The Relation of Masculinity and Help-Seeking Style with the Academic Help-Seeking Behavior of College Men

Abstract

The present study examined how the endorsement of traditional masculinity ideology, conformity to masculine norms, and help seeking style are related to the avoidance of academic help seeking by college men in psychology courses. One hundred seventy eight undergraduate males participated in the study. Results indicated that greater conformity to masculine norms was significantly associated with avoidance of academic help seeking above and beyond the contribution of demographics, amount of course work taken, and propensity for using the executive help-seeking style. The endorsement of aspects of traditional masculinity ideology was associated with avoidance of help seeking. These results indicate that masculinity variables are associated with men's avoidance of help seeking in academic situations similar to their associations with men's avoidance of help seeking in other areas. Two main aspects of masculinity tapped by both measures are most strongly associated with the avoidance of help seeking when strug...