HOFSTEDE’S CULTURAL VALUES AS FACTORS INFLUENCING MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' ATTITUDE TOWARD HELP-SEEKING: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

Abstract

University students suffer from a high prevalence of mental health concerns. However, most studies on mental health help-seeking in Malaysia focussed on stigma and mental health literacy. This study aimed to examine the relationship between cultural value and university students’ attitudes towards seeking help for their mental health. An online survey was conducted using the Inventory of Attitudes towards Seeking Mental Health Services (IASMHS), Cultural Values Scale (CVSCALE), and Psychological Well-being Scale (PWBS) amongst university students in Malaysia. A total of 167 university students (Mean age = 21.57 years old, 75.4% females) participated in the study. Overall, the participants had a positive attitude towards mental health help-seeking. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis showed that the Chinese race (B = -0.315, p = 0.028), long-term orientation (B = 0.250, p = 0.002), Hindu religion (B = -0.242, p = 0.039), masculinity orientation (B = -0.223, p = 0.006), psychological well-being (B = 0.194, p = 0.008), Malay race (B = -0.165, p = 0.045), and participant’s age (B = 0.150, p = 0.028) were significantly associated with attitude towards mental health help-seeking. The results had implications for understanding cultural reasons that hinder mental health help-seeking amongst university students in Malaysia, and proposed recommendations in designing culturally relevant and appropriate interventions for targeted groups.