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The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior
Published on: March 2, 2015
Working-Class Men's Constructions of Help-Seeking When Feeling Depressed or Sad
James R Mahalik1, Faedra R Dagirmanjian2
11 Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA.
American Journal of Men'S Health
|May 14, 2019
Summary
Working-class men often avoid seeking help for depression due to stigma and masculinity norms. Supportive environments can reduce these barriers, encouraging men to seek mental health support.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Men's Health
Background:
- Understanding men's reluctance to seek help for mental health issues is crucial.
- Working-class men face unique challenges related to help-seeking behaviors.
- Societal expectations of masculinity can influence mental health support engagement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how working-class men perceive and respond to seeking help for depression or sadness.
- To identify factors influencing men's help-seeking behaviors in industrial and manual labor contexts.
Main Methods:
- Conducted semistructured interviews with 12 working-class men in industrial/manual labor roles.
- Utilized consensual qualitative research methodology to analyze interview data.
- Explored participants' understanding of depression, help-seeking experiences, and barriers.
Main Results:
- Identified four key domains: Concern About Threat and Stigma, Being a Man Means Not Seeking Help, Experiences of Safety and Relief, and Conditions That Reduce Threat and Stigma.
- Masculinity norms and stigma significantly deter men from seeking help.
- Contexts that reduce stigma and threat can facilitate help-seeking behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Addressing men's depression requires understanding the interplay of negative influences (masculinity, stigma) and adaptive influences (supportive contexts).
- Interventions should consider social norms, stigma reduction, and precarious manhood theory.
- Outreach and practice need tailored approaches for working-class men's mental health needs.
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