Examining the implications of a masculinity contest culture on well-being and retention in a military context

Introduction: Unhealthy organizational culture can negatively impact military members’ well-being and retention. Masculinity contest cultures (MCCs) — zero-sum competitions with rules defined by traditional masculine norms — have been linked to harassment, discrimination, and abuse of power. Conversely, transformational leadership fosters positive social interactions contributing to healthy organizational culture. This study examined the moderating effect of transformational leadership on the relationships between an MCC and three outcomes: psychological health, microaggressions, and turnover intentions. Methods: This study is based on secondary analyses of the 2022 Your Say Matters: Defence Team Well-Being Survey. Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Regular Force members compose the sample (n = 4,483). Regressions, including two- and three-way interactions and their associated simple slopes, were conducted for the overall sample, controlling for rank and members identifying as part of a minority group (ethnic or racial minority groups, and/or 2SLGBTQIA+). The interaction effects of gender were also examined. Results: MCC was positively related to all three outcomes, with the effects on psychological distress and microaggressions diminishing with increasing levels of transformational leadership. Considering the role of gender, the interaction effects on psychological distress were only significant for men. Discussion: The findings highlight the negative outcomes of an MCC. Encouragingly, the results suggest that one solution may lie in developing transformational leaders who can influence the behaviour of others through their actions. Findings can help inform CAF and Department of National Defence strategies and policies that foster inclusivity and a healthy organizational culture.