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The present research seeks to understand young men's willingness to engage in both informal (social) and formal (professional) mental health support using the lens of the Prototype Willingness Model (PWM). The main study (N = 171) examined the constructs of attitude (positive or negative appraisal of the target behaviour), subjective norm (perceived social influence related to behavioural performance), prototype similarity (degree to which the individual feels similar to the typical person who perform the behaviour) and prototype favourability (degree to which the individual identifies the typical performer as being favourable), in addition to self-stigma and emotional expressivity. Hierarchical multiple regressions assessed these constructs in predicting young men's willingness to engage in mental health support. Results indicated attitudes, prototype similarity, self-stigma and emotional expressivity explained a significant proportion of variance for willingness to engage in both informal support and formal help-seeking. Self-stigma was significantly associated with formal help-seeking, while emotional expressivity was significantly associated with informal and formal help-seeking. The current research supports the value of the PWM in understanding males' mental health help-seeking behaviour. The study enhances awareness of key factors which may inform young men's willingness to engage in support services for their mental health. What is already known about this topic: The engagement of young men with therapeutic services has been broadly attributed to internal attitudes held towards mental health help-seeking. The conflict between a masculine identity of being independent and emotionally stoic and the openness, trust, and emotional expressiveness needed to be open to seeking mental health help is a potential barrier to mental health help seeking among young men. Men are more likely to seek support for problems which can be attributed to an external cause rather than internal difficulties. Hence, self-stigma may act as a barrier to mental health help seeking for young men. What this topic adds: The application of an established decision-making model, the Prototype Willingness Model (PWM), was useful in the prediction of engagement with both formal and informal mental health help seeking among young men. The addition of self-stigma and emotional expressivity to the PWM contributed to the predictions of engagement in formal support stemming from an external cause and internal feeling states. Consistent with previous research, young men appear to have more difficulty in seeking help as a result of internal phenomenon. With the increase in people's experience of mental health distress, the current research provides greater understanding of what factors underlie young men's willingness to seek mental health support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although previous research attests to the importance of psychological sense of community (PSOC) to individuals' well-being, little research has examined this relationship for the four proposed dimensions of PSOC: membership, influence, integration and fulfillment of needs, and shared emotional connection (McMillan & Chavis, 1986). Further, little research has explored multiple aspects of community connectivity in the one study. The current research investigated the relationship between participants' (N=127) religiosity, PSOC, social support, and identification within a church community context and their well-being. Results indicated that the PSOC dimensions of shared emotional connection and influence were particularly important in the prediction of well-being in this context. Further, individuals' perception of social support mediated the relationship between PSOC and well-being and the strength of individuals' identification as a church member enhanced the relationships of both PSOC and religiosity with well-being. (Contains 5 tables and 4 figures.)

The influence of choice on individuals' social identification and psychological sense of community (PSOC) with their group memberships is a seldom examined area. The current study examined participants' (N = 219) level of social identification and PSOC across multiple group memberships that differ in the degree of choice associated with membership. In addition, consideration was given to the influence of contextual salience on the relationship between choice and social identification and PSOC. Results indicated that, controlling for contextual salience, choice was positively associated with levels of social identification and PSOC. (Contains 1 table and 3 figures.)

Male body hair removal has implications for men's mental health such as anxiety about body image. Based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and relevant additional constructs, this research examined factors associated with young men's upper body and pubic hair removal. Young men residing in Australia completed a pilot survey, online survey (N = 655) of predictors of intention (plans) to remove body hair and a 4-week follow up survey (n = 222) reporting body hair removal behaviour. Attitudes about body hair removal, pressure from others, perceptions of control and similarity to prototypical young men who removed body hair were associated with intention for upper body (60%) and pubic (48%) hair removal. Intention was significantly associated with body hair removal behaviours. These findings indicate social pressure was associated with young men's decisions to remove body hair, pointing to sources of potential intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sense of Community Index (SCI) is one of the most commonly used measures of Psychological Sense of Community (PSOC). There is much discussion in the literature as to the validity of the scale as a measure not only of overall PSOC, but also of the dimensions (Membership, Influence, Needs Fulfillment, and Emotional Connection) theorized by McMillan and Chavis (1986) to underlie the construct. The current paper examines the factor structure of SCI in a study (N = 219) that examines multiple community memberships, including neighborhood, student, and interest group communities. Data was analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The results showed that the SCI, in its original factor structure, did not adequately fit the data. The scale was revised, therefore, using CFA indicators, to produce a new four-factor structure based on the same items. This revised model was tested and found to display adequate fit indices to the data in all three communities. The results of the study provide empirical support for retaining measures that encapsulate the four dimensions of PSOC. (Contains 5 tables.)

Caregivers for family or friends who are elderly people or have a disability provide critical supports, with a range of positive and negative consequences associated with their role. This research explores the positive and negative aspects of care‐giving, including the experience of abuse within the caring relationship, through an anonymous online survey of the mental health, well‐being and caring experience of Australian family carers (N = 305). The voluntary participants were recruited through local and national carer associations. Over 40% of respondents reported having experienced abuse by the person they cared for, with the most common form of abuse being verbal abuse (35% of the respondents reporting abuse) and physical abuse (14%). The experience of abuse was related to poorer mental health as measured by the DASS‐21 and a lower reported quality of life. Financial stress, lack of support and the negative impacts of care‐giving were also significantly associated with mental health and well‐being outcomes. The current research is among the first to directly assess the experience of abuse within a broad sample of caregivers, identifying this as a significant issue for caregivers. The findings have clear implications for programs and policies that protect the rights, safety and well‐being of caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]