Self-Reported Likelihood of Seeking Social Worker Help Among Older Men in Israel

Maya Kagan, Michal Itzick, Ahuva Even-Zohar, Ester Zychlinski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The current study assessed the association between demographic factors (age, relationship status, and education), psychosocial factors (self-rated health and self-reported loneliness), and factors related to attitudes and behaviors associated with seeking help (prior experience with social workers, attitudes towards social workers, and the stigma attached to seeking help from social workers, and the self-reported likelihood of seeking social workers’ help among older men in Israel. The data were collected through structured questionnaires, administered to a sample of 256 older men. The findings indicated several avoidance factors which might discourage older men from seeking social worker help. Older men who are more educated, experience less loneliness, report lower self-rated health, have no prior experience with social workers, have less positive attitudes towards social workers and higher stigma attached to seeking social workers’ help, are less likely to seek social workers’ help. The research conclusion is that it is important to develop tools and interventions aimed at helping older men deal with such avoidance factors affecting their tendency to refrain from seeking social worker help, as well as to develop practices adapted to their unique needs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2208-2219
Number of pages12
JournalAmerican Journal of Men's Health
Volume12
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Nov 2018
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2018.

Keywords

  • older men
  • seeking professional help
  • social workers

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