Attitudes of future male business managers towards seeking psychotherapy

This study examined male future business managers' attitudes towards two modes of professional psychological help-seeking: traditional psychotherapy and executive coaching. This study also examined the relationship between male Gender Role Conflict and depressive symptoms. The current study provided empirical evidence that some male future business manager's may prefer alternative forms of psychological help-seeking such as executive coaching.; A web-based survey was conducted with male MBA students or recent graduates living in the US. Out of 212 MBA programs that were emailed to participate, 140 students completed the on-line questionnaires. Regression analyses were conducted.; Results suggested that men's scores on the Restrictive Emotionality subscale of the GRCS was negatively related to professional psychological help-seeking attitudes and there was a positive relationship between men's Restrictive Emotionality and endorsement of symptoms of depression. Also, the Restrictive Affectionate Behavior Between Men subscale was negatively related to seeking executive coaching help-seeking. This implied that as men did not restrict their emotions, they also endorsed executive coaching help-seeking. Participants also had a preference for traditional help-seeking versus executive coaching help-seeking.; These results suggested that future male business managers, depending on factors related to masculine role socialization such as restricting one's emotions and comfort with affectionate behavior between oneself and others, may prefer differing modes of psychological help-seeking.