Traditional Masculinity Ideology and Diagnostic Aversion Predict Symptom Expression in a Community Sample of Distressed Men

Adherence to traditional masculinity ideology (TMI) is associated with a host of negative outcomes, including higher rates of internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. However, relatively less is known about the mechanisms and contexts through which TMI affects the expression of psychological...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSex roles Vol. 82; no. 11-12; pp. 704 - 715
Main Authors Jampel, Jonathan D., Gazarian, Douglas, Addis, Michael E., Hoffman, Ethan
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer US 01.06.2020
Springer Nature B.V
Subjects
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Gender Studies
Ideology
Males
Masculinity
Medicine/Public Health
Men
Mental disorders
Mental health
Original Article
Psychological distress
Psychology
Psychopathology
Self report
Sociology
Symptoms
Symptoms (Individual Disorders)
Externalizing symptoms
Masculinity
Sex role attitudes
Internalizing symptoms
Mental health stigma
Self-report
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Summary:Adherence to traditional masculinity ideology (TMI) is associated with a host of negative outcomes, including higher rates of internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. However, relatively less is known about the mechanisms and contexts through which TMI affects the expression of psychological distress. In the current study, men’s aversion to being diagnosed with a mental health disorder was tested as a mediator and moderator to help clarify the relationship between TMI and symptom expression. A community sample of 72 U.S. men experiencing elevated psychological distress completed self-report questionnaires during a single session. Results demonstrated that diagnostic aversion mediated the positive association between TMI and internalizing symptoms. In addition, diagnostic aversion moderated the positive association between TMI and externalizing symptoms, such that this association was stronger among men who demonstrated higher levels of diagnostic aversion. Aversion to mental health diagnosis may be important in understanding how men who adhere to TMI manifest distress across diagnostic categories.
ISSN:0360-0025
1573-2762
DOI:10.1007/s11199-019-01083-3