“Boys don't cry”: Examination of the links between endorsement of masculine norms, self-stigma, and help-seeking attitudes for men from diverse backgrounds.
Abstract
The role of conformity to dominant U.S. masculine norms as an antecedent to help-seeking attitudes in men has been established using convenience samples made up largely of college-age and European American males. However, the role of conformity to masculine norms on help-seeking attitudes for noncollege-age men or for men from diverse backgrounds is not well understood. To fill this gap in the literature, the present study examined the cross-cultural relevance of a mediational model of the relationships between conformity to dominant U.S. masculine norms and attitudes toward counseling through the mediator of self-stigma of seeking counseling for 4,773 men from both majority and nonmajority populations (race/ethnicity and sexual orientation). Structural equation modeling results showed that the model established using college males from majority groups (European American, heterosexual) may be applicable to a community sample of males from differing racial/ethnic groups and sexual orientations. However, some important differences in the presence and strengths of the relationships between conformity to dominant masculine norms and the other variables in the model were present across different racial/ethnic groups and sexual orientations. These findings suggest the need to pay specific theoretical and clinical attention to how conformity to dominant masculine norms and self-stigma are linked to unfavorable attitudes toward help seeking for these men, in order to encourage unders…
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Perception that victims may have about negative reactions from family, friends, and professionals may be reinforced by these behaviours.
“The perception that victims may have about negative reactions from family; friends and professionals may be reinforced by these behaviours.32 33”
From Help-seeking by male victims of domestic violence and abuse (DVA): a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis (2019) · cites this paper as [33]
Traditional masculine traits such as stoicism, invulnerability, and self-reliance do not fit comfortably with psychological help-seeking.
“Traits associated with traditional masculinity include stereotypes of stoicism, invulnerability, and self-reliance, which are frequently discussed as they do not fit comfortably with psychological help-seeking”
From Improving Mental Health Service Utilization Among Men: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Behavior Change Techniques Within Interventions Targeting Help-Seeking (2019) · cites this paper as Vogel, Heimerdinger-Edwards, Hammer, & Hubbard, 2011
Men are deterred from engaging in mental health services due to socialization into traditional masculine gender roles.
“Men are thought to be deterred from engaging in mental health services due to socialization into traditional masculine gender roles.”
From Improving Mental Health Service Utilization Among Men: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Behavior Change Techniques Within Interventions Targeting Help-Seeking (2019) · cites this paper as Vogel, Heimerdinger-Edwards, Hammer, & Hubbard, 2011
Other factors such as culture, sexual orientation, and severity and type of presenting symptoms also influence willingness to seek mental health help.
“In addition, other factors such as a person’s culture (Guo, Nguyen, Weiss, Ngo, & Lau, 2015; Lane & Addis, 2005), sexual orientation (Vogel et al., 2011), and severity and type of presenting symptoms (Edwards, Tinning, Brown, Boardman, & Weinman, 2007) also influence one’s willingness to seek mental health help.”
From Improving Mental Health Service Utilization Among Men: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Behavior Change Techniques Within Interventions Targeting Help-Seeking (2019) · cites this paper as Vogel et al., 2011
Vogel et al. (2011) and Steinfeldt et al. (2009) found links between conformity to masculine gender roles, self-stigma, and attitudes toward counselling.
“Vogel et al. (2011) and Steinfeldt et al. (2009) whose studies found links between conformity to masculine gender roles, self-stigma (i.e., the tendency to internalise negative public stigmas related to help-seeking), and attitudes toward counselling.”
From A systematic review of the factors associated with delays in medical and psychological help-seeking among men (2015) · cites this paper as Vogel et al. (2011)
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- Authors
- Vogel, D. L., Heimerdinger-Edwards, S. R., Hammer, J. H., & Hubbard, A.
- Affiliations
- Iowa State University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Counseling Psychology
- Published
- 2011-07
- Volume
- 58
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 368-382
- ISSN
- 0022-0167 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-2168
- OpenAlex
- W2107463066
- Cited by
- 551
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 47 · 2025: 45 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 49 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 45 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 38 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 50.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Counseling Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
- Keywords
- masculine norms, self-stigma, help-seeking attitudes, men, masculinity, cross-cultural generalizability, racial and ethnic differences, sexual orientation, counseling attitudes, mediation model
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Attitude to Health, Counseling, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Crying, Depressive Disorder, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Concept, Stereotyping, United States, Young Adult, Masculinity
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