Depression and its relationship to loneliness and life events among urban poor in the federal territory, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

This study examines the relationship between loneliness, life events and depression among 178 adults in the disadvantage community of Malaysia and to determine predictors of depression. A set of stand-ardized questionnaires was used to measure depression, loneliness and stressful life events. The results showed that loneliness and stressful life events were related to depression. Results also showed that loneliness was a predictor of depression. Implications of the study in terms of theory and practice are also discussed

Keberkesanan kaunseling kelompok tingkah laku kognitif terhadap kemarahan dan agresif dalam kalangan banduan penjara lelaki

Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk melihat keberkesanan kaunseling kelompok tingkah laku kognitif terhadap kemarahan dan agresif dalam kalangan banduan penjara lelaki di penjara Malaysia. Seramai 40 orang banduan penjara lelaki terlibat dalam kajian ini. Subjek diagihkan kepada kelompok rawatan (N=20) dan kelompok kawalan (N=20) melalui kaedah persampelan bertujuan. Subjek kemudian dibahagikan kepada kelompok kecil (dua kelompok rawatan) dan (dua kelompok kawalan) yang mana setiap kelompok terdiri daripada 10 orang banduan penjara. Kelompok rawatan telah menjalani proses kaunseling kelompok sebanyak lapan sesi. Soal selidik yang digunakan dalam kajian ini terdiri daripada State­Trait Anger Expression Inventory­2 (STAXI­2) dan Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) yang digunakan untuk mengukur emosi kemarahan dan tingkah laku agresif. Data telah dianalisis dengan menggunakan analysis of covariance(ANCOVA) pada nilai aras kesignifikanan 0.05. Keputusan kajian menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan dalam min ujian pra dan min ujian pos pada skala STAXI-2 iaitu keadaan kemarahan, tret kemarahan dan peluahan kemarahan luaran di antara kelompok rawatan dan kelompok kawalan. Walaubagaimanapun keputusan menunjukkan tidak terdapat perbezaan pada skala peluahan kemarahan dalaman, kawalan kemarahan luaran dan kawalan kemarahan dalaman di antara kedua-dua kelompok tersebut. Keputusan kajian ini juga menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan dalam min ujian pra dan min ujian pos pada agresif di antara kelompok rawatan dan kelompok kawalan. Beberapa implikasi kajian dan cadangan untuk kajian lanjutan turut dikemukakan

Hubungan di antara aset luaran dan tingkah laku antisosial belia yang menetap di projek perumahan rakyat Kuala Lumpur

Youth problems are found to be on the rise as Malaysia is experiencing rapid millennium development. As youth are an important asset to a country’s future, this is particularly alarming. Thus, this issue requires attention and action from the community and responsible parties. Youth development efforts should be concentrating on the assets approach which will strengthen their capabilities and accentuate their self-potential while amplifying their intervention strategies to prevent antisocial behaviour. Therefore, this study aim to identify the relationship between external asset and antisosial behavior among youth in PPR Kuala Lumpur. Using a stratified random sample (two stages), a total of 450 inner-city youth has been systematically selected to complete a set of standardized questionnaires. The 25 Developmental Assets Questionnaire Malaysian version was used to measure developmental assets and Self-Reported Antisocial Behavior was used to measure antisocial behaviour. The result shows that only one subscale of external assets significantly correlated to serious antisocial behaviour and three subscales of external assets significantly correlated to violation antisocial behaviour. In short, this study shows that external asset should be taken into consideration when developing the youth intervention programs to reduce antisocial behaviours

Relationship between personality traits, attachment styles and life satisfaction among adolescents

Adolescence is an important developmental stage for every individual as it is a transition period from childhood to adulthood. Hence, many variables contribute to the feelings of life satisfaction among adolescents. It is therefore prudent to investigate what adolescents deem as important in influencing their life satisfaction. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between personality traits, attachment styles with adolescents’ life satisfaction. A total of 315 respondents aged between 18 to 21 years old participated in this study. Three standardized instruments were used and they are: the NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) to measure personality, the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Results showed that there were significant relationships between personality traits of extraversion, openness and conscientiousness with life satisfaction. The findings also indicated significant correlations between attachment styles of confidence and relationship with life satisfaction. In addition, results showed that there were significant relationships between most of the personality traits with attachment styles. In conclusion, adolescents who were satisfied with their lives were those who have personality traits of extraversion, openness and conscientiousness and secure attachment style. These findings give important insights in understanding the well-being of adolescents

Kecerdasan emosi dan kepuasan perkahwinan dalam kalangan Melayu bandar

Emotional intelligence is one of the psychological aspects that are increasingly gaining attention among researchers who are interested in studying marital satisfaction. Emotional intelligence is frequently associated with the skills of an individual in being aware of their own emotions, and the emotion of others and being able to manage their own and other people’s emotions. Thus, this study aims to investigate emotional intelligence and marital satisfaction among urban Malays. This study applies the survey research design by using questionnaires aimed at gathering personal background information, and measuring emotional intelligence and marital satisfaction of respondents. A total of 578 Malay respondents who have been married for at least one year, Muslims and residing in Klang Valley voluntarily participated in this study. Overall, the results showed that emotional intelligence has a significant relationship with marital satisfaction. Emotional intelligence in this study which has been divided into two main components, self-management (r = 0.388, p < 0.01) and social skills (r = 0.285, p < 0.01**) showed a moderate significant relationship with marital satisfaction. This finding suggests the importance of emotional intelligence in helping to increase marital satisfaction among married couples. Suggestions for future researchers and helping professionals such as counsellors and therapists working with married couples are also discussed

KEBERKESANAN KAUNSELING KELOMPOK TINGKAH LAKU KOGNITIF TERHADAP KEMARAHAN DAN AGRESIF DALAM KALANGAN BANDUAN PENJARA LELAKI (THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL GROUP COUNSELING ON ANGER AND AGGRESSION AMONG MALE PRISONERS)

The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural group counselling on anger and aggression among male prisoners in Malaysian prisons. A total of 40 male prisoners were involved in this study. Subjects were assigned into treatment group (N=20) and control group (N=20) through purposive sampling method. Subjects were then divided into small groups (two treatment groups) and (two control groups) which each group consisting of 10 prisoners. The treatment groups attended eight sessions of group counselling process. State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2) and Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) were used as questionnaires to measure anger emo-tion and aggression behaviour. Data were analysed by using the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) at 0.05 significant level. The results showed significant differences in the mean of pre-test and post-test on STAXI-2 scales such as state anger, trait anger and anger expression-out between the experi-mental group and control group. However, the results showed no significant differences for the scales of anger expression-in, anger control-out, and anger control-in between the groups. The results also showed significant differences in the mean of pre-test and post-test on aggression between the exper-imental group and control group. The implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are discussed

The correlates of conflict and behavioural difficulties on the negative affect in at-risk youth in Malaysia

Parent-youth conflict and behavioural difficulties are common issues in the field of developmental psychology. This study examines the correlations of conflict and behavioural difficulties, to see if these factors predicted a negative affect on a sample of at-risk youth. A sample of 335 at-risk youth aged 13-24 years old from Public Housing Projects in Kuala Lumpur was selected. Conflict with the father was significantly associated with negative affect. Further analysis showed that three factors were re-quired to produce negative affect. The results support claims that father conflict, emotional problems and conduct problems are an integral part of the close relationships of at-risk youth, and discourage positive youth development among at-risk youth

Keberkesanan Kaunseling Kelompok Tingkah Laku Kognitif Terhadap Kemarahan Dan Agresif Dalam Kalangan Banduan Penjara Lelaki

Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk melihat keberkesanan kaunseling kelompok tingkah laku kognitif terhadap kemarahan dan agresif dalam kalangan banduan penjara lelaki di penjara Malaysia. Seramai 40 orang banduan penjara lelaki terlibat dalam kajian ini. Subjek diagihkan kepada kelompok rawatan (N=20) dan kelompok kawalan (N=20) melalui kaedah persampelan bertujuan. Subjek kemudian dibahagikan kepada kelompok kecil (dua kelompok rawatan) dan (dua kelompok kawalan) yang mana setiap kelompok terdiri daripada 10 orang banduan penjara. Kelompok rawatan telah menjalani proses kaunseling kelompok sebanyak lapan sesi. Soal selidik yang digunakan dalam kajian ini terdiri daripada State­Trait Anger Expression Inventory­2 (STAXI­2) dan Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) yang digunakan untuk mengukur emosi kemarahan dan tingkah laku agresif. Data telah dianalisis dengan menggunakan analysis of covariance(ANCOVA) pada nilai aras kesignifikanan 0.05. Keputusan kajian menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan dalam min ujian pra dan min ujian pos pada skala STAXI-2 iaitu keadaan kemarahan, tret kemarahan dan peluahan kemarahan luaran di antara kelompok rawatan dan kelompok kawalan. Walaubagaimanapun keputusan menunjukkan tidak terdapat perbezaan pada skala peluahan kemarahan dalaman, kawalan kemarahan luaran dan kawalan kemarahan dalaman di antara kedua-dua kelompok tersebut. Keputusan kajian ini juga menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan dalam min ujian pra dan min ujian pos pada agresif di antara kelompok rawatan dan kelompok kawalan. Beberapa implikasi kajian dan cadangan untuk kajian lanjutan turut dikemukakan

Kemahiran keibubapaan, kefungsian keluarga dan kesejahteraan psikologi dalam kalangan ibubapa

Kemahiran keibubapaan, kefungsian keluarga dan kesejahteraan psikologi dalam kalangan ibubapa adalah tiga aspek yang sangat penting untuk menjamin kesejahteraan sesebuah keluarga. Kajian dalam kalangan 187 orang ibu dan bapa ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti tahap kemahiran keibubapaan dan kefungsian keluarga serta hubungan antara kedua pemboleh ubah ini. Selain daripada itu hubungan antara kefungsian keluarga dengan kesejahteraan psikologi juga dikaji. Perbezaan antara jantina bagi ketiga-tiga pemboleh ubah tersebut juga dikaji. Dapatan menunjukkan terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara kemahiran keibubapaan dengan kefungsian keluarga, serta kefungsian keluarga dengan kesejahteraan psikologi. Manakala ujian t pula menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan kemahiran keibubapaan antara lelaki dengan wanita, tetapi tidak terdapat perbezaan dari aspek kefungsian keluarga dan kesejahteraan psikologi. Implikasi kajian ini menunjukkan kepentingan kemahiran keibubapaan dan kefungsian keluarga dalam mencapai kesejahteraan psikologi

Relationship of Adult Attachment Styles and External Shame on Depression Symptoms among Married Couples: A Preliminary Study

This study investigated the potential impact of attachment styles and external shame on depression symptoms among married couples from low-income apartments in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. A door-to-door approach was used to recruit participants and collect data. Three research scales were used in this study: the Experience in Close Relationship-Revised Version questionnaire was used to measure individual differences in adult attachment styles, the Other as Shamer Scale was used to measure external shame, and the Personal Health Questionnaire was used to measure depression symptoms. This study reports that the most common depression symptoms reported are among individuals who experienced depression symptoms for less than one month. Results showed that dualinsecure couples (wives’ anxiety attachment and husbands’ avoidance attachment, wives’ avoidance attachment and husbands’ avoidance attachment) were significantly correlated with depression in a sample of the wives. The findings also revealed that a specific type of dual-insecure couples (wives’ anxiety attachment and husbands’ avoidance attachment) was a predictor of depression symptoms. These results provide evidence for a role of specific dual-insecure couples and external shame on depression symptoms. (Abstract by authors