Abstract:

This research aims to investigate the relationship between male role norms and psychological help seeking barriers. In this quantitative research, correlational design was adopted. The participants of the study consisted of university students and graduates between the ages of 18-30. A total of 870 young adults, 505 (58%) females and 365 (42%) males, were selected via convenient sampling method. The data were collected through the "Male Role Norms Scale", "The Barriers to Seeking Psychological Help Scale" and a personal information form. The results show that males adopt more traditional male role norms than females. At the same time, males fear being stigmatized by society more than females, and perceive themselves as devalued more in case of receiving psychological help. Also, they have less knowledge about the processes of receiving psychological help compared to females. Regardless of gender, when it comes to previous help seeking experiences, it was seen that the ones who had never received psychological help had more barriers to seek psychological help, and adopted more traditional male role norms. The results show that male role norms are associated with barriers to seeking psychological help. The strongest predictors of this association are the norms of anti-femininity that reflect the idea that “a man should avoid anything reminiscent of femininity” and the norms of toughness that reflect the idea that “a man should always be tough/strong.”

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