Men's Sheds: Enabling environments for Australian men living with and without long-term disabilities

© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The health of Australian men has recently received greater attention. Men's Sheds are named in national policy as an exemplar community-based organisation for the betterment of men's psychosocial health; yet, the evidence base to support this is limited. T...

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Main Authors: Hansji, N., Wilson, N., Cordier, Reinie
Format: Journal Article
Published: Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2015
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/5290
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author Hansji, N.
Wilson, N.
Cordier, Reinie
author_facet Hansji, N.
Wilson, N.
Cordier, Reinie
author_sort Hansji, N.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The health of Australian men has recently received greater attention. Men's Sheds are named in national policy as an exemplar community-based organisation for the betterment of men's psychosocial health; yet, the evidence base to support this is limited. This study investigates the comparative experience of men with long-term disabilities and men without long-term disabilities who go to a Men's Shed and to what extent this provides these men with an enabling, as opposed to disabling, environment. Data were collected from 12 individual interviews with men with long-term disabilities (5) and men without long-term disabilities (6), including 1 interview with the male Men's Shed Coordinator (MSC); participant observation within the shed; and a document received from the female MSC regarding the funding the Shed receives. Interviews explored the men's experiences at the Shed and their sense of belonging and social inclusion. Participants had any type of long-term disability and had been attending the shed for a minimum of 1 month. Data were collected between May and September 2013 and were analysed using the constant comparative method of grounded theory. The core theme that emerged was an enabling community space. The four sub-themes were: a community and social hub; an equalising space; a safe and supportive male environment; and meaningful male activities. The current literature exemplifies Men's Sheds to be important community-based organisations beneficial to men's health and well-being. For men living with long-term disabilities, this study illuminates that Men's Sheds offer an environment of equality, facilitating a collegial and egalitarian culture. Men can partake in enabling activities and enjoy the company of other men enhancing their sense of belonging and social inclusion as well as interact with other community groups that occupy the same space as the Men's Shed.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-52902017-09-13T14:42:15Z Men's Sheds: Enabling environments for Australian men living with and without long-term disabilities Hansji, N. Wilson, N. Cordier, Reinie © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The health of Australian men has recently received greater attention. Men's Sheds are named in national policy as an exemplar community-based organisation for the betterment of men's psychosocial health; yet, the evidence base to support this is limited. This study investigates the comparative experience of men with long-term disabilities and men without long-term disabilities who go to a Men's Shed and to what extent this provides these men with an enabling, as opposed to disabling, environment. Data were collected from 12 individual interviews with men with long-term disabilities (5) and men without long-term disabilities (6), including 1 interview with the male Men's Shed Coordinator (MSC); participant observation within the shed; and a document received from the female MSC regarding the funding the Shed receives. Interviews explored the men's experiences at the Shed and their sense of belonging and social inclusion. Participants had any type of long-term disability and had been attending the shed for a minimum of 1 month. Data were collected between May and September 2013 and were analysed using the constant comparative method of grounded theory. The core theme that emerged was an enabling community space. The four sub-themes were: a community and social hub; an equalising space; a safe and supportive male environment; and meaningful male activities. The current literature exemplifies Men's Sheds to be important community-based organisations beneficial to men's health and well-being. For men living with long-term disabilities, this study illuminates that Men's Sheds offer an environment of equality, facilitating a collegial and egalitarian culture. Men can partake in enabling activities and enjoy the company of other men enhancing their sense of belonging and social inclusion as well as interact with other community groups that occupy the same space as the Men's Shed. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/5290 10.1111/hsc.12140 Blackwell Publishing Ltd restricted
spellingShingle Hansji, N.
Wilson, N.
Cordier, Reinie
Men's Sheds: Enabling environments for Australian men living with and without long-term disabilities
title Men's Sheds: Enabling environments for Australian men living with and without long-term disabilities
title_full Men's Sheds: Enabling environments for Australian men living with and without long-term disabilities
title_fullStr Men's Sheds: Enabling environments for Australian men living with and without long-term disabilities
title_full_unstemmed Men's Sheds: Enabling environments for Australian men living with and without long-term disabilities
title_short Men's Sheds: Enabling environments for Australian men living with and without long-term disabilities
title_sort men's sheds: enabling environments for australian men living with and without long-term disabilities
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/5290