A multiple correspondence analysis towards understanding of public and self-stigma in mental health help-seeking among Malaysian university students

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.