Effects of gender and sex role orientation on help-seeking attitudes

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of gender and sex role orientation (masculinity and femininity) on attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help in a sample of 163 student trainee teachers (52 males and 111 females) in Singapore. The mean age of students was 25.39 years (SD = 3.80). ANOVAs revealed statistically significant main effects for gender and femininity on attitudes toward help-seeking. Specifically, females were reported to have more positive overall attitudes toward professional help-seeking and were more willing to recognize a personal need for professional help compared to males. Femininity significantly influenced students' level of stigma tolerance. These findings suggest that both gender and sex role orientation play an independent role in influencing help-seeking attitudes. In addition, these variables appear to have a differential impact on different aspects of helpseeking.

An introduction to association rule mining: An application in counseling and help-seeking behavior of adolescents

“…There is limited published research on adolescent help-seeking behavior in Asia. To date, fewer than five studies on adolescent help-seeking attitudes and behavior based in Asia have been identified (Ang, Lim, Tan, & Yau, 2004;Fukuhara, 1986;Yeh, 2002). More empirical work is urgently needed to better understand Asian adolescents who seek professional help versus those who do not.…”

Help seeking for cardiac symptoms: Beyond the masculine–feminine binary

“…Similarly, compared with men, women have been found to have more positive overall attitudes toward professional help-seeking, a greater willingness to recognize the need for help, and a greater tolerance for any societal stigma associated with help seeking (Ang, Lim, Tan, & Yau, 2004;Krogh, 2007). Hunt, Lewars, Emslie, and Batty (2007) reported that higher 'femininity' scores in men were associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease death, while no such relationship was observed with the women in their study.…”

Psychological factors in college students' attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help: A meta-analysis.

“…One of the most consistent findings is that female individuals hold views and attitudes toward seeking psychological help that are more positive than those male individuals hold and use more psychological services (Addis & Mahalik, 2003;Ang, Lim, & Tan, 2004;Fischer & Farina, 1995;Fischer & Turner, 1970;Leong & Zachar, 1999;Morgan, Ness, & Robinson, 2003;Vogel & Wester, 2003). However, there are still contradictory results (Atkinson & Gim, 1989;Atkinson, Lowe, & Matthews, 1995;Dadfar & Friedlander, 1982;Masuda, Suzumura, Beauchamp, Howells, & Clay, 2005;Furnham & Andrew, 1996), showing no gender differences.…”