The association between self-regulation and procrastination among private university students in Malaysia

Academic procrastination is prevalent among university undergraduates and it affects students’ well-being and academic performance. Procrastination has become a concerning phenomenon in recent years and is not taken seriously. As self- regulation is one of the predictors of academic achievement among undergraduates it is often linked to procrastination. Thus, this study aimed to investigate if there are gender differences in self- regulation and procrastination and whether there is a relationship between self- regulation and procrastination among 287 undergraduates from four different private universities in Malaysia. Data were collected using self-report survey with convenience sampling method. The Short Self- Regulation Questionnaire (Carey, Neal, & Collins, 2004) was used to measure self-regulation while procrastination was measured using Tuckman Procrastination Scale (Yockey, 2016). Results of t-test analyses showed that there is no significant gender difference in both self-regulation and procras-tination. Moderate significant negative relationship was found between self-regulation and procrastina-tion. Hence the findings reflect that self-regulation could predict procrastination where students with high self-regulation will tend to procrastinate less. Therefore, self-regulation strategies and interven-tions should be taught to undergraduates in order to further enhance their self-efficacy as well as to have intrinsic motivation to be more goal-directed which could be aimed to reduce academic procrastination

Are you “phubbing” me? The Determinants of Phubbing Behavior and Assessment of Measurement Invariance across Sex Differences

Phubbing behavior is pervasive but the examination of the determinants and measurement invariance remain deficient. The present study aims to investigate: (1) relationships between Big Five personality traits (i.e., open-mindedness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and negative emotionality), coping styles (i.e., problem-focused and emotional-focused), Internet addiction and phubbing behavior; (2) the mediating role of Internet addiction among these relationships; and (3) measurement invariance across sex groups. A total of 405 responses were included in the final analyses. Participants were sampled using a probability-proportionate-to-size (PPS) method. Data were collected using paper-and-pencil survey: Phubbing Scale, Internet Addiction Test, Big Five Inventory, and Simplified Coping Styles Questionnaire. Negative emotionality, open-mindedness, and Internet addiction were the significant determinants of phubbing behavior. Internet addiction partially mediates open-mindedness and phubbing behavior. As for measurement invariance across sex groups, conscientiousness, extraversion, negative emotionality, Internet addiction, and phubbing behavior constructs achieved full measurement invariance. The agreeableness construct showed partial measurement invariance. Three constructs (i.e., open-mindedness, problem-focused and emotional-focused coping) failed to achieve partial measurement invariance, signifying that male and female participants had different interpretations on the items of these constructs. This pervasive culture could be gradually weakened if in-person interaction is intensely promoted

The risk factors of self-destructive behaviours among Malaysian young adults : a preliminary finding

Young adulthood has been identified as the developmental stage with highest suicidal risks in Malaysia. This study aimed to examine the risk factors associated with self-destructive behaviours (i.e. non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation and suicide attempt) among Malaysian young adults. This is a preliminary finding of a survey on 531 university students aged 18 to 25 years old based on a self-reported questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire – 28(GHQ-28). The prevalence for non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation and suicide attempt was 8.5%,8.4%, 5.8% and 3.6% 3.5% respectively. Further analysis found that severe depression were positively associated with these self-destructive behaviours as well as overall psychological distress. Furthermore, some chronic physical health problems found to be associated with self-destructive behaviours. Insights on the risk factors of self-destructive behaviours among Malaysian youth are crucial in comprehensive mental health management of this alarming problem, as most research rarely focuses on effective measures of treatment and intervention of such behaviours. The findings of the current study may of benefits to policy makers, parents and mental health professional as self-destructive behaviours may be a signal of psychological distress among young adulthood

Challenges of refugee teachers in Malaysian community-based learning centers

Because Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 RefugeeConvention, the children of refugees living in Malaysia are deprived of any formal education. Children are taught mostly by the refugees themselves, many of whom are volunteers. Most of the community-based learning centers, which encounter many academic and management problems, are also sustained by the refugees. This qualitative study aims to apply the framework of resources and demands theory to explore the work demands encountered by these refugees’ teachers and whether they have enough resources to meet the demands, as the learning centers are self-supported or supported by non-governmental organizations. This study collected data using the focus group method, recruiting participants through purposive sampling. Participants were organized into eight groups, each with seven volunteer participants, and open-ended questions were used for the participants to fully express their views and experiences. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The result showed that participants are burdened by academic and administrative tasks, lack of resources, poor infrastructure, and self-incompetence. The findings of the study proposed that more non-government organizations, local communities, and other stakeholders provide expertise and financial assistance to these community-based learning centers as education is the human right of each child. Karena Malaysia bukan merupakan penandatangan Konvensi Pengungsi 1951, hak anak-anak pengungsi untuk mendapat pendidikan resmi telah menjadi sebuah masalah yang tidak begitu diperhatikan. Kebanyakan anak-anak ini diajar oleh guru yang terdiri dari para pengungsi yang bekerja sebagai sukarelawan. Pusat pembelajaran berbasis komunitas dikelola dan dikendalikan oleh pengungsi sering menghadapi pelbagai isu dari segi akademik dan manajemen. Studi pendekatan kualitatif ini menggunakan teori sumber daya dan permintaan sebagai kerangka kajian untuk mengetahui apa saja tuntutan pekerjaan yang dihadapi guru pengungsi dan apakah mereka memiliki sumber daya yang cukup untuk menghadapi tuntutan tersebut, karena pusat pembelajaran bersifat swadaya atau didukung oleh Lembaga Swadaya Masyarakat (LSM). Sumber pembelajaran yang tersedia perlu dikaji supaya cukup menampung serta memenuhi permintaan kerja. Pengumpulan data menggunakan metode focus group dan partisipan direkrut melalui purposive sampling. Partisipan dikumpulkan ke delapan kelompok, masing-masing kelompok terdiri dari tujuh partisipan sukarelawan. Pertanyaan terbuka (open-ended questions) digunakan untuk mendapat pandangan serta pengalaman berkaitan isu yang dikaji. Data dianalisis menggunakan teknik analisis tematik. Hasil temuan menunjukkan bahwa para guru memikul beban yang berat dalam menjalankan tugas akademik serta administrasi. Mereka juga menghadapi isu kurangnya sumber daya, keadaan infrastruktur yang serba kekurangan serta keyakinan diri dalam kompetensi mengajar. Temuan studi ini mengusulkan agar lebih banyak LSM, masyarakat setempat, dan pemangku kepentingan lain menyumbangkan keahlian dan bantuan keuangan pada pusat-pusat pembelajaran tersebut karena pendidikan adalah hak asasi manusia bagi setiap anak-anak

Assessing the effectiveness of a mental health literacy programme for refugee teachers in Malaysia

Background: Children and young refugees often experience negative events that affect their mental health. Their caregivers may also be in the same predicament, implying that the teachers in schools are a potential source of help and support. However, most teachers have little understanding of mental health and are, thus, clueless in helping their students. To address this need, a newly developed one-day mental health literacy programme was conducted among 68 refugee teachers in Malaysia. Methods: Participants learned the symptoms of mental health issues among children and adolescents in the context of post-trauma, provision of early intervention, and channel for professional supports. They also answered a packet of measurements of mental health literacy before and after the programme. Results: The paired sample t-test showed that participants reported higher willingness to contact with people having mental health problems (t = 2.787, P = 0.008, Cohen's d = 0.394), less stereotypes toward mental illness (t = 4.603, P < 0.001, d = 0.651) and a better understanding of self-help strategies (t = 2.16, P = .036, d = 0.322) than baseline. Conclusion: The results of this study offered preliminary empirical evidence on the effectiveness of the programme as a promising channel for alleviating mental health issues among refugees

THE MENTAL HEALTH OF ADOLESCENT REFUGEES IN MALAYSIA

As of June 2017, 24.8 % of the 149, 200 reported refugees in Malaysia aged 18 years and below and of that figure, 33% were females. There has been little research into the mental well-being of the refugee adolescents. This cross-sectional survey study examined the differences in stress, anxiety, and depression faced according to gender and whether there is any association between them. 104 refugee adolescents from four non-governmental organization educational centers participated in the study. The Depression, Anxiety, Stress scale 21 was used to measure the severity of the core symptoms of depression. The results showed that females have significantly higher stress, anxiety and depression compared to that of males at p&lt;.001. Generally,the refugee has mild to normal stress as compared with anxiety and depression where a significant majority of those aged&nbsp; 14-27 years experienced severe to extreme severe anxiety with a moderate level of &nbsp;depression. &nbsp;A further analysis found that severe stress positively associated with anxiety and depression. Insights into the stress, anxiety and depression experienced by refugee adolescents are crucial towards understanding the mental health of young refugees. The current study may benefit mental health workers and humanitarian agencies to address and improve the mental health of refugees, regardless of any labels attached to them.&nbsp

Are you “phubbing” me? The Determinants of Phubbing Behavior and Assessment of Measurement Invariance across Sex Differences

Phubbing behavior is pervasive but the examination of the determinants and measurement invariance remain deficient. The present study aims to investigate: (1) relationships between Big Five personality traits (i.e., open-mindedness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and negative emotionality), coping styles (i.e., problem-focused and emotional-focused), Internet addiction and phubbing behavior; (2) the mediating role of Internet addiction among these relationships; and (3) measurement invariance across sex groups. A total of 405 responses were included in the final analyses. Participants were sampled using a probability-proportionate-to-size (PPS) method. Data were collected using paper-and-pencil survey: Phubbing Scale, Internet Addiction Test, Big Five Inventory, and Simplified Coping Styles Questionnaire. Negative emotionality, open-mindedness, and Internet addiction were the significant determinants of phubbing behavior. Internet addiction partially mediates open-mindedness and phubbing behavior. As for measurement invariance across sex groups, conscientiousness, extraversion, negative emotionality, Internet addiction, and phubbing behavior constructs achieved full measurement invariance. The agreeableness construct showed partial measurement invariance. Three constructs (i.e., open-mindedness, problem-focused and emotional-focused coping) failed to achieve partial measurement invariance, signifying that male and female participants had different interpretations on the items of these constructs. This pervasive culture could be gradually weakened if in-person interaction is intensely promoted.Phubbing es un fenómeno omnipresente; pero, la identificación de los determinantes y la invarianza de la medición siguen siendo insuficientes. Esta investigación tiene como objetivo investigar: (1) la relación directa entre cinco grandes rasgos de personalidad (p.e., mentalidad abierta, escrupulosidad, extraversión, amabilidad, y emocionalidad negativa), formas de afrontamiento (centrado en problemas y emociones), adicción a Internet para y phubbing; (2) el rol mediador de la adicción a Internet entre estas relaciones; y (3) la medición de las diferencias entre sexos. Se incluyeron 405 respuestas en los análisis finales. Los participantes se seleccionaron con el método de probabilidad proporcional al tamaño (PPT). Los datos se recogieron mediante una encuesta: Escala de Phubbing, Test de Adicción a Internet, Inventario de los Grandes Cinco, y Cuestionario Simplificado de Formas de Afrontar el Estrés. La emocionalidad negativa, mentalidad abierta, y adicción a Internet fueron los factores determinantes del comportamiento de phubbing. En cuanto a la invarianza de medición a través de los grupos de sexo, la conciencia, la extraversión, la emocionalidad negativa, la adicción a Internet y los constructos del comportamiento de phubbing lograron la invarianza de medición completa. La construcción de conformidad mostró una invarianza de medición parcial. Tres construcciones (es decir, mentalidad abierta, afrontamiento centrado en el problema y centrado emocional) no lograron la invarianza de medición parcial, lo que significa que los participantes masculinos y femeninos tenían diferentes interpretaciones sobre los elementos de estos constructos. Esta cultura penetrante podría debilitarse gradualmente si se promueve intensamente la interacción en persona

Improving the education quality for refugee children: perspectives from teachers at refugee education centres in Malaysia

Many refugee children have not only suffered from their negative past experiences but also faced challenges to cope with their current difficulties and to improve themselves for a better future. Education is a strategy to assist these refugee children in tackling these difficulties, and a key factor in ensuring the success of educa-tion is the quality of teachers. This study uses the job demands and job resource model as a framework to understand the job demands of teachers at refugee community learning centres in Malaysia and their available resources, and the resources that the teachers need to meet their job demands. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 52 refugee teachers, and focus group discussion was used to collect data. Thematic analysis was then used to analyze the data. The results showed that the main difficult job demands are handling the classroom due to the lack of facilities, space and professional training. The diversities in students’ language levels and cultural backgrounds and the psychological problems of students increase the difficulties in classroom management. Support from different parties to provide relevant resources is needed for refugee teachers to tackle their job demands so that a better-quality education can be provided to refugee children