Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T08:53:15.988Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Barriers to Seeking School Counselling: Malaysian Chinese School Students’ Perspectives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 October 2015

Kai Shen Chen  and
Jin Kuan Kok
Kai Shen Chen*
Affiliation:
Tunku Abdul Rahman University, Kampar, Malaysia
Jin Kuan Kok
Affiliation:
Tunku Abdul Rahman University, Kampar, Malaysia
*
address for correspondence: Kai Shen Chen, Department of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, Kampar 31900, Perak, Malaysia. Email: chenkaishen1111@hotmail.com
Get access

Abstract

School counselling services have always been unpopular among Malaysian students. Many researchers have studied what prevents students from seeking mental health services. However, there is a lack of study on the barriers to seeking help in the context of Malaysian school counselling services. Using a sample of Chinese high school students (N = 277), this qualitative study explored the under-utilisation of school counselling services. A thematic analysis was used to analyse an open-ended question, and the findings uncovered contextualised issues such as: conceptualisation of problems and the shameful, fearful, concerned, and responsible self that contributes to the under-utilisation of school counselling services.

Keywords

school counsellingbarrierswillingness to seek helpChinesesecondary school
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools , Volume 27 , Issue 2 , December 2017 , pp. 222 - 238
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aida, J., Azimah, M.N., Radzniwan, A.R.M., Iryani, M.D.T., Ramli, M., & Khairani, O. (2012). Barriers to the utilization of primary care services for mental health problems among adolescents in a secondary school in Malaysia. Malaysian Family Physician, 5, 31–35. Retrieved from http://www.e-mfp.org/ Google Scholar
Ajzen, I. (2007). The theory of planned behavior: A bibliography. Retrieved from http://people.umass.edu/aizen/tpbrefs.html Google Scholar
Amato, P.R. (2005). The impact of family formation change on the cognitive, social, and emotional well-being of the next generation. The Future of Children, 15, 75–96. doi:10.1353/foc.2005.0012 Google Scholar
Bakar, A.R., Mohamed, S., & Zakaria, N.S. (2011). Work values of Malaysian school counselors: It's implication on school counseling. Journal of Social Sciences, 7, 456–461. Retrieved from http://thescipub.com/ Google Scholar
Blignault, I., Ponzio, Z., Rong, Y., & Eisenbruch, M. (2008). A qualitative study of barriers to mental health services utilization among migrants from mainland China in south-east Sydney. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 54, 180–190. doi:10.1177/0020764007085872 Google Scholar
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 77–101. doi:10.1191/1478088706qp063oa Google Scholar
Corrigan, P. (2004). How stigma interferes with mental health care. American Psychologist, 59, 614–625. doi:10.1037/0003-066x.59.7.614 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Curtis, D.F., & Kelly, L.L. (2013). Effect of a quality of life coaching intervention on psychological courage and self-determination. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching & Mentoring, 11, 21–38. Retrieved from http://ijebcm.brookes.ac.uk/ Google Scholar
Department of Statistics Malaysia. (2015). Population & demography. Retrieved from https://www.statistics.gov.my/index.php?r=column/ArchiveByCat&menu_id=V1NxcDJhaEpYUUcxVG55a0h1eFZ5Zz09 Google Scholar
East-West Center. (2002). The future of population in Asia. Honolulu, HI: Author.Google Scholar
Fox, C.L., & Butler, I. (2007). ‘If you don't want to tell anyone else you can tell her’: Young people's views on school counseling. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 35, 97–114. doi:10.1080/03069880601106831 Google Scholar
Harun, L.M. (2002). Attitudes toward counselling practicum: An implication for the caring attitude of future counsellors in Malaysia. Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov Google Scholar
Hildebrand, V. (2011). Parenting: Rewards and responsibilities (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Google Scholar
Jaspal, S. (2009, December 19). Perak powers up education. New Straits Times Online, p. 3. Retrieved from http://www.nst.com.my/node/653102 Google Scholar
Kim, H.S., Sherman, D.K., & Taylor, S.E. (2008). Culture and social support. American Psychologist, 63, 518–526. doi:10.1037/0003-066x Google Scholar
Kok, J.K., Low, S.K., Lee, M.N., & Cheah, P.K. (2012). The provision of counseling services in the secondary schools of Perak state, Malaysia. IPEDR, 31, 1–6. Retrieved from http://www.ipedr.com Google Scholar
Kok, T. (2013, December 23). Tuition helps in student development. The Star Online. Retrieved from http://www.thestar.com.my/Opinion/Letters/2013/12/23/Tuition-helps-in-student-development/ Google Scholar
Low, S.K., Kok, J.K., & Lee, M.N. (2013). A holistic approach to school-based counselling and guidance services in Malaysia. School Psychology International, 34, 190–201. doi:10.1177/0143034312453398 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mackenzie, C.S., Gekoski, W.L., & Knox, V.J. (2006). Age, gender, and the underutilization of mental health services: The influence of help-seeking attitudes. Aging & Mental Health, 10, 574–582. doi:10.1080/13607860600641200 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martin, J.M. (2010). Stigma and student mental health in higher education. Higher Education Research & Development, 29, 259–274. doi:10.1080/07294360903470969 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Masuda, A., & Boone, M.S. (2011). Mental health stigma, self-concealment, and help-seeking attitudes among Asian American and European American college students with no help-seeking experience. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 33, 266–279. doi:10.1007/s10447-011-9129-1 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Masuda, A., Suzumura, K., Beauchamp, K.L., Howells, G.N., & Clay, C. (2005). United States and Japanese college students’ attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. International Journal of Psychology, 40, 303–313. doi:10.1080/00207590444000339 Google Scholar
Miles, M.B., & Huberman, M. (2002). The qualitative researcher's companion. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Miller, J. (2009). Guidance and counselling in Hong Kong, Malaysia and China. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 22, 279–281. doi:10.1080/09515070903010819 Google Scholar
Ministry of Education Malaysia. (1996). Panduan tambahan: Perlantikan guru kaunseling sepenuh masa di sekolah menengah [Surat Perkeliling Ikhtisas Bil. 3/1996]. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.my/upload/galeri_awam/pekeliling/2008_BTMK_152_4068_8638.pdf Google Scholar
Ministry of Education Malaysia. (2014). Quick facts 2014: Malaysia educational statistics. Retrieved from https://emisportal.moe.gov.my/emis/emis2/emisportal2/doc/fckeditor/File/Quickfacts_2014/Buku%20Quick%20Facts%202014.pdf Google Scholar
Mohamad, Z., & Rahman, A.H.A. (2011). Counseling practitioners in Malaysia: Socio-demographic profile and theoretical approcahes in counseling process. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2, 184–188. Retrieved from http://ijbssnet.com Google Scholar
Nik Jaafar, N.R., Iryani, T., Daud, M., Salwina, W., Ismail, W., Nazri, F., . . . & Shah, S.A. (2013). Externalizing and internalizing syndromes in relation to school truancy among adolescents in high‐risk urban schools. Asia‐Pacific Psychiatry, 5, 27–34. doi:10.1111/appy.12072 Google Scholar
Omar, K., Hasim, S., Muhammad, N.A., Jaffar, A., Hashim, S.M., & Siraj, H.H. (2010). Adolescent pregnancy outcomes and risk factors in Malaysia. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 111, 220–223. doi:10.1016/j.ijgo.2010.06.023 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Putman, D.A. (2004). Psychological Courage. University Press of America.Google Scholar
Quinn, N., Wilson, A., MacIntyre, G., & Tinklin, T. (2009). ‘People look at you differently’: Students’ experience of mental health support within higher education. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 37, 405–418. doi:10.1080/03069880903161385 Google Scholar
Raviv, A., Raviv, A., Gefen, I.V., & Fink, A.S. (2009). The personal service gap: Factors affecting adolescents’ willingness to seek help. Journal of Adolescence, 32, 483–499. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2008.07.004 Google Scholar
Rudner, M. (1977). Education, development and change in Malaysia. South East Asian Studies, 15, 23–62.Google Scholar
See, C.M. (2000). The training of school counsellors in Malaysia: Development, issues, and prospect. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education & Development, 3, 35–48. Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov Google Scholar
See, C.M., & Ng, K.M. (2010). Counseling in Malaysia: History, current status, and future trends. Journal of Counseling & Development, 88, 18–22. Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov Google Scholar
Setiawan, J.L. (2006). Willingness to seek counselling, and factors that facilitate and inhibit the seeking of counselling in Indonesian undergraduate students. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 34, 403–419. doi:10.1080/03069880600769654 Google Scholar
Siah, P.C., Ong, S.B.C., Tan, S.M., & Sim, C.P. (2015). Perception on Chinese values: A comparison of Chinese secondary students studying at national secondary schools and Chinese independent schools in Malaysia. The Social Science Journal, 52, 62–68. doi:10.1016/j.soscij.2014.08.006 Google Scholar
Snape, C., Perren, S., Jones, L., & Rowland, N. (2003). Counselling – why not? A qualitative study of people's accounts of not taking up counseling appointments. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 3, 239–245. doi:10.1080/14733140312331384412 Google Scholar
Soto, J.A., Levenson, R.W., & Ebling, R. (2005). Cultures of moderation and expression: Emotional experience, behavior, and physiology in Chinese Americans and Mexican Americans. Emotion, 5, 154–165. doi:10.1037/1528-3542.5.2.154 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sua, T.Y., Ngah, K., & Darit, S.M. (2013). Parental choice of schooling, learning processes and inter-ethnic friendship patterns: The case of Malay students in Chinese primary schools in Malaysia. International Journal of Educational Development, 33, 325–336. doi:10.1016/j.ijedudev.2012.09.002 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sulaiman, T., Hassan, A., Sapian, V.M., & Abdullah, S.K. (2009). The level of stress among students in urban and rural secondary schools in Malaysia. European Journal of Social Sciences, 10, 179–184. Retrieved from http://psasir.upm.edu.my Google Scholar
Tan, Y.S. (2012). Democratization of secondary education in Malaysia: Emerging problems and challenges of educational reform. International Journal of Educational Development, 32, 53–64. doi:10.1016/j.ijedudev.2010.11.004 Google Scholar
Taylor, S.E., Sherman, D.K., Kim, H.S., Jarcho, J., Takagi, K., & Dunagan, M.S. (2004). Culture and social support: Who seeks it and why?. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87, 354–362. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.87.3.354 Google Scholar
The Commissioner of Law Revision Malaysia. (2006). Counsellors Act 1998. Retrieved from http://www.agc.gov.my/Akta/Vol.%2012/Act%20580.pdf Google Scholar
United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia. (2015). Vision, mission and value. Retrieved from http://www.dongzong.my/aboutus.php Google Scholar
Vasantha, A.S. (2000) Penilaian guru-guru terhadap pelaksanaan perkhidmatan bimbingan dan kaunseling di salah sebuah sekolah menengah di daerah Petaling (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Malaya, Malaysia.Google Scholar
Verhaeghe, M., & Bracke, P. (2011). Stigma and trust among mental health service users. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 25, 294–302. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2011.02.001 Google Scholar
Vogel, D.L., & Wester, S.R. (2003). To seek help or not to seek help: The risks of self-disclosure. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 50, 351–361. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.50.3.351 Google Scholar
Vogel, D.L., Wade, N.G., & Haake, S. (2006). Measuring the self-stigma associated with seeking psychological help. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53, 325–337. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.53.3.325 Google Scholar
Vogel, D.L., Wade, N.G., & Hackler, A.H. (2007). Perceived public stigma and the willingness to seek counseling: The mediating roles of self-stigma and attitudes toward counseling. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 54, 40–50. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.54.1.40 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vogel, D.L., Wester, S.R., Larson, L.M., & Wade, N.G. (2006). An information-processing model of the decision to seek professional help. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 37, 398–406. doi:10.1037/0735-7028.37.4.398 Google Scholar
Wahab, S., Rahman, F.N.A., Hasan, W., Hafiz, W.M., Zamani, I.Z., Arbaiei, N.C., . . . & Nawi, A.M. (2013). Stressors in secondary boarding school students: Association with stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Asia‐Pacific Psychiatry, 5, S82–S89. doi:10.1111/appy.12067 Google Scholar
Wilson, C.J., Deane, F.P., & Ciarrochi, J. (2005). Can hopelessness and adolescents’ beliefs and attitudes about seeking help account for help negation? Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61, 1525–1539. doi:10.1002/jclp.20206 Google Scholar
Wong, Y., & Tsai, J. (2007). Cultural models of shame and guilt. In Jessica, L.T., Richard, W.R., & June, P.T. (Eds.), The self-conscious emotions: Theory and Research (pp. 209–223). New York, NY: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Xing, X.Y., Tao, F.B., Wan, Y.H., Xing, C., Qi, X.Y., Hao, J.H., . . . & Huang, L. (2010). Family factors associated with suicide attempts among Chinese adolescent students: A national cross-sectional survey. Journal of Adolescent Health, 46, 592–599. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.12.006 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yi, S.H., & Tidwell, R. (2005). Adult Korean Americans: Their attitudes toward seeking professional counseling services. Community Mental Health Journal, 41, 571–580. doi:10.1007/s10597-005-6362-2 Google Scholar