Muda Nora, Ahmad Raphaie Fatini Kamilia
Department of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi Selangor, Malaysia.
Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 27;15(1):31572. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-15834-8.
This study addresses a critical research gap by employing Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) to examine intersectional relationships between demographic factors and mental health stigma among Malaysian university students-the first comprehensive multidimensional analysis in Malaysia's multicultural higher education context. A cross-sectional study of 169 students from seven Klang Valley public universities utilized SSRPH and SSOSH scales. MCA mapped demographic-stigma relationships, complemented by chi-square tests, enabling examination of multidimensional interactions conventional methods cannot capture. Four factors significantly determined stigma patterns: ethnicity, religion, age, and residency. Chinese students demonstrated higher stigma levels than Malay/Indian students (46% vs. 29% negative attitudes). Age showed curvilinear patterns, with 23-25 year-olds displaying most positive help-seeking attitudes (26% agreement). Muslim students showed stronger resistance to stigmatizing beliefs (49.7% disagreement) than non-Muslims (25.5%). Rural students displayed greater self-stigma resilience than urban counterparts. Findings necessitate precision mental health interventions tailored to demographic intersections. Results inform culturally sensitive programs including Chinese-specific interventions, age-targeted approaches capitalizing on mid-twenties receptivity, and faith-integrated frameworks. This research provides Malaysian universities evidence-based guidance for demographically informed mental health strategies, contributing to inclusive support systems in multicultural educational settings.
本研究通过运用多重对应分析（MCA）来填补一个关键的研究空白，以检验马来西亚大学生人口统计学因素与心理健康污名之间的交叉关系——这是马来西亚多元文化高等教育背景下的首次全面多维分析。一项对来自巴生谷七所公立大学的169名学生的横断面研究使用了SSRPH和SSOSH量表。MCA描绘了人口统计学与污名之间的关系，并辅以卡方检验，从而能够检验传统方法无法捕捉的多维相互作用。有四个因素显著决定了污名模式：种族、宗教、年龄和居住地。华裔学生表现出比马来/印度裔学生更高的污名水平（负面态度分别为46%和29%）。年龄呈现出曲线模式，23至25岁的学生表现出最积极的求助态度（认同率为26%）。穆斯林学生比非穆斯林学生对污名化信念表现出更强的抵制（不认同率为49.7%对25.5%）。农村学生比城市学生表现出更强的自我污名恢复力。研究结果表明需要针对人口统计学交叉点制定精准的心理健康干预措施。研究结果为文化敏感项目提供了参考，包括针对华裔的干预措施、利用25岁左右学生的接受度制定的年龄针对性方法，以及基于信仰的框架。本研究为马来西亚大学提供了基于证据的指导，以制定考虑人口统计学因素的心理健康策略，为多元文化教育环境中的包容性支持系统做出贡献。
