Masculinity, Lifestyle Factors, and Andropause-Related Symptoms in Pakistani Men: A Cross-Sectional Study

Andropause-related symptoms may reflect biological ageing, lifestyle behaviours, and culturally shaped understandings of masculinity. Evidence examining lifestyle health, masculinity contingency, and self-reported Ageing Males' Symptoms (AMS) among Pakistani men is limited. This study examined their associations and whether masculinity contingency moderated the lifestyle-symptom relationship.

A cross-sectional correlational study included 150 Pakistani men aged 30-56 years who completed an online Qualtrics survey. Data were collected in 2024. Measures included the Lifestyle and Habits Questionnaire-Brief, AMS scale, and Masculinity Contingency Scale (MCS). Analyses comprised descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, Pearson correlations, multivariable linear regression, and moderation analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29.0.1.0.

Lifestyle health was inversely associated with AMS scores (r = -0.365, p < 0.001). In multivariable regression, lifestyle health remained negatively associated with AMS scores (B = -1.180, 95% CI [-1.658, -0.701], p < 0.001), and the model explained 14.3% of the variance. MCS Boost showed a positive bivariate association with AMS scores (r = 0.178, p = 0.03), whereas MCS Threat was not significantly associated with AMS scores. In the moderation model, MCS Boost was positively associated with AMS scores (B = 0.401, 95% CI [.095, 0.707], p = 0.01), but neither MCS Boost nor MCS Threat moderated the lifestyle-AMS association. Age was not significantly associated with AMS scores.

Among Pakistani men aged 30-56 years, healthier lifestyle scores were associated with lower self-reported ageing-related symptom burden. Masculinity contingency did not moderate the lifestyle-symptom association, although MCS Boost showed a positive association with symptom scores. These cross-sectional findings identify lifestyle health as a relevant consideration in culturally sensitive men's health promotion. Longitudinal studies incorporating broader age ranges, clinical indicators, and culturally grounded qualitative work are needed to clarify temporal, biological, and cultural influences on symptom burden.