Masculinity and Seeking Psychological Help: A Review Based on Social Identity Theory

Öz

To improve their quality of life and mental health, people need psychological help. Past research revealed that although participants reported low levels of life satisfaction, they were hesitant to seek psychological help. In the literature, this situation has been defined as mental health treatment gap. In this context, research focuses on reducing the treatment gap by identifying factors that facilitate and hinder seeking psychological help. Many studies consistently report that men are more reluctant to seek psychological help than women. Therefore, there is a need for a more detailed examination of the factors that affect men's reluctance to seek psychological help. Based on this fact, the study's primary purpose is to provide enlightening information about why men avoid seeking psychological help and the factors that encourage them to seek help. In this study, masculinity's role in seeking help is emphasized in the context of Social Identity Theory. However, past research findings on situations and contexts in which men are willing to seek psychological help are presented. Practitioners and researchers in the mental health field, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and psychological counselors, can learn a lot from the review's opinions on the role of traditional masculine norms in seeking psychological help.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Masculinity
• Psychological help-seeking
• Social Identity Theory

Erkeklik ve Psikolojik Yardım Arama: Sosyal Kimlik Kuramı Temelli Bir Derleme

Öz

Bireylerin ihtiyaç duyduklarında psikolojik yardım almaları hem akıl sağlıkları hem de yaşam kaliteleri açısından önem arz etmektedir. Psikolojik yardım alma davranışına ilişkin yapılan araştırmalarda katılımcıların yaşam memnuniyet düzeylerini düşük olarak belirtmelerine rağmen yardım arama konusunda çekimser tavırlar sergiledikleri ortaya konulmuştur. Alanyazında bu durum, ruh sağlığı tedavi boşluğu (mental health treatment gap) olarak tanımlanmıştır. Bu bağlamda araştırmalar, psikolojik yardım aramayı kolaylaştıran ve engelleyen faktörleri belirleyerek tedavi boşluğunu azaltmaya odaklanmıştır. Hem ulusal hem de yurt dışı alanyazında kadınlara kıyasla erkeklerin psikolojik yardım alma konusunda daha isteksiz davrandıklarını bildiren tutarlı araştırma bulguları bulunmaktadır. Bu nedenle, erkeklerin psikolojik yardım arama konusundaki isteksizlikleri üzerinde etkili olan faktörlerin daha detaylı incelenmesine ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır. Bu çerçeveden hareketle çalışmanın temel amacı, erkeklerin psikolojik yardım almaktan kaçınmalarına neden olan faktörler ve yardım almalarını teşvik eden faktörler hakkında bilgiler sunmaktır. Bu ana amaçtan hareketle çalışmada, Sosyal Kimlik Kuramı bağlamında erkekliğin psikolojik yardım arama sürecindeki rolü üzerinde durulmuştur. Bununla birlikte, erkeklerin psikolojik yardım aramaya istekli oldukları durum ve bağlamlar hakkında geçmiş araştırma bulguları sunulmuştur. Derleme çalışmasının, ruh sağlığı alanında çalışan psikiyatrist, psikolog, sosyal hizmet uzmanı ve psikolojik danışman gibi uygulayıcılar ve araştırmacılar için geleneksel eril normların, psikolojik yardım alma sürecindeki rollerine ilişkin aydınlatıcı fikirler sunacağı düşünülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Erkeklik
• Psikolojik Yardım Arama
• Sosyal Kimlik Kuramı

Kaynakça

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