"Asian Cultural Values and Help-Seeking: A Cross-Sectional Study on Compulsive Sexual Behavior"

Hoang-Long Pham¹Vu Hoang Anh Nguyen²Cong Minh Le³Thanh-Ha Truong-Thai¹Quynh-Anh Vu-Thi¹Xuan-Phat Phan¹Hoa-Nhu Nguyen-Vo¹Thuy Doan Hua³Bao-Tran Nguyen-Duong^1*Cyrus SH Ho^4,5Vinh-Long Tran-Chi¹

• ¹Psychology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• ²Thu Duc City Hospital, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
• ³University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• ⁴National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
• ⁵National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

Sexuality is a complex construct influenced by various social and cultural factors, and while sexual behavior is generally considered adaptive for physical and mental well-being, it can become uncontrollable and harmful, leading to Compulsive Sexual Behavior (CSB). Limited research has explored how Asian cultural values may mediate the psychological consequences of CSB and influence attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. This study examines the relationships among CSB, Asian cultural values, and attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help (ATSPPH) in a Vietnamese context.The cultural value system is a crucial factor in the study of human behavior, as it shapes individuals' perceptions, beliefs and attitudes. These values significantly influence decision-making processes and responses to various life circumstances. Despite increasing attention to compulsive sexual behavior (CSB), limited research has examined how cultural values mediate the psychological consequences of CSB and affect individuals' openness to professional psychological help, especially in Asian contexts. This study aims to examine the relationship between CSB and attitudes toward seeking psychological help, focusing on the mediating role of Asian cultural values. Three scales were employed to gather demographic variables and self-reported data, including The Asian Values Scale -Revised, The Individual -Compulsive Sexual Behavior Scale, and Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help. The present study was evaluated utilizing the partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) methodology. The findings confirm significant relationships, with a lack of control and negative affect in CSB being negatively associated with freedom and flexibility in Asian values. Conversely, the negative consequences of CSB showed a positive relationship with these values. Crucially, both traditional and freedom-flexibility values were Formatted: Font: 12 pt Field Code Changed Formatted: Justified found to negatively predict openness to seeking professional help. The study also revealed that Asian cultural values play a significant mediating role between CSB and ATSPPH. Furthermore, behavioral factors such as the frequency of pornography use, sexual frequency, and having a stable sexual partner moderated these relationships. These results highlight the complex interplay of cultural beliefs and individual behavior, underscoring the need for culturally sensitive interventions for those struggling with CSB in Asian culture.