ArticlePDF Available

Male Gender Role Conflict, Depression, and Help Seeking: Do College Men Face Double Jeopardy?

Authors:
Glenn E Good at University of Florida
Glenn E Good
Phillip Karl Wood at University of Missouri
Phillip Karl Wood
Download full-text PDF
Read full-text
Download citation

Abstract

Investigated the previously untested hypothesis that college men with higher levels of male gender role conflict (MGRC) experience both increased risk of depression and more negative attitudes toward seeking counseling services. Latent variable modeling was used to examine the relations in 397 college males (mean age 19.3 yrs). Two components of MGRC were identified: restriction-related MGRC, which predicted 25% of the variance in help-seeking attitudes, and achievement-related MGRC, which predicted 21% of the variance in depression. Findings indicate that MGRC was strongly related to men's attitudes toward help seeking and their experience of depression. It is suggested that outreach programs designed to increase college men's willingness to use counseling services attempt to counter the option limiting aspects of male gender roles; counseling with depressed college men should incorporate an examination of perceptions of success and achievement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Content uploaded by Glenn E Good
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Glenn E Good on Nov 20, 2017
Content may be subject to copyright.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Male gender role conflict, depression, and help seeking: Do
Journal of Counseling and Development : JCD; Sep 1995; 74, 1; ABI/INFORM Complete
pg. 70
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
... Research has suggested that men perceive that the disclosure of difficulties, seeking assistance, and having a mental health diagnosis may lead to being labelled weak, and thus diminishing their masculinity [46][47][48][49][50]. ...
... This is consistent with Rugema et al. (2020) and Madsen et al. (2024), who noted that males consider gender roles an important consideration when it comes to mental health-related stigma and help-seeking in CaLD groups [51,59]. This is also consistent more broadly to previous findings that the disclosure of having difficulties, seeking assistance from others, or being diagnosed with a mental health illness can be viewed as impacting notions of masculinity, and therefore playing a role in reduced professional help-seeking [46][47][48]50]. Next, the fear of possible social exclusion in driving secrecy behaviours for the Swahili-speaking participants coincides with previous research that stigma increases the likelihood of experiencing social distance and being ostracized [12,32,37]. ...
Gender, Mental Health Stigma, and Help-Seeking in Arabic- and Swahili-Speaking Communities in Australia
Article
Full-text available
Australia is an ethnically diverse nation with large numbers of migrants and refugees entering the country yearly. Despite research demonstrating that individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities experience an elevated risk of developing a mental illness, mental health services uptake is consistently low. To improve the mental health outcomes of these CaLD individuals in Australia, there is an urgent need to understand barriers to treatment, such as stigma. Research has noted that gender may play a role in mental health stigma and help-seeking. Using a qualitative approach as part of the Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Project, the aim of this study was to explore gender perspectives in mental health stigma and help-seeking among Arabic-speaking and Swahili-speaking individuals in Sydney. A total of five focus group discussions and 18 interviews were undertaken online using Zoom, digitally recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed. Three major themes were identified. The first theme related to stigma and the fears regarding mental illness being discovered by others. The second theme related to the different approaches to confronting stigma. The last theme related to the various issues considered when identifying sources of help. Our findings suggest that a nuanced approach using the ‘what matters most’ framework can explain how men and women within each community may experience stigma and emphasise different aspects of help-seeking. These findings can help to guide clinical practitioners in delivering gender-specific and culturally sensitive and effective treatment sessions with these CaLD individuals, in addition to offering directions for stigma-reduction initiatives.
View
... Individuals who adhere to rigid gender ideologies learned through socialization sources are at risk for committing violence when they experience threats or challenges to their social identity (Kimmel, 2013). Conformity to hegemonic masculine norms increases men's distress and aggressive tendencies yet decreases their willingness to seek help in times of need (Good & Wood, 1995). While some cope with shortcomings or a sense of emasculation in prosocial ways, others may develop maladaptive strategies like internalizing strain and masking depression or suicidal ideation (Seidler et al., 2016), or externalizing strain and channeling rage towards people they blame for their distress (Broidy & Agnew, 1997). ...
The Patriarchal Patterns of Male Mass Killers in America: A Typology
Chapter
Full-text available
  • Sep 2024
Few studies have theorized or analyzed the importance of macrolevel forces (e.g., social, political, economic, and ideological) on mass shootings/murders in America. To address the gap and bring to light the omnipotent and multi-faceted nature of structural/systemic factors in shaping violence, this chapter examines one of the most powerful, pervasive, and enduring systems of oppression-patriarchy. By investigating patriarchy, along with interrelated and interlocking systems, we can better understand broad forces constructing perpetrator norms, attitudes, drives, and actions. Further, through considerations of popular and pronounced masculinity predilections, nuanced features can be acknowledged, ascertained, and applied in ways that contribute to comprehension. Using "Patriarchy's 6 Patterns of Male Mass Killers", cases of male-perpetrated mass murder occurring in 2019 were analyzed (n = 27). Findings revealed unique yet overlapping and cooccurring masculinity features underlying these highly performative gender crimes. In all, structures create complex dimensions that can hide under a common guise, which carries implications for how we understand, typify, and respond to mass murders.
View
View
The Effect of Gender Ideal Adherence on Carer Burden and Help-Seeking in Male Carers of People With Multiple Sclerosis
Article
  • Jan 2025
BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological disease that is commonly diagnosed in middle age and disproportionately affects women. Consequently, middle-aged men (as partners and husbands) are often the caregivers, a unique group in comparison with carers for people with other long-term neurological conditions, who are predominately women. Previous research has indicated that male carers respond differently from their female counterparts in terms of carer burden. Authors of gender role construct literature have reported that gender role conflict and gender role flexibility have an influence on men's attitudes about seeking help and support. The aim of this study was to investigate whether gender role conflict and gender role flexibility have an effect on help-seeking attitudes and carer burden within this unique group of carers. METHODS Data were collected from an international sample of 68 participants, using results from online and paper surveys, and were primarily analyzed using hierarchical regression analysis. RESULTS Results indicated that gender role conflict and gender role flexibility explained a significant variance in burden but were not significantly associated with attitudes toward help-seeking. Rather, appearance of coping was posited as a potential variable mediating the relationship between gender role conflict and help-seeking attitudes. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate how gender role constructs affect carer coping, suggesting that support for male carers may require tailored interventions. Appearance of coping is highlighted as a variable that requires further investigation. Further, a direction for psychoeducational interventions applicable to other groups of male carers is suggested.
View
View
The Impact of Attitudes toward Online Counseling on the Emotional Well-Being of Distance Learners at Knust
Article
Full-text available
  • Jul 2024
Web-based counseling is a cutting-edge delivery method that can reach college students who might not seek aid in person. Distance learning requires that learners access academic services remotely from the institution of study. Thus, academic services and support services such as counseling are remotely accessed. Due to the remote learning nature of distance learning, remote counseling or online counseling is the way to go. This study sought to understand the impact of attitudes toward online counseling services on improving the emotional well-being of distance students. The approach to the study is a quantitative research design using the adapted and shaped Positive Emotional Well-being Scale (PEWS) and the adapted and shaped Online Counseling Scale (OCS) questionnaire, which represents the average value on the Likert scale for online counseling was used to help evaluate the weak and strong perceptions regarding attitudes toward online counseling. The purposive sampling technique was used to select 354 students who were distance learners at KNUST. A Pearson correlation coefficient was computed to determine the relationship between Attitudes toward Online Counseling and Emotional Well-being scores. The variables Attitudes toward Online Counseling and Emotional Well-being were found to be strongly correlated, r (354) = .587, p < .0001. In all, there was a significant positive relationship between Attitudes toward Online Counseling and Emotional well-being among distance learners at KNUST. Findings, therefore, showed that a positive and strong attitude toward online counseling is significant in resolving the emotional well-being concerns of distance learning students at KNUST.
View
Australian men's help-seeking intentions for anxiety symptoms: The impact of masculine norm conformity and gender role conflict
Article
  • Apr 2024
Research highlights a discrepancy between the number of men experiencing mental illness and those seeking professional help, particularly for anxiety. Conformity to masculine norms (CMN) and gender role conflict (GRC) have been recognised as barriers to men's mental health help-seeking, but few studies have examined these relationships for anxiety. This study aimed to examine the relationship between anxiety severity and help-seeking intentions in Australian men, and the additional impact of CMN and GRC. A total of 610 Australians aged 18–89 years (M = 46.02, SD = 17.14) participated in an online survey, which included demographic information and four standardised questionnaires measuring anxiety, help-seeking intentions, CMN, and GRC. CMN but not GRC was found to fully mediate the relationship between anxiety severity and anxiety-related help-seeking intentions. The results have theoretical implications for the study of masculinity and clinical implications for therapeutic approaches for men with anxiety symptoms.
View
Factors associated with informal and formal help-seeking among Asian adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury
Article
  • Apr 2024
Although nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is prevalent among adolescents and is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes, many adolescents with NSSI do not seek help. However, there is a lack of research on the factors that may increase the likelihood of help-seeking, especially within Asia. To address this gap, the present study examined whether certain factors were associated with informal and formal help-seeking – specifically gender, severity of NSSI, functions of NSSI and authoritative parenting. 121 adolescents ( Mage = 16.2 years, 71.1% female) were recruited from specialist outpatient clinics and inpatient psychiatric wards from a public hospital in Singapore. One caregiver per adolescent was also recruited. Data from self-report questionnaires were analysed using logistics regression analyses. The results suggest that the severity of NSSI increases the likelihood of informal help-seeking, while adolescents who have parents with more authoritative parenting style are less likely to seek informal help. Gender and functions of NSSI were not found to be associated with help-seeking. The findings from this study can guide professionals in their efforts to encourage help-seeking within Asian populations, as well as inform prevention and treatment programs for Asian adolescents with NSSI.
View
Gender characteristics of depressive disorders: clinical, psychological, neurobiological and translational aspects
Article
  • Apr 2024
  • ZH NEVROL PSIKHIATR
Various studies have indicated that the prevalence of depression is almost twice as high among women as among men. A major factor associated with the development of depression and other affective disorders are adverse and psychologically traumatic life events that contribute to changes in the neuroendocrine system, altering the capacity to adapt to stress. These changes are involved in the pathogenesis of mental disorders, along with genetic and other factors, and are to a significant degree regulated by gender dependent mechanisms. While women have a high prevalence of depressive disorders, men show a higher rate of alcohol and substance abuse. These differences in the epidemiology are most likely explained by different predisposition to mental disorders in men and women and a diversity of biological consequences to adverse life events. Taking this into account, there is a need for a critical review of currently used approaches to modeling depressive disorders in preclinical studies, including the use of animals of both sexes. Adaptation of experimental models and protocols taking into account gender characteristics of neuroendocrine changes in response to stress, as well as structural-morphological, electrophysiological, molecular, genetic and epigenetic features, will significantly increase the translational validity of experimental work.
View
Social Well-being and its Relationship to Social Media Usage among Hashemite University Students
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2024
Objectives: The study aims to identify social well-being levels and the use of social media by gender and to determine whether there are differences in these levels across academic specializations. It also examines the correlation between social well-being and social media use. Methods: Purposively selected, the sample of the study consisted of 840 male and female students at Hashemite University. Accordingly, various scales were used to achieve the study's objective, including a social well-being scale and a social media use scale. In terms of social well-being and social media usage, there were three levels: high (3.68-5), moderate (2.34-3.67), and low (1-2.34). Results: Findings indicated that both levels of social well-being and social media use were moderate. The results also indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in levels of social well-being based on sex and academic specialization. On the other hand, the results showed statistically significant differences in the level of social media usage due to gender, in favour of females, and statistically significant differences in the level of social media usage due to academic specialization, in favour of students at humanist colleges. Finally, results showed a positive and statistically relationship between social well-being and social media usage. Conclusions: The study recommends conducting counseling programs and workshops to educate university students about the negative aspects of social media addiction.
View
Psychological services designed for men: A psychoeducational approach
Article
Full-text available
  • Oct 1990
Examines the male sex role and (1) its effects on men's physical and mental health and (2) the associated obstacles for men in seeking and using psychological services. A psychoeducational structured-group program for men illustrates how psychological services might be designed to make them more accessible and useful to men. R. F. Levant and G. F. Doyle's (see record 1983-28490-001) empirical evaluation of the group (The Fatherhood Course) is briefly discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
View
View
View
View
View
The Inexpressive Male: Functional Conflict and Role Theory as Contrasting Explanation
Article
  • Jul 1979
Functional-conflict and role theory perspectives are compared and contrasted in their ability to explain male inexpressiveness. Although both perspectives should be utilized as approaches to study male inexpressive behavior empirically, it is suggested that the role theory approach has the advantage of incorporating both the individual and the social structure in explaining male inexpressiveness. It is suggested that change in male expressiveness can be expected if males are encouraged to devote less time and energy to roles where the expression of feelings are eschewed and more to emotionally laden roles.
View
View
View
The CES-D Scale: A Self-Report Depression Scale for Research in the General Population
Article
  • Jun 1977
  • APPL PSYCH MEAS
The CES-D scale is a short self-report scale designed to measure depressive symptomatology in the general population. The items of the scale are symptoms associated with depression which have been used in previously validated longer scales. The new scale was tested in household interview surveys and in psychiatric settings. It was found to have very high internal consistency and adequate test- retest repeatability. Validity was established by pat terns of correlations with other self-report measures, by correlations with clinical ratings of depression, and by relationships with other variables which support its construct validity. Reliability, validity, and factor structure were similar across a wide variety of demographic characteristics in the general population samples tested. The scale should be a useful tool for epidemiologic studies of de pression.
View
Masculine Gender Role Stress
Article
  • Apr 1987
  • BEHAV MODIF
It is proposed that masculine gender role socialization affects whether men appraise specific situations as stressful. Behavioral research on stress and coping has remained relatively blind to the possibility of significant gender role differences in appraising events as stressful. Therefore, a new scale was developed to measure masculine gender role stress (MGRS). Data were presented to substantiate hypotheses that MGRS scores (1) significantly distinguish men from women, (2) are unrelated to global measures of sex-typed masculinity, and (3) are significantly associated with at least two measures of self-reported stress (i.e., anger and anxiety). Stressful situations represented on the MGRS scale include cognitive, behavioral, and environmental events associated with the male gender role. Factor analysis demonstrates that these concerns cluster in five particular domains reflecting physical inadequacy, emotional inexpressiveness, subordination to women, intellectual inferiority, and performance failures involving work and sex. The findings are discussed in terms of cognitive-behavioral concepts of stress and coping.
View