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The Relation of Masculinity, Teacher Sex, and Help Seeking Style With Academic Help Seeking Avoidance of College Men in Psychology Courses

Wimer, David J.

Abstract Details

2009, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Counseling Psychology.
The academic struggle of college men is an increasingly serious problem (Taylor "&" Lorimer, 2002). Research on masculinity and help seeking behavior in psychology has shown that men who endorse traditional masculinity ideology or conform to male norms (e.g., self-reliance) are less likely to seek help for various problems (cf. Addis "&" Mahalik, 2003). However, researchers have not examined whether endorsement of traditional masculinity ideology and adherence to male norms interferes with seeking help from a teacher for academic problems. I examined how endorsement of traditional masculinity ideology, conformity to male norms, and the sex of a college teacher are related to the avoidance of academic help seeking of college men in psychology courses. One hundred seventy eight undergraduate males filled out a demographic survey, encountered a vignette making either a male or female teacher salient to them, and then completed measures of academic help seeking, conformity to male norms, and endorsement of traditional masculinity ideology. The results indicated that teacher sex was not associated with academic help seeking behavior by itself or as a moderator. However, a higher reported level of conformity to male norms was significantly associated with a reported avoidance of academic help seeking above and beyond other factors. Furthermore, aspects of traditional masculinity ideology were associated with an avoidance of help seeking. These results indicate that masculinity interferes with the help seeking of men in academic situations similar to how it interferes with help seeking in other areas. Finally, there were three main aspects of masculinity captured by both measures that are likely culprits when men fail to seek help when struggling academically: independence, dominance, and emotional restraint.
Ronald Levant (Advisor)
175 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Wimer, D. J. (2009). The Relation of Masculinity, Teacher Sex, and Help Seeking Style With Academic Help Seeking Avoidance of College Men in Psychology Courses [Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1225835976

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Wimer, David. The Relation of Masculinity, Teacher Sex, and Help Seeking Style With Academic Help Seeking Avoidance of College Men in Psychology Courses. 2009. University of Akron, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1225835976.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Wimer, David. "The Relation of Masculinity, Teacher Sex, and Help Seeking Style With Academic Help Seeking Avoidance of College Men in Psychology Courses." Doctoral dissertation, University of Akron, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1225835976

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)