Mental health help-seeking knowledge, attitudes and behaviour among male elite rugby players: the role of masculine health-related values
Objectives Masculine norms of toughness and self-reliance can discourage help-seeking among elite athletes who are men. Effective ways to leverage masculine norms for help-seeking is a relatively unexplored area in athlete mental health. The study aimed to investigate how masculine health-related va...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMJ Publishing Group
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/1/e002275.full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832575539293978624 |
|---|---|
| author | Simon M Rice John L Oliffe Yasutaka Ojio Rei Amemiya |
| author_facet | Simon M Rice John L Oliffe Yasutaka Ojio Rei Amemiya |
| author_sort | Simon M Rice |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives Masculine norms of toughness and self-reliance can discourage help-seeking among elite athletes who are men. Effective ways to leverage masculine norms for help-seeking is a relatively unexplored area in athlete mental health. The study aimed to investigate how masculine health-related values measured by the Intentions Masculine Values Scale (IMVS) affect help-seeking behaviours among male elite rugby players.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 220 Japanese male elite rugby players in the Japan Rugby League One (response rate: 40.6%). Participants completed an online survey assessing help-seeking knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, along with masculine health-related values using the IMVS. Psychological safety within sports settings was evaluated using the Sport Psychological Safety Inventory (SPSI). Multiple regression analyses examined relationships between help-seeking behaviours and IMVS/SPSI.Results The Open and Selfless IMVS value was significantly associated with help-seeking knowledge (β=0.059, p=0.009) and attitudes (β=0.064, p=0.006), increasing recognition of the need for help and willingness to seek it. However, no significant association with actual help-seeking behaviour was found (β=−0.006, p=0.774). The Healthy and Autonomous IMVS value was associated with lower help-seeking behaviour (β=0.060, p=0.010), indicating higher autonomy may inhibit seeking professional support. The SPSI was not significantly related to help-seeking measures.Conclusion Findings highlight critical gaps between intention and actual help-seeking behaviour among male elite athletes. Further research is needed to explore additional cultural and organisational factors that may better explain help-seeking behaviour and inform effective intervention strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a78b00f450874c67964db4eab68dd43c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2055-7647 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-a78b00f450874c67964db4eab68dd43c2025-02-01T01:20:11ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine2055-76472025-01-0111110.1136/bmjsem-2024-002275Mental health help-seeking knowledge, attitudes and behaviour among male elite rugby players: the role of masculine health-related valuesSimon M Rice0John L Oliffe1Yasutaka Ojio2Rei Amemiya325 Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia5 School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaDepartment of Community Mental Health and Law, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, JapanUniversity of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, JapanObjectives Masculine norms of toughness and self-reliance can discourage help-seeking among elite athletes who are men. Effective ways to leverage masculine norms for help-seeking is a relatively unexplored area in athlete mental health. The study aimed to investigate how masculine health-related values measured by the Intentions Masculine Values Scale (IMVS) affect help-seeking behaviours among male elite rugby players.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 220 Japanese male elite rugby players in the Japan Rugby League One (response rate: 40.6%). Participants completed an online survey assessing help-seeking knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, along with masculine health-related values using the IMVS. Psychological safety within sports settings was evaluated using the Sport Psychological Safety Inventory (SPSI). Multiple regression analyses examined relationships between help-seeking behaviours and IMVS/SPSI.Results The Open and Selfless IMVS value was significantly associated with help-seeking knowledge (β=0.059, p=0.009) and attitudes (β=0.064, p=0.006), increasing recognition of the need for help and willingness to seek it. However, no significant association with actual help-seeking behaviour was found (β=−0.006, p=0.774). The Healthy and Autonomous IMVS value was associated with lower help-seeking behaviour (β=0.060, p=0.010), indicating higher autonomy may inhibit seeking professional support. The SPSI was not significantly related to help-seeking measures.Conclusion Findings highlight critical gaps between intention and actual help-seeking behaviour among male elite athletes. Further research is needed to explore additional cultural and organisational factors that may better explain help-seeking behaviour and inform effective intervention strategies.https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/1/e002275.full |
| spellingShingle | Simon M Rice John L Oliffe Yasutaka Ojio Rei Amemiya Mental health help-seeking knowledge, attitudes and behaviour among male elite rugby players: the role of masculine health-related values BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| title | Mental health help-seeking knowledge, attitudes and behaviour among male elite rugby players: the role of masculine health-related values |
| title_full | Mental health help-seeking knowledge, attitudes and behaviour among male elite rugby players: the role of masculine health-related values |
| title_fullStr | Mental health help-seeking knowledge, attitudes and behaviour among male elite rugby players: the role of masculine health-related values |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental health help-seeking knowledge, attitudes and behaviour among male elite rugby players: the role of masculine health-related values |
| title_short | Mental health help-seeking knowledge, attitudes and behaviour among male elite rugby players: the role of masculine health-related values |
| title_sort | mental health help seeking knowledge attitudes and behaviour among male elite rugby players the role of masculine health related values |
| url | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/1/e002275.full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT simonmrice mentalhealthhelpseekingknowledgeattitudesandbehaviouramongmaleeliterugbyplayerstheroleofmasculinehealthrelatedvalues AT johnloliffe mentalhealthhelpseekingknowledgeattitudesandbehaviouramongmaleeliterugbyplayerstheroleofmasculinehealthrelatedvalues AT yasutakaojio mentalhealthhelpseekingknowledgeattitudesandbehaviouramongmaleeliterugbyplayerstheroleofmasculinehealthrelatedvalues AT reiamemiya mentalhealthhelpseekingknowledgeattitudesandbehaviouramongmaleeliterugbyplayerstheroleofmasculinehealthrelatedvalues |