An investigation of masculinity attitudes, gender, and attitudes toward psychological help-seeking

O Yousaf, A Popat, M.S Hunter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Previous research on attitudes toward psychological help-seeking has shown that men are often reluctant to use psychological services. We investigated the relationships between subscription to traditional masculinity norms, gender, and help-seeking attitudes using the Inventory of Attitudes Toward Seeking Mental Health Services (IASMHS) and the Male Role Norms Inventory (MRNI-R, which measures the extent to which one believes that men should think and behave according to traditional male norms) in a sample of 124 participants (51 females; 73 males). Men?s IASMHS scores were lower (i.e., less favorable attitudes to help-seeking) than women?s, whereas men scored higher on the MRNI-R (i.e., more positive attitudes to traditional male norms). A regression analysis revealed that men?s MRNI-R scores predicted their IASMHS scores; older participants scored higher on the IASMHS; and the effect of gender on the IASMHS was eliminated when MRNI-R scores were held constant. Our findings support the claim that men?s masculinity ideals are a significant barrier to their psychological help-seeking.
Original languageUndefined/Unknown
Pages (from-to)234 -237
JournalPsychology of Men and Masculinity
Volume16
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2015

Keywords

  • mental health
  • help-seeking
  • men
  • masculinity
  • gender

Cite this