Campus Location
Abilene Campus (Residential)
Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Department
Psychology
Degree Name
Master of Science
Committee Chair or Primary Advisor
David McAnulty
Second Committee Member or Secondary Advisor
Richard Beck
Third Committee Member or Committee Reader
Brianne George
Abstract
Traditional masculine norms have long been recognized as influential factors in men’s psychological well-being. Within Latino cultures, the construct of machismo represents a culturally specific form of masculinity characterized by ideals of masculinity and characterized by ideals of strength, dominance, and emotional restraint. While these norms may promote resilience and family responsibilities, rigid adherence to traditional machismo has also been associated with emotional suppression, reduced help-seeking behaviors, and increased psychological distress. The present study conducted a meta-analysis to examine the relationship between traditional machismo and mental health outcomes among Latino men, with particular attention to depressive symptoms as well as broader indicators of emotional distress. A systematic literature search identified eight quantitative studies meeting inclusion criteria, representing a total sample of 3,413 participants. Extracted effect sizes included correlations between machismo and psychological outcomes such as depression, stress, anxiety, hostility, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidality. Fisher’s z transformations and sample-size weighting were used to calculate pooled effect sizes. Results indicated a small to moderate positive association between traditional machismo and depressive symptoms (r = .243). A combined analysis of emotional distress outcomes produced a similar weighted mean correlation (r = .250), suggesting that stronger endorsement of rigid masculine norms is consistently associated with higher levels of psychological distress across multiple domains. Although effect sizes varied across studies and populations, the direction of the relationship remained consistently positive. These findings highlight the importance of examining culturally embedded masculine norms when addressing mental health disparities among Latino men. Culturally responsive intervention that acknowledges both restrictive aspects of Machismo and positive cultural constructs such as Caballerismo may help reduce stigma and encourage healthier emotional expression and help seeking behaviors.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Romero, Yesenia A,, "The Impact of Traditional Machismo on Mental Health Outcomes: Depression and Suicide Risk Among Latino Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Men" (2026). Digital Commons @ ACU, Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1002.
https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/etd/1002
Included in
Clinical Psychology Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, Social Psychology Commons
Comments
This thesis explores how traditional gender role norms, particularly machismo, influence mental health outcomes such as depression, suicide risk, and helping-seeking behaviors. By examing both immigrant and non-immigrant populations, this work aims to contribute to culturally responsive mental health practices and promotes greater understanding of how cultural identity shapes psychological well-being.