Treffer: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]