Cultural and Socioeconomic Factors in Student Wellbeing: A Narrative Review and Integration Framework
Divya Rose Peter （ School of Education and Social Sciences, Management and Science University, Malaysia ）
Ebrahim Nangarath Kottakal Cheriya （ International Medical School, Management and Science University, Malaysia ）
https://doi.org/10.37155/2972-3086-0402-8Abstract
Student mental health has emerged as a critical concern in contemporary higher education, with approximately 60% of university students worldwide reporting anxiety or depression. While research has established that both cultural backgrounds and socioeconomic circumstances significantly influence student wellbeing, these factors are typically examined in isolation, limiting our understanding of their interactive effects. This narrative review synthesizes recent literature (2023-2025) on cultural and socioeconomic influences on student wellbeing, with particular emphasis on Southeast Asian contexts. Through systematic analysis of peer-reviewed research, we identify distinct psychological and social pathways through which cultural values and economic stress shape student mental health outcomes. The review reveals that cultural dimensions particularly interdependent orientations and family-centered value represent primary pathways through which students develop mental illness stigma. More importantly, these factors interact synergistically, creating compounded advantages or disadvantages that current theoretical frameworks inadequately address. We propose an integrated model conceptualizing student wellbeing as emerging from the intersection of cultural identity, economic circumstances, and institutional context. Practical implications for higher education administrators, mental health practitioners, and policymakers are discussed, with emphasis on culturally-adapted, economically-responsive interventions that move beyond Western-centric mental health approaches.
Keywords
Student wellbeing; Mental health; Cultural factors; Socioeconomic status; Help-seeking behaviours; University students; Intersectionality; Malaysia; Southeast AsiaFull Text
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Copyright © 2025 Divya Rose Peter, Ebrahim Nangarath Kottakal Cheriya
Publishing time:2025-08-13
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License