When the Heart Breaks the Rhythm: Masculinity and Emotional Stoicism in Men’s Experiences of Myocardial Infarction

This article builds on interview data with 24 Swedish men who had experienced myocardial infarction. The aim of the study was to explore how their illness prompted existential reflection and how such reflections intersect with constructions of masculinity and social positions, such as age and class. The findings show that while existential anxiety is frequently acknowledged, it is also managed through practices such as humour, biomedical reasoning, and emotional restraint. These responses reflect forms of emotional stoicism, often expressed in relation to ideals of responsibility, control, and care for others. At the same time, such orientations also vary in relation to social position, demonstrating that emotional stoicism is not a singular or uniform response, but is shaped through intersecting configurations of class and age. The article challenges universalist assumptions about men’s health behaviours and contributes to a nuanced understanding of how masculinity is lived in the context of chronic illness.