Every guy needs his team: the promise of peer-led mentoring groups for college men

Objective: Our study conducted a preliminary evaluation of a peer-mentoring group program for college men (Freshmen League). Participants & Methods: We interviewed first-year men who participated in Freshmen League (n = 16) and others who did not (n = 10), asking them questions about authenticity, relationships, masculinity, and community. Using consensual qualitative research, we identified themes in constructions of their experiences and development throughout the year, and compared them across groups. Findings: Men in both groups reflected on becoming their authentic selves, feeling pressure to fit a mold, valuing friendship, and wanting to positively impact their community. However, Freshmen League participants were more likely to talk about vulnerability, positive influences of upperclassmen, connecting with others, alternative social norms, and social justice. Conclusions: Peer-led mentoring groups represent a promising direction as interventions to promote college men's health and campus culture. Directions for future research and considerations for program implementation are discussed.

Meaning-Centered Men's Groups: Initial Findings of an Intervention to Enhance Resiliency and Reduce Suicide Risk in Men Facing Retirement

Objectives: To assess the preliminary effectiveness of Meaning-Centered Men's Groups (MCMG), a 12-session existentially-oriented, community-based, psychological group intervention designed to enhance psychological resiliency and prevent the onset or exacerbation of suicide ideation among men who are concerned about or struggling with the transition to retirement.Methods: We recruited 30 men (n= 10 per group), 55 years and older (M= 63.7, SD= 4.1) from community settings to participate in a course of MCMG to be delivered in a community center. Participants completed eligibility, pre-, mid-, and post-group assessments of suicide ideation and psychological risk and resiliency factors.Results: Participants experienced significant increases in attitudinal sources of meaning in life, psychological well-being, life satisfaction, retirement satisfaction, and general health, and decreases in depression, hopelessness, loneliness, and suicide ideation.Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest that MCMG is a novel men's mental health intervention that may help to enhance psychological well-being and potentially reduce the severity or prevent the onset of symptoms of depression, hopelessness, and suicide ideation.Clinical Implications: Upstream psychological interventions may serve an important role in mental health promotion and suicide prevention with potentially vulnerable individuals facing challenging life transitions.