Abstract

Gender may influence whether individuals access mental health and nutritional support. Women are more likely to engage in mental health support and have been the core sample demographic for behavioral literature for the past several decades. However, men are less likely to pursue professional mental health support than women, with fewer studies focusing on the male demographic. Similarly, men are less likely to participate in nutritional support than women. Very few studies have identified how personal beliefs and perceived social support influence their health care decisions, even less is known about specific adult age brackets for men. Survey data from 98 participants ages 30-49 was used to examine the effect of influence of social support beliefs, health beliefs, and religious beliefs on seeking mental health support and nutritional support. Results conclude that men pursue mental and nutritional support equally, although men in their 40s were more likely exhibit health seeking behaviors than men in their 30s. Additionally, unmarried men and men with high religiosity reported less mental health seeking behaviors. These findings implicate men in their 40s, men with low religiosity, and men who are married are more likely to engage in health seeking behaviors should resources be available. Future research should further substantiate these findings and examine how to increase health seeking behaviors in demographics that are currently not as engaged.

Advisor

Hope, Meredith

Department

Psychology

Disciplines

Cognition and Perception | Health Psychology | Other Psychology | Quantitative Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Keywords

men, psychology, mental health, nutritional health, health seeking behaviors, perceived social support, religious beliefs, health beliefs, age, marital status

Publication Date

2024

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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