Ellern Eng Hui, Tanushri Jayani Krishna Murthi, Nursahira Sahiba Mohd Sabri, Yee Kee Tan, Md Safaet Hossain Sujan, Kamal Gautam, Kiran Paudel, Iskandar Azwa, Jeffrey A Wickersham, Roman Shrestha
Psychology & Sexuality, April 2026.
Abstract
In Malaysia, men who have sex with men (MSM) conceal their sexuality due to socio-cultural challenges. Grounded in Minority Stress Theory and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, this study examines how stigma, internalised homophobia (IH) and intimate partner violence (IPV) influence concealment motivation (CM). A cross-sectional design employed 268 MSM participants across Malaysia, via convenience sampling. They completed a survey assessing stigma, IH, IPV and CM. Correlational and serial mediation analyses (Hayes’ Model 6) were conducted. Participants (Mage = 28.9 years, SD = 5.7) were mostly single (66.4%), Chinese (44.8%) and university educated (58.2%). Stigma (r = .27, p < .001) and IH (r = .41, p < .001) were positively correlated with CM, while IPV was not (r = .01, p = .934). Serial mediation analyses showed that stigma associated with CM indirectly through IH and the IPV→IH pathway. The indirect effect via IH was consistent across all models (Fully adjusted model: b = .112, 95% CI [.061, .189]). In the fully adjusted model, 44.2% of the total effect of stigma on CM was mediated, with the indirect effect remaining significant (b = .097, 95% CI [.017, .177]). The direct effect of stigma on CM was reduced and non-significant (b = .123, 95% CI [−.022, .268]). This study underscores the need for tailored interventions addressing stigma and resilience. Future research should employ longitudinal, mixed-method approaches to unpack temporal dynamics and include non-urban populations.
