Development and psychometric validation of a survey assessing barriers to mental health help- seeking among men: A cross-sectional study

Background: Men’s mental health and barriers that prevent help-seeking remain underexplored, despite established links between high male suicide rates and low help-seeking behaviors. There is also limited research examining the specific factors contributing to this trend. This study aimed to develop and validate a comprehensive survey instrument to assess the barriers to mental health help-seeking among men, with a focus on the influence of social determinants of health. Methods: A new survey was created based on a thorough literature review and expert input, incorporating multiple-choice, Likert-scale, and “select all that apply” items. The target population included biological men aged 18 and older who could read and understand English. After initial pilot testing with 30 participants, the final versionwas distributed online via Qualtrics to over 100 participants using Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS and R. Psychometric testing included content validation, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and internal consistency analysis using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega. Results: The final instrument demonstrated strong psychometric properties, with McDonald’s omega and Cronbach’s alpha values indicating good internal consistency across domains. EFA and CFA supported a stable factor structure representing perception, awareness, comfort, experience, and barriers. Results revealed associations between social determinants – such as income, education, and social support – and men’s reluctance to seek mental health support. Conclusions: The newly developed survey provides a reliable and valid tool for assessing barriers to help-seeking in men. It may support future public health initiatives aimed at reducing stigma and improving access to mental health services. Further research is recommended to refine the instrument and explore its application in clinical and community settings. Trial registration: Not applicable.