Sexual Misconduct among Upper Secondary Students in Malaysian Ministry of Education(MOE) Institutions: A Systematic Review of Factors, Impacts, and Prevention Strategies

This systematic review examines the issue of sexual misconduct among upper secondary students in Malaysian Ministry of Education (MOE) institutions—a phenomenon that has been increasingly prevalent and poses significant implications for students’ safety, psychological well-being, social development, and academic performance. Guided by the PRISMA methodology, the findings reveal that sexual misconduct is influenced by multiple factors including family dynamics, peer pressure, exposure to digital media, and weaknesses in the implementation of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) within the school curriculum (Pakianathan, 2016; Amin & Fariduddin, 2023). Regionally, cases of sexual violence rose from 6,980 (2020) to 9,588 (2022), demonstrating the growing vulnerability of adolescents to sexual exploitation (Meilantika et al., 2024). The impacts include severe psychological trauma such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation; academic decline; social withdrawal; and a diminished sense of safety at school (de Lijster et al., 2016; Muzana et al., 2024). The review also identifies four primary prevention strategies: awareness-based education, strong school policies, parental and community engagement, and professional psychological support (Farahani et al., 2024; Askarial et al., 2023; Saffa et al., 2024; Meilantika et al., 2024). Overall, these findings underscore the need for an integrated prevention approach grounded in adolescent developmental theories to promote schools that are safe, inclusive, and free from sexual misconduct, in alignment with SDG 4, SDG 5, and SDG 16 (United Nations, 2015).

sexual misconduct, secondary students

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