Predictors of Men's Health Care Utilization

Australian men's reported General Self-Efficacy (GSE) and conformity to masculinity norms were assessed as predictors of perceived barriers to health care. In addition, the role of GSE as a moderator of the relationship between masculinity and health care barriers was also tested. The participants were 118 men (M = 23.7 years, SD = 6.18 years) attending an Australian University who completed online measures of the constructs. As hypothesized, men's GSE predicted perceptions of fewer barriers and men's masculinity predicted the perception of more barriers. The moderator hypothesis was partially supported with significance being found under conditions of low GSE. The researchers situate the findings in gender and health theory and make suggestions for future interventions and research directions.