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Although Malaysia is moving towards a universal system of higher education, the issue of participation and access is complex. Related research has tended to focus mainly on socio-demographic aspects and less on the personal and social variables preventing people from participating. The study presented here was an attempt to learn more about the young people not participating in higher education in Malaysia, and the personal and social factors that predict their lack of participation. The researchers compared a group of young people who were not in higher education with a group of young people who were. A survey was administered to both groups, focusing on twelve personal and social variables: (1) happiness; (2) life satisfaction; (3) stress; (4) social support; (5) self-esteem; (6) self-efficacy; (7) motivation; (8) aspiration; (9) attitude towards education; (10) knowledge of higher education; (11) experience in school; and (12) perceived barriers. Young people not participating in higher education reported significantly lower levels for all variables except stress. Further analysis of perceived barriers revealed that factors viewed as hindering young people from participating in higher education are wide-ranging, and include previous experience, knowledge of higher education, personal interest, lack of support and other personal issues. Using logistic regression analysis, the researchers found significant predictors of participation in higher education to be stress, social support, self-efficacy, attitude towards education, knowledge of higher education and perceived barriers. The authors discuss their findings in relation to previous research, and offer recommendations with regard to future policy and practical approaches to increase young people's participation in higher education.

Self-compassion plays a critical role in romantic relationships in that it improves relationship quality through trust, expressions of love, and commitment, leading to more satisfying relationships and well-being. Fewer studies have examined the role of self-compassion as a relationship enhancing variable, especially in the context of romantic relationships in non-Western countries such as Malaysia. The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-compassion, satisfaction in romantic relationships, and psychological well-being among young emerging adults in Malaysia. In addition, the mechanism of how self-compassion may contribute to well-being was examined by focusing on the mediating effects of trust, expression of love, and commitment. Participants were 400 Malaysians aged 18 to 25 who had been in a relationship for at least six months but were not married at the time of data collection. They completed an online survey consisting of the Self-Compassion Scale, the Trust in Close Relationships Scale, the Adapted Version of the Affection Communication Scale, the Commitment Scale, the Relationship Assessment Scale, and the Psychological Well-Being Scale. A significant positive relationship was found between self-compassion, satisfaction with romantic relationships, and psychological well-being. Participants reported high levels of trust and commitment but relatively low levels of love expression in romantic relationships. The relationship between self-compassion and romantic relationship satisfaction was confirmed by the mediating effects of trust, love expression, and commitment. This study provides a better understanding of how self-compassion contributes to romantic relationships and psychological well-being in a broader cultural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has been defined as one of the biggest collective traumas faced by the human population worldwide. Thus, there is a need for trauma-focused psychotherapy during the pandemic. Due to the highly transmissive virus, the safest and most realistic option for conducting trauma-focused psychotherapy was through online platforms, since then online psychotherapy has been one of the most preferred ways of conducting psychotherapy. The current article reviewed available literature, to illustrate different potential challenges and obstacles mental-health practitioners face when providing trauma-focused online psychotherapy in Malaysia. These challenges are categorized into (a) ethical issues, (b) therapeutic relationships and environment, (c) techniques, and (d) psychotherapists' self-care. Practical research-driven suggestions were provided to tackle these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the well-being of individuals worldwide. Due to the scarcity of information in the Malaysian context, this study aimed at investigating the changes in well-being before and during the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia and its association with mental health status. This cross-sectional study was part of a Malaysian non-probabilistic online survey on psychosocial well-being in Malaysia, under the Personal and Family Coping with COVID-19 Global South Research Consortium. A total of 543 respondents (≥18 years old) were recruited using snowball sampling. A validated self-administered questionnaire for assessing sociodemographic characteristics, well-being, anxiety, boredom, and loneliness was circulated on social media platforms (such as Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp) and emails. Paired samples t-test, chi-square test, and multinomial logistic regression analyses were applied during data analysis. Results revealed significant changes in the mean scores of well-being, anxiety, boredom, and loneliness before and during MCO (p < 0.05). When comparing with no change in the well-being group, changes in boredom were less likely to be observed in the decreased well-being group (Adj OR = 0.874; p = 0.003) but were more likely to be observed in the group with increased well-being (Adj OR = 1.110; p = 0.002). The findings indicated that the pandemic did not necessarily create adverse effects. Instead, a different perspective is offered, which can be used as a public health strategy to help individuals cope with their mental health needs more positively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health is an emerging problem globally. This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of chronic illnesses in the relationship between psychological health and the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine, prior to the national vaccine rollout in Malaysia. An online cross-sectional study was conducted in Malaysia between December 10, 2020, and February 9, 2021. In addition to the descriptive analyses, a mediation analysis was performed to examine the mediating effect of chronic illnesses in the relationship between psychological distress and the willingness to accept the vaccine. A total of 1738 participants completed the survey. The psychological distress levels were found to be significantly different across demographic factors such as age, gender, and social economic status. This study demonstrated a partial mediating effect of chronic illnesses in the relationship between psychological distress and vaccine acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide among adolescents has become a public health issue globally. The school is an important authority that could provide mental health support, including implementing suicide prevention strategies for adolescents. However, due to the ongoing challenges worldwide, such as climate change and frequent school closure because of the outbreak such as COVID-19, and other uncertainty, the mental health programme should be tailored according to the accessibility and availability to ensure equality for adolescents to participate. Online-based intervention to prevent suicide can be a promising strategy. Yet, there are several contextual factors should be considered especially in the developing countries, such as Malaysia. This article aims to explore the challenges and ways forward to implement online-based suicide prevention strategy using the Human Ecological Theory as a guideline. The understanding is vital to guide the mental health experts to consider the challenges of implementing the online-based intervention in the suicide prevention strategy especially among Malaysian adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since emergency approval of COVID-19 vaccines for children aged between 12 and 15 years old was recently obtained in the United States and Europe, we aimed to assess the willingness to vaccinate children with a COVID-19 vaccine in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Therefore, we launched an online cross-sectional survey in several LMICs. Questions relating to socio-demographic information, knowledge of COVID-19, level of fear/worry of being infected with COVID-19, and willingness to vaccinate children with the COVID-19 vaccine at 50%, 75% and 95% effectiveness levels, were asked. Of the 6571 participants (mean age = 39 ± 14 years), 64.0%, 72.6%, and 92.9% were willing to vaccinate children at 50%, 75%, and 95% effectiveness levels, respectively. Respondents who were undergraduates, who were more worried/fearful about COVID-19, had higher knowledge scores regarding COVID-19, and a higher belief that COVID-19 vaccination is important to protect others, were more willing to accept COVID-19 vaccination of children. COVID-19 vaccination of children will limit the spread of the virus, especially in schools; it may decrease the need for school closures which has a negative effect on child development. Findings from this study are useful for health promotion strategies during COVID-19 vaccination implementation among children in LMICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Art therapy, in the realm of health and human services, uses various techniques such as creating art, exploring creativity, and applying psychological theory to help individuals of all ages and backgrounds. This study explores the impact of mosaic art as a therapeutic intervention on reducing stress and enhancing resilience among adolescents, recognising the unique challenges they face in managing stress and building resilience during this pivotal stage of development. Materials and methods: Twenty-three students aged between 16 and 17 years old who fulfilled the eligibility criteria were assigned randomly to either the experimental group (n=12) or the control group (n=11). Both groups completed two self-report questionnaires, The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21) and The Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-R) at pre-test, post-test, and 3-month follow-up. The mosaic art intervention was conducted weekly for one-hour sessions over eight weeks in school and through an online platform. A 2 X 3 within-between repeated measures ANOVA was employed in the data analyses. Results: Results showed significant lower stress and high resilience levels in the experimental group at post-test, indicating that the mosaic art intervention could effectively reduce stress and increase resilience among adolescents. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that mosaic art intervention can be utilised for preventing and managing mental health issues related to stress and resilience among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined how different types of communication influence people's responses to health advice. We tested whether presenting COVID-19 prevention advice (e.g., washing hands/distancing) as either originating from a government or scientific source would affect people's trust in and intentions to comply with the advice. We also manipulated uncertainty in communicating the advice effectiveness. To achieve this, we conducted an experiment using large samples of participants ( N = 4,561) from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Malaysia, and Taiwan. Across countries, participants found messages more trustworthy when the purported source was science rather than the government. This effect was moderated by political orientation in all countries except for Canada, while religiosity moderated the source effect in the United States. Although source did not directly affect intentions to act upon the advice, we found an indirect effect via trust, such that a more trusted source (i.e., science) was predictive of higher intentions to comply. However, the uncertainty manipulation was not effective. Together, our findings suggest that despite prominence of science skepticism in public discourse, people trust scientists more than governments when it comes to practical health advice. It is therefore beneficial to communicate health messages by stressing their scientific bases. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Employment among final year college students in China has encountered unprecedented difficulties during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the high unemployment rate had led college graduates faced inadvertently mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. This study aims to investigate the impact of employment stress on college students' psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. An online survey consisting of demographic items (i.e., age, gender, subject major, type of university, and perceived severity of the current employment situation), Employment Stress scale, Employment Anxiety Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire was employed for data collection. A total of 2,627 final year college students were recruited, with participants displayed below moderate levels of employment stress and anxiety. Approximately 13.2% of participants were depressed and 53.3% considered the current employment situation as severe. Female students were stressed by individual factors and anxious, whilst male students were more depressed. Arts students were less depressed and students from comprehensive universities were more depressed and anxious compared to other types of universities. Students who perceived the employment situation as very severe displayed the lowest level of employment stress and anxiety. Gender, university type, family stress, college stress, and individual stress are predictors of psychological well-being among college students. The family environment, female identity, and stress from university play a crucial role in college students' psychological well-being. The government should pay more attention to the psychological well-being of graduate students and develop feasible measures to help them secure a job during this unprecedented time., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest We have no known conflicts of interest to disclose., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)