Masculinidades e saúde: debates na literatura e na prática profissional de psicólogas

Abstract

Interest in the subject of masculinities stems from the researcher's personal and professional experiences. In order to complete this dissertation, two studies were carried out, the first of which was a narrative literature review. The methodology adopted was to search the Scientific Eeletronic Library Online and Portal Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde databases, using descriptors such as gender, masculinities, groups, health systems and social assistance systems. We also searched the references of the articles found in these databases, as well as books on gender issues. From the debates developed by the researchers and presented in this narrative review, together with the researcher's professional experience as a participant in a project to combat domestic violence against women, it can be deduced that there is a need to adopt a gender perspective in meeting men's health and social assistance demands, given the urgency of interventions capable of promoting physical and mental health for the population in general, by seeking to promote gender equality and combat any type of violence. There is also a need to create group spaces for reflection on masculinities within public and private healthcare facilities, both with adolescents and adults of different genders, as well as to allocate sufficient human and material resources to maintain projects aimed at this objective. In the second study, the objectives were: (a) to investigate the potential and limitations of the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), applied to the processes of psychotherapy and health promotion; and (b) to research the conceptions of masculinity within the discourses, beliefs, thoughts and feelings of the patients and/or users of the participants' services, in online consultations, in the clinic and in other work spaces. The research participants are psychologists, graduates of a public university and a private university in Minas Gerais, graduated in the last five years (2018-2022), aged between 24 and 28. The semi-structured interview was the instrument chosen to collect information for the research and was carried out virtually, using the Google Meet platform, given the familiarity of the instrument for the participants, as well as the possibility of recording, for later analysis by the researcher. Another decisive factor in choosing the instrument was the interview’s characteristic of giving a leading role to the participants' life experiences. The results showed that the interviewees sought strategies to adapt to the sessions using ICTs, overcoming technical and subjective problems, as they had to reframe their beliefs and prejudices in relation to the use of technologies in the therapeutic setting. On the subject of masculinities, adherence to hegemonic models is still present in the patients' accounts of the professionals interviewed, which suggests the need to promote spaces for listening and debate on the subject of gender. Other studies could add new knowledge to this field of research, including professionals in related areas who have adopted ICTs mediated interventions in the workplace.