Does Male Gender Role Conflict Inhibit Help-Seeking?1

Abstract

Several studies have reported negative associations between help-seeking and male gender role conflict (GRC). We examined associations between three indices of help-seeking—help-seeking intentions, help-seeking attitudes, and help-seeking styles—and two aspects of GRC: restrictive emotionality and success/power/competition. Additionally, we compared the impact of restrictive emotionality and success/power/competition, both as derived from the male gender role and as not solely derived from the male gender role, on help-seeking. We conducted an online survey with 500 men who answered questions on help-seeking, GRC, and subjective needs. Multiple-group structural equation modeling indicated that restrictive emotionality derived from the male gender role was negatively associated with attitudes toward help-seeking, which supported previous studies. However, restrictive emotionality derived from the male gender role was not related to help-seeking intentions. In contrast, restrictive emotionality which is not derived from the male gender role had a negative association with most help-seeking variables. These results suggest that while GRC is related to attitudes toward help-seeking, its impact on help-seeking is nevertheless quite limited.