A Milner1, T L King2, A J Scovelle3, D Currier4, M J Spittal5. 1. Centre for Health Equity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3010, Australia. Electronic address: Allison.milner@unimelb.edu.au. 2. Centre for Health Equity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3010, Australia. Electronic address: tking@unimelb.edu.au. 3. Centre for Health Equity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3010, Australia. Electronic address: anna.scovelle@unimelb.edu.au. 4. Centre for Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3010, Australia. Electronic address: dianne.currier@unimelb.edu.au. 5. Centre for Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3010, Australia. Electronic address: m.spittal@unimelb.edu.au.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Men are less likely to seek treatment for mental health problems than women; however, the structural employment-related factors influencing this relationship are unknown. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective cohort study. METHODS: Using the Australian Ten to Men cohort (N = 6447), we examined the relationship between being in a male-dominated occupation and treatment seeking from a mental health professional compared to being in a gender-equal occupation. Models were fit using logistic regression. RESULTS: There was some evidence of a stepwise gradient between male-dominated occupations and treatment seeking for mental health problems. However, results were only significant for the most male-dominated occupations after adjustment (odds ratio [OR] 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52 to 0.94, P = 0.017). We also found evidence that individuals who more strongly adhered to masculine norms had a lower likelihood of treatment seeking (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.95 to 0.99, P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: This supports the idea that occupational-related factors influence male treatment seeking for mental health problems.
OBJECTIVES:Men are less likely to seek treatment for mental health problems than women; however, the structural employment-related factors influencing this relationship are unknown. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective cohort study. METHODS: Using the Australian Ten to Men cohort (N = 6447), we examined the relationship between being in a male-dominated occupation and treatment seeking from a mental health professional compared to being in a gender-equal occupation. Models were fit using logistic regression. RESULTS: There was some evidence of a stepwise gradient between male-dominated occupations and treatment seeking for mental health problems. However, results were only significant for the most male-dominated occupations after adjustment (odds ratio [OR] 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52 to 0.94, P = 0.017). We also found evidence that individuals who more strongly adhered to masculine norms had a lower likelihood of treatment seeking (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.95 to 0.99, P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: This supports the idea that occupational-related factors influence male treatment seeking for mental health problems.