The right tool for the job : an investigation into men's help-seeking behaviours and attitudes in a sample of New Zealand construction workers : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

Abstract

There are major difficulties with mental health and suicide within the New Zealand construction industry; a salient feature of this industry is that it is male-dominated, and men face particular challenges when seeking help for mental health issues. Yet little is known about men’s help-seeking attitudes and behaviours within the New Zealand construction industry. The present study sought to identify factors which are associated with enhanced or decreased help-seeking behaviour among male construction workers. Male construction workers (N = 578) completed a survey that assessed intentions to seek help from different help-seeking sources, wellbeing, attitudes towards psychological help-seeking, barriers towards treatment and perceived stigma. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB; Ajzen, 1985) was used as a guiding framework to measure and understand individual and social factors which could facilitate or inhibit help-seeking intentions among men. Open-ended questions were used to collect information on perceptions of stress, barriers to accessing mental health support within the workplace, and different ways that men could help other men access support.

Results indicated that masculine gender roles have a negative impact on help-seeking intentions among men within the construction industry. Stoic attitudes towards mental health, perceptions that help-seeking is a sign of weakness or failure, and self-reliance were identified as barriers towards seeking help. Greater adherence to masculine gender roles was also linked to lower levels of wellbeing. The implications of this finding are that men who strongly subscribe to masculine gender roles are more likely to reject talking-based therapies, and shoulder to shoulder interventions, such as workshops and mental health sports-based interventions.

Within the TPB model, attitude towards help-seeking was the strongest predictor of help seeking intentions. Results indicated that perceived stigma and barriers to treatment were non-significant predictors of help-seeking intentions within the model. In regard to supplementary variables used within the TPB model, prior positive experiences of working with a counsellor and/or psychologist was a significant predictor of help-seeking intentions within the TPB model.

Key barriers identified within the study included time, cost, and having a conversation with a site manager to leave the worksite to access mental health support. The present study identified several areas of opportunity to support men along the help-seeking journey. Areas for intervention included: challenging negative aspects of masculinity within the workplace, including mental health conversations within daily work practices, and creating visible and accessible help-seeking pathways.