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Public Knowledge and Beliefs About Depression Among Urban and Rural Malays in Malaysia

Author

Listed:
  • Viren Swami

    (Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, London, UK, virenswami@hotmail.com)

  • Phik-Wern Loo

    (Department of Psychology, University College London, London, UK)

  • Adrian Furnham

    (Department of Psychology, University College London, London, UK)

Abstract

Background: This study examined knowledge and beliefs about depression among Malaysian Malays varying in socioeconomic status. Methods: A total of 153 urban and 189 rural participants completed a questionnaire in which they had to identify two cases of depression and rate a series of items about the causes and best treatments for depression. Results: Results showed that urban participants were more likely to use psychiatric labels (‘depression’) for the two vignettes, whereas rural participants tended to use more generic terms (‘emotional stress’). Conclusion: Principal components analysis (PCA) showed that beliefs about the causes of depression factored into five components, of which stressful life events was most strongly endorsed by both groups. PCA of treatment items revealed four stable components, of which religious factors were most strongly endorsed. There were also a number of significant between-group differences in the endorsement of these factors (η p 2 = .03—.11), with rural participants generally rating supernatural and religious factors more strongly than urban Malays. These results are discussed in relation to mental health literacy programmes in Malaysia.

Suggested Citation

  • Viren Swami & Phik-Wern Loo & Adrian Furnham, 2010. "Public Knowledge and Beliefs About Depression Among Urban and Rural Malays in Malaysia," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 56(5), pages 480-496, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:56:y:2010:i:5:p:480-496
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764008101639
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Steven Klimidis & Fei-Hsiu Hsiao & Iraklis Harry Minas, 2007. "Chinese-Australians' Knowledge of Depression and Schizophrenia in the Context of Their Under-Utilization of Mental Health Care: an Analysis of Labelling," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 53(5), pages 464-479, September.
    2. Viren Swami & Adrian Furnham & Kumaraswami Kannan & Dhachayani Sinniah, 2008. "Beliefs About Schizophrenia and Its Treatment in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 54(2), pages 164-179, March.
    3. Massard, Josiane, 1988. "Doctoring by go-between: Aspects of health care for Malay children," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 27(8), pages 789-797, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Adrian Furnham & William Ritchie & Alixe Lay, 2016. "Beliefs about the causes and cures of depression," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 62(5), pages 415-424, August.
    2. Viren Swami & Kumaraswami Kannan & Adrian Furnham, 2012. "Positive body image: Inter-ethnic and rural–urban differences among an indigenous sample from Malaysian Borneo," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 58(6), pages 568-576, November.

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