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Original Article
- Multi-group Causal Model of Mental Health Literacy and Helping Behavior Toward People at Risk of Depression Among Thai and Vietnamese Health Science Students
- Anchalee Jansem, Ungsinun Intarakamhang, Charin Suwanwong, Krittipat Chuenphitthayavut, Sudarat Tuntivivat, Khuong Le, Le Thi Mai Lien, Pitchada Prasittichok
- J Prev Med Public Health. 2025;58(3):241-249. Published online January 13, 2025
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.24.449
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- 3 Web of Science
- 4 Crossref
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Abstract
Summary
PDF - 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. -
SummaryKey Message
This study compared causal models of mental health literacy (MHL) and helping behavior toward people at risk of depression between Thai and Vietnamese health science students. Findings indicated that MHL significantly impacted helping behavior (effect size [ES], 0.91), mediated indirectly by self-efficacy (ES, 0.18), positive attitudes (ES, 0.29), and social support (ES, 0.77), with no significant differences in the overall causal models between groups. However, variations in effects were noted, such as social support having a more pronounced effect on MHL among Vietnamese students than their Thai counterparts (ES, 0.46 vs. 0.27), while positive attitudes had a stronger influence among Thai students (ES, 0.17) than Vietnamese (ES, 0.01).Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
- Relationship between extraversion and mental health literacy in Chinese adolescents: a chain mediation model
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Frontiers in Psychology.2026;[Epub] CrossRef - Mental Health Literacy, Related Knowledge, and Depression Risk Among Thai Undergraduate Health Science Students: A Cross-sectional Study
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Middle East Journal of Rehabilitation and Health Studies.2026;[Epub] CrossRef - Psychometric validation and predictive efficacy of a comprehensive depression risk model for undergraduates
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Frontiers in Psychiatry.2026;[Epub] CrossRef - Health and Mental Well-Being of Academic Staff and Students in Thailand: Validation and Model Development
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Education Sciences.2025; 15(10): 1310. CrossRef
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