Mental health stigma among international university students in Malaysia

Kesantini AthinarayananRa and Getrude Cosmas Ah Gang and Carmella Ading (2025) Mental health stigma among international university students in Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15. pp. 851-867. ISSN 2222-6990

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Abstract

This study explored the effects of public stigma and self-stigma on psychological help-seeking attitudes among international university students in Malaysia, guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). A quantitative research design was adopted, and 250 participants were selected using a simple random sampling method from an international university in Malaysia, following ethics approval. Three validated instruments were used: the Perceptions of Stigmatization by Others for Seeking Help (PSOSH), the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help (SSOSH), and the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help – Short Form (ATSPPH-SF). The findings revealed that self-stigma significantly and negatively accounted for 6% of the variance in students’ psychological help-seeking attitudes, 2 % of the variance in openness to seeking help, and 7 % of the variance in the perceived value of seeking help. Conversely, public stigma did not directly affect help-seeking attitudes, though a significant positive correlation between public stigma and self-stigma suggests an indirect effect through the internalization of stigma. These results highlight the critical role of self-stigma in shaping help-seeking behaviour and underscore the need for culturally sensitive mental health initiatives that address internalized stigma among international students from individualistic cultures in Malaysian universities.

Item Type:	Article
Keyword:	Self-Stigma, Public Stigma, Psychological Help-Seeking Attitudes, International University Students
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF1-990 Psychology > BF38-64 Philosophy. Relation to other topics R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA1-1270 Public aspects of medicine > RA421-790.95 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive medicine > RA790-790.95 Mental health. Mental illness prevention
Department:	FACULTY > Faculty of Psychology and Social Work
Depositing User:	SITI AZIZAH BINTI IDRIS -
Date Deposited:	05 Aug 2025 14:48
Last Modified:	05 Aug 2025 14:48
URI:	https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/44769

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