Gender-Role Identification, Emotional Expressivity and Attitude Towards Seeking Professional Psychological Help in Middle Adulthood

Abstract

Middle Adulthood is a period of ever-increasing physical, cognitive, social and emotional changes as well as life transitions like menopause and empty nest syndrome. Middle adults are entrusted with the responsibility of children as well as elderly parents. The role struggles and life transitions can add to their distress and can take a toll on their mental health. Gender-role identification and emotional expressivity are two variables which can have an impact on professional help seeking attitudes of middle adults. The present study explored the relationship between gender-role identification, emotional expressivity and attitude towards seeking professional psychological help in the urban Indian middle adult population. A sample of 183 people (90 females and 93 males) between the ages of 36-60 years were asked to fill the following questionnaires: Indian Gender Role Identity Scale (IGRIS), Berkeley Expressivity Questionnaire (BEQ) and Attitude Towards Seeking Professional Psychological Help- Short Form (ATSPPH-SF). Results showed that 1. gender role identification and help-seeking attitude are negatively correlated in men, and that 2. men with high gender-role identification show less emotional expressivity and poor help-seeking attitude than women with high gender-role identification. The implications of the same are discussed further.