Masculinity Norms and Psychological Distress: A Correlational Study

This study examines the relationship between selected masculinity norms like avoidance of femininity, restrictive emotionality, aggression and self-reliance and psychological distress (anxiety, stress, depression) among young adults males aged 18 to 30 years. A correlational research design was used on a sample of 100 participants recruited by convenience sampling. Masculinity norms were measured using selected subscales of the Male Role Norms Inventory (MRNI-58) namely are avoidance of femininity, aggression, self-reliance and restrictive emotionality and the assessment of the psychological distress was done using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21). The results indicated that self-reliance did not show significant associations with anxiety, stress, or depression. Aggression was significantly associated with stress, but it did not show significant relationships with anxiety or depression. In contrast, restrictive emotionality did not demonstrate significant associations with any psychological distress indicators. Additionally, avoidance of femininity showed significant positive associations with stress and depression, indicating that higher endorsement of this norm is linked to greater psychological distress Furthermore, stress, anxiety, and depression were found to be highly intercorrelated, reflecting overlapping dimensions of psychological distress. The findings suggest that specific dimensions of traditional masculine are associated with mental health outcomes among young adult men. The findings emphasised the need for culturally attuned, gender-responsive mental health interventions that address rigid or traditional masculine norms and promote emotional openness and adaptive coping strategies