Journal Screenshot

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

Self-Esteem as the Moderator in the Relationship between Usage of Social Media and Help-Seeking Behaviors among University Students

Michelle Lee Jia-Hui, Yusni Mohamad Yusop, Zaida Nor Zainudin, Wan Norhayati Wan Othman, Dharatun Nissa Puad Mohd Kari

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v15-i3/24960

Open access

With the rise of digital communication platforms, social media has become a double-edged sword, offering opportunities for self-expression and social support. Hence, this study investigates the relationship between social media usage and help-seeking behaviours among university students in Malaysia, with self-esteem as the moderating effect. This study utilised a quantitative research design and gathered data from 383 respondents using the survey. The results showed that most of the respondents had a moderate level of social media usage and a help-seeking attitude. Findings also indicate that self-esteem plays a crucial role in moderating the effects of social media on help-seeking behaviours, suggesting that enhancing self-esteem could improve mental health outcomes. The study recommended that a larger sample should be utilised to represent the whole population better.

Abdul Aziz, A., Abdullah, Z., & Mohd Nor, A. (2022). Quantitative data analysis in communication research (2nd ed.). UiTM Press.
Arifin, S., Wan Jaafar, W. M., Md. Nor, S. B., Husain, Z., Md Shah, K., Omar, N. E., & Yasin, Md. A. S. (2022). The prevalence of attitudes toward seeking counseling help among Malaysian university students. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(11). https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v12-i11/15661
Aris, A. Z. Z., & Othman, S. Z. (2022). Mental health issues and help-seeking behaviour among Malaysian academics. Jurnal Pembangunan Sosial, 25, 101–119. https://doi.org/10.32890/jps2022.25.5
Best, P., Manktelow, R., & Taylor, B. J. (2014). Social work and social media: Online help-seeking and the mental well-being of adolescent males. British Journal of Social Work, 46(1), 257–276. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcu130
Duan, Y., Chen, D., & Xiao, J. (2022). Research on the relationship between self-esteem, psychological help-seeking stigma, and psychological help-seeking attitude of college students in private colleges and universities. In 6th International Conference on Education, Management and Social Science (pp. 204–209). https://doi.org/10.23977/EMSS2022.037
Garrido, S., Oliver, E., Chmiel, A., Doran, B., & Boydell, K. (2022). Encouraging help-seeking and engagement in a mental health app: What young people want. Frontiers in Digital Health, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2022.1045765
Gere, B. O., Salimi, N., & Anima-Korang, A. (2020). Social media use as self-therapy or alternative mental help-seeking behavior. IAFOR Journal of Psychology & the Behavioral Sciences, 5(2), 21–36. https://doi.org/10.22492/ijpbs.5.2.02
Ghasemi, A., & Zahediasl, S. (2012). Normality tests for statistical analysis: A guide for non-statisticians. International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 10(2), 486–489. https://doi.org/10.5812/ijem.3505
Goodwin, J., & Behan, L. (2023). Does media content have an impact on help-seeking behaviors for mental illness? A systematic review. Mental Health Review Journal, 28(3). https://doi.org/10.1108/mhrj-06-2022-0038
Guo, Y., & Cai, Y. (2022, January 20). The impact of social media usage on depression cognition and help-seeking behavior: A study based on grounded theory. Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.220107.063
Gupta, S., & Bashir, L. (2018). Social networking usage questionnaire: Development and validation in an Indian higher education context. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 19(4), 214–227. https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.471918
Henriksen, I. O., Ranøyen, I., Indredavik, M. S., & Stenseng, F. (2017). The role of self-esteem in the development of psychiatric problems: A three-year prospective study in a clinical sample of adolescents. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-017-0207-
Lowe, N. K. (2019). What is a pilot study? Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 48(2), 117–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2019.01.005
Ma, R., Wang, Y., Wang, X., Yu, K., Zhang, C., & Zhou, Y. (2023). Analysis of hindering and facilitating factors of help-seeking behavior in schizophrenia based on the COM-B model: A descriptive qualitative study. BMC Psychiatry, 23(1), 770. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05226-5
Mohamad, I. N. F., & Mubin, N. N. A. (2023). Social media use for youth mental health awareness and help-seeking attitudes: A systematic review. Educatum Journal of Social Sciences, 9(2), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.37134/ejoss.vol9.2.1.2023
Mohan, K., Pickens, L., Ming, Z., Taylor-Elliott, T., & Hudson, K. C. (2023). A study of social media communication as a help-seeking behaviour for psychological and emotional problems of students of the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean. American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Analysis.https://american-jiras.com/Zaminia%E2%80%93Ref19-6-16ajiras030723-1.pdf
Talha, M. (2022). The role of social media in shaping attitudes and beliefs about mental health and seeking treatment. Archives of Clinical Psychiatry, 49(2).
Samsudin, A. Z., & Abdul Latif. (2023). Unveiling the stigma: Exploring help-seeking attitudes among Muslim students in a school with a dual education system in Brunei Darussalam. Asian Journal of Research in Education and Social Sciences, 5(2), 186–208. https://myjms.mohe.gov.my/index.php/ajress/article/view/22978
Tan, L. J. (2024). The relationship of self-esteem, perceived social support, and help-seeking intentions among university students in Malaysia [Degree thesis, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman]. UTAR Institutional Repository. http://eprints.utar.edu.my/6368/1/2002308_FYP.pdf
Topkaya, N. (2020). Predictors of attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help among Turkish college students. Children and Youth Services Review, 120, 105782. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105782
Woodford, J., Månberg, J., Cajander, Å., Enebrink, P., Harila-Saari, A., Hagström, J., Karlsson, M., Placid Solimena, H., & von Essen, L. (2021). Help-seeking behaviour and attitudes towards internet-administered psychological support among adolescent and young adults previously treated for cancer during childhood: Protocol for a survey and embedded qualitative interview study in Sweden. BMJ Open, 11(4), e041350. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041350

Jia-Hui, M. L., Yusop, Y. M., Zainudin, Z. N., Othman, W. N. W., & Kari, D. N. P. M. (2025). Self-Esteem as the Moderator in the Relationship between Usage of Social Media and Help-Seeking Behaviors among University Students. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(3), 574–592.