Introduction:

Men tend to seek less the healthcare system and have lower adherence to preventive treatments, which leads to worse health indicators. This study sought to analyze the influence of psychological and social factors on preventive health behaviors adopted by men.

Method:

Instruments included the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI), the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ), and the Questionnaire of Attitudes and Health Behavior (QACS). A total of 315 adult men from all Brazilian regions participated in the analysis.

Results:

A linear regression was performed. Respondents who had higher traces of desire for admiration and respect and risky sexual behaviors, as well as greater likelihood of having a mental disorder, having black skin color, and lower educational level, were less likely to adopt preventive health behaviors.

Discussion:

Risk factors for lower preventive behavior in men were mapped.

Conclusion:

Psychological and social variables exert a strong influence on men’s health behaviors, requiring actions to promote men’s health beyond existing public policies in the search for the elaboration of new actions focused on this specific group and theme.

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