A recent study published in the journal Sex Roles has uncovered a concerning link between traditional masculine norms and mental well-being. The research indicates that men who strictly adhere to these norms often experience higher levels of perceived stress and are less likely to seek help for mental health issues, potentially exacerbating their mental health problems. The findings highlight the importance of understanding gender-specific barriers to disclosing depression and promoting positive masculine traits.
Men generally have higher rates of early mortality and are less likely to seek medical help, even when it is necessary. Mental health is particularly affected, as men often underreport symptoms of depression and stress. This reluctance to seek help can exacerbate mental health issues, leading to more severe problems.
Given this background, the researchers aimed to investigate the connection between adherence to traditional masculine norms and men’s mental well-being. Traditional masculinity emphasizes traits such as self-sufficiency, emotional control, and dominance. While these traits can be beneficial in certain contexts, they may also deter men from seeking help for mental health issues.
To explore the impact of traditional masculine norms on mental health, the researchers recruited 326 male participants through the online platform Prolific. These participants ranged in age from 18 to 75 years old, with an average age of 33. The sample was predominantly white (66.3%), heterosexual (85%), and well-educated, with 41% holding a college degree. Political affiliations varied, with nearly half identifying as Democrats.
The conformity to masculine norms was measured using the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory-30, which covers aspects such as emotional control, winning, playboy behaviors, violence, heterosexual self-presentation, pursuit of status, primacy of work, power over women, self-reliance, and risk-taking.
Perceived stress was evaluated using the Perceived Stress Scale-10, which asks how often participants felt stressed in the past month. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, a tool used widely in healthcare to gauge the severity of depression over the past two weeks. Help-seeking self-stigma was measured using the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help scale, which evaluates participants’ beliefs about the stigma associated with seeking psychological help.
The study found that men who strongly conformed to traditional masculine norms experienced higher levels of perceived stress. Interestingly, the direct link between traditional masculine norms and depressive symptoms was not significant. However, specific facets of masculine norms, such as heterosexual self-presentation, power over women, and self-reliance, were significantly associated with higher help-seeking self-stigma. This stigma, in turn, was linked to increased perceived stress and, to a lesser extent, depressive symptoms.
The findings suggest that traditional masculine norms can contribute to poor mental health outcomes by fostering a stigma around seeking help. Men who feel pressured to conform to these norms may be reluctant to seek the support they need, potentially worsening their mental health over time.
“Because the warning signs of depression present differently among men, it becomes important to understand how unique attributes associated with gender may act as barriers to disclosure and how to enable men to have clearer communication with their providers and seek support without feeling ashamed or emasculated,” the researchers wrote. “In addition, traits such as ambitious, self-reliant, assertive, and competitive are traditional masculine traits, that have the potential for creating positive change and progress in society.”
“From a positive psychology perspective, clinicians are turning to a strengths-based approach to encourage and reinforce positive masculine traits (Englar-Carlson & Kiselica, 2013), which may help to reframe help-seeking as an action of strength instead of weakness, thereby encouraging men to seek support for mental health when they need it.”
However, it is important to note that the study relied on cross-sectional data, meaning it only captured information at one point in time. This limitation makes it difficult to determine causality or the direction of the relationships observed. Longitudinal studies, which track participants over a longer period, are needed to better understand the development of mental health issues in relation to traditional masculine norms.
The study, “Masculinity and Mental Well-Being: The Role of Stigma Attached to Help-Seeking Among Men,” was authored by Alexis M. Mostoller and Kristin D. Mickelson.