve the World Health Organisation initiative of creating “age friendly cities” community groups such as men’s sheds need to be promoted and further utilised.

Originality/value

There has been little research in the UK.

Men's health: an overlooked inequality

Men's health outcomes are problematic globally, regionally and nationally. Male life expectancy was 3.6 years shorter than female life expectancy in the UK in 2015. Men take more risks with their health and are less likely than women to be aware of disease symptoms. They use primary care services less frequently than women, with likely impacts on health outcomes, especially for mental health, although there is evidence that for some conditions men may seek help just as quickly as women. Men's health initiatives have increased and there is growing evidence that 'gender-sensitive' interventions aimed at men can be effective. However, a strategic response, locally or nationally, to men's health problems in the UK has been absent. A number of actions, including by nurses, could make a difference. A national men's health policy, extended open hours in primary care, more outreach work and professional training, are among the measures suggested.

'Don't fix what ain't broke': evaluating the effectiveness of a Men's Shed in inner-regional Australia

Men's Sheds and similar community programmes are known to encourage help-seeking behaviour and thus improve the health and well-being outcomes for the men who attend. This paper investigates this issue through a community needs assessment of a Men's Shed programme in inner-regional Australia. The immediate purpose of this research was to help direct future funding initiatives, and provide recommendations for potential changes and improvements to the programme. A community-level needs assessment is a systematic process used to determine and address gaps or needs between current and desired conditions within a particular community. We sought to explore how particular formats and structures of Men's Sheds programmes contribute to improve social and medical well-being, and whether there are key programme characteristics that could be emulated. In total, 22 surveys and 20 interviews were conducted with the men who participated in the programme. The report finds 95% of men are satisfied with the current running of the programme. While there were areas that have been identified for improvement, most men reported that they are content with the current format and would not like to see major changes to its implementation. The results of this research confirm the known benefits of these types of programmes. This paper provides other community programmes with some insight into the key success factors for running a Men's Shed.

Formal intergenerational mentoring at Australian Men's Sheds: a targeted survey about mentees, mentors, programmes and quality

Intergenerational mentoring enables a purposeful exchange of skills and knowledge to enhance individual and social outcomes for sub-groups at risk of health and social disparities. Male intergenerational mentoring may be an approach to help address these disparities in young men. Over 1000 Men's Sheds operate in Australia with 39% providing some form of mentoring mainly to youth. Yet, little is known about the variables intrinsic to creating and running quality programmes. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of formal intergenerational mentoring programmes, review their quality against the Australian Youth Mentoring Network (AYMN) quality benchmarks, and identify the factors that predict quality in these programmes. All known Australian Men's Sheds were invited to participate in an online cross-sectional survey. Forty sheds with formal mentor programmes completed the survey for a total of 387 mentees (mean = 9.7 mentees/programme), the majority being male. The majority of mentor programme facilitators were unpaid male volunteers aged 61 years and older, and programmes were unfunded. Promoting social and emotional well-being of the mentees was the primary focus in more than half of the programmes, and working on a shared construction project was the most common activity. Respondents rated the three most important factors that influenced programme effectiveness as being: (i) meaningful activities; (ii) mentors' approach; and (iii) a safe environment. Univariate analyses revealed that mentoring programmes that had a system in place for screening mentors, trained mentors and evaluated the programme were most likely to rate highly against the AYMN quality benchmarks.