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Factors influencing utilization of employee assistance programs to support the mental health needs of employees: A Delphi study
10.1080/15555240.2025.2587075
2025-11-01
1
PRE
AI
Abstract
En 中文
Employee assistance programs (EAPs) play a crucial role in supporting employees' mental health and well-being. However, their utilization in Malaysia remains low due to cultural stigma, confidentiality concerns, and limited awareness. This study employs a Delphi method to identify and rank the key factors influencing EAP utilization among Malaysian employees. A two-round Delphi process was conducted with experts from mental health, human resources, and organizational leadership backgrounds. The first round identified eight critical dimensions affecting EAP usage: confidentiality and privacy concerns, stigma, organizational culture and management support, awareness and knowledge, perceived effectiveness, accessibility and ease of use, workplace stress and workload, and cost and financial barriers. A total of 51 experts participated in the first round. In the second round, only 24 experts ranked these dimensions, and confidentiality and privacy concerns emerged as the most significant barrier, followed by stigma and organizational culture. Kendall's W coefficient confirmed moderate expert consensus (W = 0.280, p < .001). Findings suggest that confidentiality assurances, anti-stigma initiatives, leadership engagement, and enhanced communication strategies are essential for increasing EAP adoption. The study highlights the need for proactive strategies to normalize mental health support in workplaces and mitigate barriers that prevent employees from seeking assistance.
Keywords:
Mental health
workplace wellness
employee assistance programs
Delphi method
Journal
J
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0.8
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Researchers
C
Chee, Vane Yen
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W
Wider, Walton
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0
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C
Changhe Wu
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0
Papers: 4
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L
Lee, Harvey Pak Ting
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0
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T
Tanucan, Jem Cloyd M.
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View moreOrganization
I
inti international university
Scholars:
909
Papers: 1.0K
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Citations: 1
U
universitas kristen satya wacana
Scholars:
128
Papers: 99
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Citations: 0
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