- Title
- Attitudinal barriers to help-seeking and preferences for mental health support among Australian fathers
- Creator
- Giallo, Rebecca; Dunning, Melissa; Gent, Angela
- Date
- 2017
- Type
- Text; Journal article
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/157699
- Identifier
- vital:11635
- Identifier
-
https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2017.1298084
- Identifier
- ISSN:0264-6838
- Abstract
- Objective: To (a) identify attitudinal barriers to help-seeking for mental health difficulties among fathers of young children; (b) explore the relationships between perceived barriers to help-seeking and mental health difficulties (i.e. depressive, anxiety, stress symptoms); (c) identify socio-demographic factors associated with barriers to help-seeking; and (d) identify fathers’ preferences for mental health support. Background: One in 10 Australian fathers experience mental health difficulties in the early parenting period. Low rates of help-seeking and under-utilisation of health care services are key issues for the provision of mental health support to fathers at this important life stage. Method: The sample consisted of 154 fathers of young children (aged 0–8 years) participating in an Australian online survey on parent wellbeing and parenting. The Barriers to Help-Seeking Scale assessed fathers’ attitudinal barriers to help-seeking for mental health support. Socio-demographic factors related to fathers’ employment, education, and family composition were assessed. Results: The most common attitudinal barriers to help-seeking were: (a) the need for control and self-reliance in managing one’s own problems, (b) a tendency to downplay or minimise problems, and (c) a sense of resignation that nothing will help. A range of demographic (i.e. age, educational attainment) factors were associated with these barriers. The most common preferences for support were internet-based information resources, followed by support provided by general practitioners and maternal child health nurses. Conclusions: These findings have important implications for health promotion, health services and clinical approaches to promoting the health and wellbeing of fathers. © 2017 Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology.
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Relation
- Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology Vol. 35, no. 3 (2017), p. 236-247
- Rights
- Copyright © 2017 Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology.
- Rights
- This metadata is freely available under a CCO license
- Subject
- 1701 Psychology; Fathers; Fathering; Help-seeking; Mental health; Online survey
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