Multi-group Causal Model of Mental Health Literacy and Helping Behavior Toward People at Risk of Depression Among Thai and Vietnamese Health Science Students
Objectives: Depression affects 23.3% of Thai and 15.2% of Vietnamese health science students, rates that exceed the global average of 4.4%. This study compared the causal models of mental health literacy and helping behavior toward individuals at risk of depression between these 2 groups. Methods: T...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Korean Society for Preventive Medicine
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://jpmph.org/upload/pdf/jpmph-24-449.pdf |
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| author | Anchalee Jansem Ungsinun Intarakamhang Charin Suwanwong Krittipat Chuenphitthayavut Sudarat Tuntivivat Khuong Le Le Thi Mai Lien Pitchada Prasittichok |
| author_facet | Anchalee Jansem Ungsinun Intarakamhang Charin Suwanwong Krittipat Chuenphitthayavut Sudarat Tuntivivat Khuong Le Le Thi Mai Lien Pitchada Prasittichok |
| author_sort | Anchalee Jansem |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: Depression affects 23.3% of Thai and 15.2% of Vietnamese health science students, rates that exceed the global average of 4.4%. This study compared the causal models of mental health literacy and helping behavior toward individuals at risk of depression between these 2 groups. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2023 to October 2023 and included 422 students from Thailand and Vietnam, who were studying medicine, nursing, psychology, and physical therapy. Stratified random sampling was used to select 211 students from each country. Data collection was performed using a Likert scale, which showed total-item correlations ranging from 0.24 to 0.83 and Cronbach’s alpha values between 0.74 and 0.86. The data were analyzed using a structural equation model. Results: The causal models were consistent with the empirical data. The helping behavior of students toward peers at risk of depression was significantly influenced by their mental health literacy (effect size [ES], 0.91). This influence was also mediated indirectly by self-efficacy (ES, 0.18), positive attitudes (ES, 0.29), and social support (ES, 0.77). Collectively, these factors accounted for 83% of the variance in helping behavior. Social support had a more pronounced effect on mental health literacy among Vietnamese students than among their Thai counterparts (ES, 0.46 vs. 0.27, p<0.05). Conversely, positive attitudes had a stronger influence among Thai students than among Vietnamese students (ES, 0.17 vs. 0.01, p<0.05). Conclusions: The causal models of helping behavior among Thai and Vietnamese health science students exhibited no significant differences. However, improving mental health literacy is crucial, as it significantly impacts helping behavior. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e555ba04c84847b39f1fa31a158f213c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1975-8375 2233-4521 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Korean Society for Preventive Medicine |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-e555ba04c84847b39f1fa31a158f213c2025-08-20T03:30:44ZengKorean Society for Preventive MedicineJournal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health1975-83752233-45212025-05-0158324124910.3961/jpmph.24.4492422Multi-group Causal Model of Mental Health Literacy and Helping Behavior Toward People at Risk of Depression Among Thai and Vietnamese Health Science StudentsAnchalee Jansem0Ungsinun Intarakamhang1Charin Suwanwong2Krittipat Chuenphitthayavut3Sudarat Tuntivivat4Khuong Le5Le Thi Mai Lien6Pitchada Prasittichok7 Faculty of Humanities, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand Behavioral Science Research Institute, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand Behavioral Science Research Institute, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand Behavioral Science Research Institute, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand Behavioral Science Research Institute, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Faculty of Psychology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Behavioral Science Research Institute, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, ThailandObjectives: Depression affects 23.3% of Thai and 15.2% of Vietnamese health science students, rates that exceed the global average of 4.4%. This study compared the causal models of mental health literacy and helping behavior toward individuals at risk of depression between these 2 groups. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2023 to October 2023 and included 422 students from Thailand and Vietnam, who were studying medicine, nursing, psychology, and physical therapy. Stratified random sampling was used to select 211 students from each country. Data collection was performed using a Likert scale, which showed total-item correlations ranging from 0.24 to 0.83 and Cronbach’s alpha values between 0.74 and 0.86. The data were analyzed using a structural equation model. Results: The causal models were consistent with the empirical data. The helping behavior of students toward peers at risk of depression was significantly influenced by their mental health literacy (effect size [ES], 0.91). This influence was also mediated indirectly by self-efficacy (ES, 0.18), positive attitudes (ES, 0.29), and social support (ES, 0.77). Collectively, these factors accounted for 83% of the variance in helping behavior. Social support had a more pronounced effect on mental health literacy among Vietnamese students than among their Thai counterparts (ES, 0.46 vs. 0.27, p<0.05). Conversely, positive attitudes had a stronger influence among Thai students than among Vietnamese students (ES, 0.17 vs. 0.01, p<0.05). Conclusions: The causal models of helping behavior among Thai and Vietnamese health science students exhibited no significant differences. However, improving mental health literacy is crucial, as it significantly impacts helping behavior.http://jpmph.org/upload/pdf/jpmph-24-449.pdfattitudehelping behaviormental healthself efficacysocial support |
| spellingShingle | Anchalee Jansem Ungsinun Intarakamhang Charin Suwanwong Krittipat Chuenphitthayavut Sudarat Tuntivivat Khuong Le Le Thi Mai Lien Pitchada Prasittichok Multi-group Causal Model of Mental Health Literacy and Helping Behavior Toward People at Risk of Depression Among Thai and Vietnamese Health Science Students Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health attitude helping behavior mental health self efficacy social support |
| title | Multi-group Causal Model of Mental Health Literacy and Helping Behavior Toward People at Risk of Depression Among Thai and Vietnamese Health Science Students |
| title_full | Multi-group Causal Model of Mental Health Literacy and Helping Behavior Toward People at Risk of Depression Among Thai and Vietnamese Health Science Students |
| title_fullStr | Multi-group Causal Model of Mental Health Literacy and Helping Behavior Toward People at Risk of Depression Among Thai and Vietnamese Health Science Students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multi-group Causal Model of Mental Health Literacy and Helping Behavior Toward People at Risk of Depression Among Thai and Vietnamese Health Science Students |
| title_short | Multi-group Causal Model of Mental Health Literacy and Helping Behavior Toward People at Risk of Depression Among Thai and Vietnamese Health Science Students |
| title_sort | multi group causal model of mental health literacy and helping behavior toward people at risk of depression among thai and vietnamese health science students |
| topic | attitude helping behavior mental health self efficacy social support |
| url | http://jpmph.org/upload/pdf/jpmph-24-449.pdf |
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