Mental health help-seeking among Korean men: the influence of stigma, masculine norms, and face
Abstract Background Previous studies have found that Asians and men are more susceptible to the stigma and stereotypes associated with mental illness. This social perception makes it difficult for Korean men to seek professional psychological help even when they desperately need it. The primary obje...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02793-y |
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| author | Soomin Kim Dongil Kim |
| author_facet | Soomin Kim Dongil Kim |
| author_sort | Soomin Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Previous studies have found that Asians and men are more susceptible to the stigma and stereotypes associated with mental illness. This social perception makes it difficult for Korean men to seek professional psychological help even when they desperately need it. The primary objectives of this study were to investigate barriers to mental health help-seeking among Korean men and to identify the role of sociocultural factors. Methods A total of 341 Korean men aged 19 to 59 years participated in an online survey, which included questionnaires on loss of face, self-stigma of seeking help, attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, and conformity to masculine norms. Structural Equation Modeling was used to explore the relationships among these variables. Results The results revealed that loss of face indirectly affected attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help (ATSPPH) through its mediating effect on self-stigma. Loss of face did not directly influence ATSPPH. Furthermore, conformity to masculine norms negatively affected ATSPPH, and self-stigma mediated this relationship. Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of understanding the influence of sociocultural factors in encouraging Korean men to seek help. The ultimate goal is to foster a social environment that encourages open discussion about mental illness, masculinity, and Asian values. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9d3ace33c8724508acbf5e1bc4a0af6f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-9d3ace33c8724508acbf5e1bc4a0af6f2025-08-20T02:55:28ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-05-0113111210.1186/s40359-025-02793-yMental health help-seeking among Korean men: the influence of stigma, masculine norms, and faceSoomin Kim0Dongil Kim1College of Education, Seoul National UniversityCollege of Education, Seoul National UniversityAbstract Background Previous studies have found that Asians and men are more susceptible to the stigma and stereotypes associated with mental illness. This social perception makes it difficult for Korean men to seek professional psychological help even when they desperately need it. The primary objectives of this study were to investigate barriers to mental health help-seeking among Korean men and to identify the role of sociocultural factors. Methods A total of 341 Korean men aged 19 to 59 years participated in an online survey, which included questionnaires on loss of face, self-stigma of seeking help, attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, and conformity to masculine norms. Structural Equation Modeling was used to explore the relationships among these variables. Results The results revealed that loss of face indirectly affected attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help (ATSPPH) through its mediating effect on self-stigma. Loss of face did not directly influence ATSPPH. Furthermore, conformity to masculine norms negatively affected ATSPPH, and self-stigma mediated this relationship. Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of understanding the influence of sociocultural factors in encouraging Korean men to seek help. The ultimate goal is to foster a social environment that encourages open discussion about mental illness, masculinity, and Asian values.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02793-yLoss of faceStigmaAttitudes toward seeking professional psychological helpMasculine norms |
| spellingShingle | Soomin Kim Dongil Kim Mental health help-seeking among Korean men: the influence of stigma, masculine norms, and face BMC Psychology Loss of face Stigma Attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help Masculine norms |
| title | Mental health help-seeking among Korean men: the influence of stigma, masculine norms, and face |
| title_full | Mental health help-seeking among Korean men: the influence of stigma, masculine norms, and face |
| title_fullStr | Mental health help-seeking among Korean men: the influence of stigma, masculine norms, and face |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental health help-seeking among Korean men: the influence of stigma, masculine norms, and face |
| title_short | Mental health help-seeking among Korean men: the influence of stigma, masculine norms, and face |
| title_sort | mental health help seeking among korean men the influence of stigma masculine norms and face |
| topic | Loss of face Stigma Attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help Masculine norms |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02793-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT soominkim mentalhealthhelpseekingamongkoreanmentheinfluenceofstigmamasculinenormsandface AT dongilkim mentalhealthhelpseekingamongkoreanmentheinfluenceofstigmamasculinenormsandface |