Development and validation of a five-item Male Role Norms Inventory using bifactor modeling.

Abstract

Measures of traditional masculinity ideology (TMI) provide important information related to men's well-being. However, most TMI measures are too long to be included in large public health, psychological, or medical survey batteries. Drawing on previous bifactor analyses of the Male Role Norms Inventory-Short Form (MRNI-SF), structural equation modeling (SEM) identified five items with variance primarily explained by a TMI general factor. These items formed the Male Role Norms Inventory-Very Brief (MRNI-VB), a unidimensional measure of the same TMI general factor captured by the MRNI-SF bifactor model. Several analyses were completed determining that the MRNI-VB performed as well as the original MRNI-SF. First, the unidimensional MRNI-VB evidenced equivalent fit to the bifactor MRNI-SF model in an archival sample of college and community men and women (n ϭ 6,744). Second, the MRNI-VB yielded statistically similar standardized beta coefficients to the MRNI-SF TMI general factor across 32 out of 38 regressions predicting variables within and outside of the MRNI nomological network in published (n ϭ 484) and unpublished (n ϭ 1,537) MRNI-SF research of college and community men. Third, in an unpublished sample of undergraduates who filled out the MRNI-VB instead of the entire MRNI-SF (n ϭ 365), the MRNI-VB yielded good model fit, good internal consistency reliability, and demonstrated a similar pattern of measurement invariance between men and women as the MRNI-SF. Overall, findings suggest that the MRNI-VB captures the same general TMI factor as the MRNI-SF but with a fraction of the items. Future directions, limitations, and implications are discussed.

Associations between conformity to masculine norms and depression: age effects from a population study of Australian men

“…The impact of these norms on depressive symptoms is consistent with previous findings demonstrating detrimental impacts on mental health and psychological help-seeking [ 5 ]. It is likely that strong adherence to power over women will negatively impact interpersonal relationships, while adherence to norms emphasising winning may impact on help-seeking which may be perceived as a sign of failure or loss of control [ 9 , 44 ]. Thus, an inability to resolve internalised expectations around these norms as an individual ages may be particularly problematic in terms of depressive symptomology.…”

“…In a Western context, males are often socialised in ways that reinforce norms of self-reliance, stoicism, and avoidance of negative emotions [ 7 ]. While these characteristics can be adaptive and result in economic and social benefits to men [ 8 ], they can also contribute to cognitions and behaviours that increase the risk of mental health problems including depression [ 9 ]. Despite increased research interest in the relationship between masculine norms and mental health in recent years, it remains unclear how, if at all, age influences adherence to masculine norms and whether experiences of depression are implicated.…”

Using Item Response Theory to Develop Revised (SSOSH-7) and Ultra-Brief (SSOSH-3) Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scales

“…The SSOSH-3 could be a useful tool for expanding the consideration of self-stigma in large-scale research such as epidemiological medical studies and nationally representative public health assessments, which tend to use brief versions of existing measures (McDermott et al, 2019). An ultrabrief measure may also help address current limitations in help-seeking research, such as the paucity of longitudinal research, lack of access to difficult to reach populations, and need for validated benchmarks in identifying persons at-risk for avoiding seeking help due to self-stigma.…”

“…From a research standpoint, briefer SSOSH measures might increase its inclusion in large-scale research such as epidemiological medical studies and nationally representative public health assessments. These studies tend to use brief versions of existing measures or choose items from existing scales (McDermott et al, 2019). The Healthy Minds Study (Healthy Minds Network, 2019), for example, uses three items that assess for perceived societal stigma and two items that assess person's stigma toward help seekers, though no self-stigma items are included.…”

“…This could also lead to basic trainings regarding how to discuss seeking help with distressed patients with high self-stigma. Providers in these settings often prefer briefer screening measures due to limited time and patient fatigue (McDermott et al, 2019). To address these constraints, researchers have developed very brief mental health measures, or screening tools composed of one to four items (Mitchell & Coyne 2007), from existing brief measures.…”