Psychological factors associated with students’ withdrawal from Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia: A qualitative study

The withdrawal from the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination presents a major public health concern. This study aims to explore and identify the psychosocial problems contributing to students' withdrawal from SPM. A transcendental phenomenological qualitative research design was used in this study. Six participants were recruited using the criterion sampling method, and the data were collected through semi-structured interviews online. The data were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis, and three main themes and two sub-themes each emerged. The main themes were (1) educational detachment; (2) academic pressure and school-related anxiety; and (3) external burdens and fragile support systems. The results from this study can be utilised by schools, mental health agencies, and other relevant bodies to formulate tailored interventions aimed at combating the concerning rate of no-appearances.