Beliefs that explain mental health help-seeking intention among older men
A reasoned action approach
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22944490 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Grant Duthie (0009-0004-7822-2022, The University of Melbourne), Hao Xu (0000-0002-6507-4436, The University of Melbourne), Amy J Morgan (0000-0003-3784-0540, The University of Melbourne), Nicola Reavley (0000-0001-5513-8291, The University of Melbourne) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Publication date | 2025-09-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Health Promotion International (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1093/heapro/daaf170 |
| PMID | 41047512 |
| OpenAlex | W4414866507 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 61 |
Older men seek help for mental health concerns at almost half the rate of older females. Efforts to motivate older men to seek help through health promotion messaging are an important public health initiative that can complement healthcare system changes. Guided by the reasoned action approach, this study aimed to identify the most salient beliefs that shape help-seeking intention among older men by region (i.e. city or rural area) to primarily inform campaign messaging and improve mental health help-seeking among older men. A mixed-methods enquiry was conducted across two samples of older men, comprising open-ended belief elicitation interviews (N1 = 23, M1 age = 74.91) and an online closed-question survey (N2 = 306 participants, M2 age = 75.28). Interviews identified 52 behavioural, normative, and control beliefs. Survey results showed salient beliefs influencing help-seeking intention (range β = 0.42 to β = 0.44), including encouragement from others, gaining new solutions, improved self-understanding, and being listened to and supported when seeking help, representing suitable messaging design candidates. The influence of salient beliefs on intention did not differ by region. The results suggest that health promotion efforts grounded in reasoned action approaches can support the development of tailored interventions to promote help-seeking for poor mental health. However, research is needed to evaluate how to effectively translate salient beliefs into carefully framed mental health messages, aligned with broader healthcare system-level reforms to promote help-seeking among older men.
Action (physics) · Health promotion · Mental health · Promotion (chess) · Psychological intervention · Public health · Salient · Theory of reasoned action · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Health disparities and outcomes
Prediction and Change of Health Behavior
Use of mass media campaigns to change health behaviour
Meta-analysis of the age-related positivity effect
Young Men, Help-Seeking, and Mental Health Services
A systematic review of the factors associated with delays in medical and psychological help-seeking among men
Socioemotional Selectivity Theory and the Regulation of Emotion in the Second Half of Life
The role of masculinity in men's help-seeking for depression
The theory of planned behavior
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Perceived Behavioral Control, Self‐Efficacy, Locus of Control, and the Theory of Planned Behavior 1
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The Role of Community-Based Men’s Sheds in Health Promotion for Older Men
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The Role of Theory in Developing Effective Health Communications
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Masculinity and Help-Seeking Among Men With Depression
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The Relationship Between Masculinity and Help-Seeking Among Australian Men Living in Non-urban Areas
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Older Adults’ Perceptions of Psychotherapy
Taking time seriously
Men, masculinity, and the contexts of help seeking
Help-seeking prior to male suicide
Older Men's Blueprint for 'Being a Man
Men's discourses of help-seeking in the context of depression
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |