Soft Power and Stress: The Health Impacts of Indonesian Soap Operas on Malaysian Millennials

Background: The onslaught of Indonesian popular culture in Malaysia is an inevitable phenomenon. It enters without being prevented because of its presence in addition to the factor of technological sophistication, also because of the demand of many Malaysian audiences. The number of soap operas has...

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Main Authors: Rangga Cipta Perdana, Ernida Kadir, Genta Iverstika Gempita
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Yayasan Aliansi Cendekiawan Indonesia Thailand 2025-01-01
Series:GHMJ (Global Health Management Journal)
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Online Access:https://www.inschool.id/publications/index.php/ghmj/article/view/1146
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author Rangga Cipta Perdana
Ernida Kadir
Genta Iverstika Gempita
author_facet Rangga Cipta Perdana
Ernida Kadir
Genta Iverstika Gempita
author_sort Rangga Cipta Perdana
collection DOAJ
description Background: The onslaught of Indonesian popular culture in Malaysia is an inevitable phenomenon. It enters without being prevented because of its presence in addition to the factor of technological sophistication, also because of the demand of many Malaysian audiences. The number of soap operas has infuriated certain circles. The reason is that the Indonesian culture that is born in Indonesian soap operas is shredded and superstition and it is not in accordance with the culture in Malaysia. All of this raises concerns that the presence of Indonesian culture will affect the identity, religion, and language, of the local community. Aims: This study aims to investigate and looking at the extent of the impression of Indonesian popular culture in Malaysia and to see the perception of Malaysian society, which is predominantly Muslim, in accepting non-Islamic elements aired in one of Indonesia's popular cultural products and see to what extent this affects emotional health, mental health and identity formation. Methods: To achieve the objectives and in order to avoid subjective views, this study is conducted in a controlled manner, namely by collecting data that supports presumptions, assumptions, and theories and also collecting opposing facts so that conclusions are not based on wishes, but what is found empirically. The data collection techniques in a qualitative approach can be done through observation, unstructured interviews, conversations, oral history and text analysis by using the basic question, namely Open-Ended questions. This is type of question allows respondents to answer more deeply and unexpectedly because the answers given will be subjective, according to the views of those people. Answers from open-ended questions can make us discover unknown and more in-depth topics about a study. Conclusion: Indonesian soap operas, as a form of soft power, have the capacity to influence the cultural and psychological landscape of Malaysian millennials. The consumption of such media can lead to stress, emotional fatigue, and identity conflicts, particularly when the content challenges established cultural and religious norms. By understanding the complex interplay between cultural influence and mental health, future research can focus on developing media literacy strategies and providing psychological support to help viewers navigate the potential stressors of cross-cultural media consumption.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2580-9296
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Yayasan Aliansi Cendekiawan Indonesia Thailand
record_format Article
series GHMJ (Global Health Management Journal)
spelling doaj-art-109502083c284ac38e170ba0cb5d291e2025-02-06T15:15:17ZengYayasan Aliansi Cendekiawan Indonesia ThailandGHMJ (Global Health Management Journal)2580-92962025-01-018110.35898/ghmj-811146Soft Power and Stress: The Health Impacts of Indonesian Soap Operas on Malaysian MillennialsRangga Cipta Perdana0https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4350-0360Ernida Kadir1https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6048-4631Genta Iverstika Gempita2https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9216-7571Department of Media Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur MalaysiaDepartment of Dance, Faculty of Performing Arts, Institut Seni Indonesia Padangpanjang, IndonesiaFaculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, National University of Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia Background: The onslaught of Indonesian popular culture in Malaysia is an inevitable phenomenon. It enters without being prevented because of its presence in addition to the factor of technological sophistication, also because of the demand of many Malaysian audiences. The number of soap operas has infuriated certain circles. The reason is that the Indonesian culture that is born in Indonesian soap operas is shredded and superstition and it is not in accordance with the culture in Malaysia. All of this raises concerns that the presence of Indonesian culture will affect the identity, religion, and language, of the local community. Aims: This study aims to investigate and looking at the extent of the impression of Indonesian popular culture in Malaysia and to see the perception of Malaysian society, which is predominantly Muslim, in accepting non-Islamic elements aired in one of Indonesia's popular cultural products and see to what extent this affects emotional health, mental health and identity formation. Methods: To achieve the objectives and in order to avoid subjective views, this study is conducted in a controlled manner, namely by collecting data that supports presumptions, assumptions, and theories and also collecting opposing facts so that conclusions are not based on wishes, but what is found empirically. The data collection techniques in a qualitative approach can be done through observation, unstructured interviews, conversations, oral history and text analysis by using the basic question, namely Open-Ended questions. This is type of question allows respondents to answer more deeply and unexpectedly because the answers given will be subjective, according to the views of those people. Answers from open-ended questions can make us discover unknown and more in-depth topics about a study. Conclusion: Indonesian soap operas, as a form of soft power, have the capacity to influence the cultural and psychological landscape of Malaysian millennials. The consumption of such media can lead to stress, emotional fatigue, and identity conflicts, particularly when the content challenges established cultural and religious norms. By understanding the complex interplay between cultural influence and mental health, future research can focus on developing media literacy strategies and providing psychological support to help viewers navigate the potential stressors of cross-cultural media consumption. https://www.inschool.id/publications/index.php/ghmj/article/view/1146Soft PowerIndonesian popular cultureMedia consumptionMental healthMalaysian millenials
spellingShingle Rangga Cipta Perdana
Ernida Kadir
Genta Iverstika Gempita
Soft Power and Stress: The Health Impacts of Indonesian Soap Operas on Malaysian Millennials
GHMJ (Global Health Management Journal)
Soft Power
Indonesian popular culture
Media consumption
Mental health
Malaysian millenials
title Soft Power and Stress: The Health Impacts of Indonesian Soap Operas on Malaysian Millennials
title_full Soft Power and Stress: The Health Impacts of Indonesian Soap Operas on Malaysian Millennials
title_fullStr Soft Power and Stress: The Health Impacts of Indonesian Soap Operas on Malaysian Millennials
title_full_unstemmed Soft Power and Stress: The Health Impacts of Indonesian Soap Operas on Malaysian Millennials
title_short Soft Power and Stress: The Health Impacts of Indonesian Soap Operas on Malaysian Millennials
title_sort soft power and stress the health impacts of indonesian soap operas on malaysian millennials
topic Soft Power
Indonesian popular culture
Media consumption
Mental health
Malaysian millenials
url https://www.inschool.id/publications/index.php/ghmj/article/view/1146
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AT ernidakadir softpowerandstressthehealthimpactsofindonesiansoapoperasonmalaysianmillennials
AT gentaiverstikagempita softpowerandstressthehealthimpactsofindonesiansoapoperasonmalaysianmillennials