Masculinity Scales Focus Mostly on Harm, Review Finds
A systematic review of 65 psychological questionnaires found most measure deficits rather than strengths in men.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Men’s Health
A systematic scoping review of 65 psychological masculinity questionnaires published between 1974 and 2021 found that 78 per cent took a deficit-based approach centred on harm. The review was published in Men and Masculinities and led by researchers at the Movember Institute of Men's Health.
Why it matters
Because these scales shape how researchers define and assess men's psychological health, a harm-focused lens can overlook positive traits and healthy relationships. The authors argue that more balanced measurement could improve understanding of men's wellbeing.
The review covered 65 questionnaires published from 1974 to 2021, with 66 per cent relying on samples lacking demographic diversity. Internal validity and reliability were generally adequate, but the authors note the evidence base for external validity is thin.
The players
Movember Institute of Men's Health
A research institute focused on men's health that led the review examining masculinity measurement tools.
Men and Masculinities
A peer-reviewed academic journal publishing research on gender, masculinity, and men's lives.
The details
Masculinity scales are standardised questionnaires asking respondents to rate agreement with statements about how men should think, feel, or act. Many draw on gender role strain theory, which holds that rigid expectations of manhood cause distress, so higher scores were expected to predict worse outcomes. The authors call for future tools to capture caring, generative fatherhood, courage, humour, humanitarian service, and healthy relationships.
Timeline
1974 to 2021: span of the 65 questionnaires reviewed.
By the 1990s and early 2000s: many new scales shifted toward measuring adherence to rigid social rules.
2020: a content analysis found 15 per cent of studies over 18 years focused on positive aspects of men's functioning.
Health Landscape
The review extends a research tradition grounded in gender role strain theory, which dominated masculinity measurement from the 1980s onward. Its findings suggest the field is now being pressed to move from identifying male distress toward measuring male strengths.
Men completing psychological questionnaires may encounter scales framed around harm rather than strengths, which can shape how clinicians and researchers interpret their responses. Future tools that measure caring relationships and positive traits could offer a fuller picture of men's mental health.
The takeaway
Men's mental health assessments benefit from measuring strengths alongside problems. Readers can look for measures that capture positive relationships and wellbeing, not only distress.
Further reading
Explore more on Men’s Health for context on how masculinity research shapes men's wellbeing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NDTV.
