Browsing by Author "Bersissa, Adugna"

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    Masculinity Construction, Health Risk Behaviors and Help- Seeking Attitudes
    (Addis Ababa University, 2015-05) Bersissa, Adugna; Tefera, Belay (PhD)
    The purpose of this study was to examine the meanings ascribed to masculinities among university students; and also to directly compare conformity to masculine norms and gender role conflict to determine to what extent these masculinity measures were associated with health risk behaviors and attitudes toward seeking help. Data were collected from students in Addis Ababa, Wollega and Addis Ababa Science and Technology universities. A total of 503 students (aged 18- 25 years) were sample data sources. Both questionnaire and in-depth individual interviews were used to collect data. Qualitative data analysis revealed that several core concepts were embedded in the meanings of masculinity, including a display of risky behaviors, bravery, self-reliance, controlling females, inexpressiveness, recording some achievements in life, etc. Pearson correlations revealed that Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory-46 (CMNI-46) and Gender Role Conflict Scale-Short Form (GRCS-SF) correlated positively with the Health Risk Behavior Questionnaire (HRBQ), with higher correlations indicating that as measures of masculinity rose, so did reports of risky health behavior. CMNI-46 and GRCS-SF negatively correlated with the Attitude Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help-Short Form (ATSPPH-SF), indicating that as masculinity measures increased, attitudes toward help-seeking became more negative. Based on standard multiple linear regression analysis, masculinity measures (CMNI-46 and GRCS-SF) as a group significantly predicted health risk behaviors; however, only the CMNI-46 contributed uniquely to the variance explained. Masculinity measures as a group also significantly predicted attitude toward seeking psychological help; yet, only the CMNI-46 contributed uniquely to the variance explained. Results of moderated hierarchical regression analyses revealed that gender and religiosity moderate the relationship between gender role conflict and health risk behavior; however, there was no age effect on the relationship between the two variables. Religiosity also moderates the relationship between gender role conflict and help-seeking attitude; however, there were no gender and age effects on the relationship between the two variables