Supports from parents, optimism, and life satisfaction in early adolescents

This study examined influences of father and mother support, and optimism on life satisfaction in early adolescents (n = 814; mean age = 13.66 years old) in Malaysia, as well as its variation across gender. Participants were recruited using Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) sampling method from secondary school of four educational zones in Kuala Lumpur. Questionnaires comprising demographic items and measures of the social support, optimism and life satisfaction were self-administered by the students at their respective schools. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics including Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) via AMOS. Adolescents who received greater support from their parents reported better life satisfaction. Optimism has an indirect effect on relationship between support from mother and life satisfaction. The model was found as not stable across gender. Support from mother contributed to optimism, and optimism contributed to life satisfaction among adolescent boys, while effect was not found among adolescent girls. Findings imply the importance of considering these variables in prevention and intervention efforts involving early adolescents

Psychometric Qualities Evaluation of the Interdependent Happiness Scale across Malaysia, Philippines, and India

The nine-item Interdependent Happiness Scale (IHS; Hitokoto & Uchida, 2015) is a self-report of interpersonal happiness that focuses on three dimensions: relationship-oriented happiness, quiescent happiness, and ordinary happiness. Few studies have evaluated the psychometric properties of the IHS in diverse cultural backgrounds and the findings are inconsistent. This study investigated whether the IHS has sound psychometric qualities in three Asian countries. University students from Malaysia (n = 263), Philippines (n = 239), and India (n = 310) answered the IHS and self-rated creativity scale. Confirmatory factor analysis on each sample supported the nine-item second-order model with error covariances. The overall IHS score showed good reliability in all samples. The subscales, however, had mixed results except for the Indian sample. Similarly, the convergent validity test showed mixed results while discriminant validity is supported in all samples except for the quiescent happiness subscale in the Indian sample. Concurrent validity was established across three samples by showing a positive relationship with creativity score. The results highlight that the higher-order structure of the IHS is consistently supported in different cultural contexts. However, some of the items are perceived differently and require further improvement in enhancing the cross-cultural usability of the IHS to measure socially-oriented happiness

Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses of the Short Grit Scale (Grit-S) for Malaysian Undergraduate Students

The 8-item Short Grit Scale (Grit-S; Duckworth & Quinn, 2009) is a measure of the two aspects of grit: consistency of interests and perseverance of effort. While the majority of the past studies supported the two-factor model, some found cultural differences. Two studies were carried out to test the factor structure of the Grit-S in a sample of Malaysian undergraduate students (total N = 1109). Exploratory factor analysis (Study 1) revealed two factors. Item 2 for perseverance subscale was removed due to unsatisfactory factor loading. Further analysis of the seven items supported the two-factor model. Confirmatory factor analyses (Study 2) supported the superiority of the two correlated-factor model with 7 items. Moreover, the consistency and perseverance scores showed acceptable internal consistency. The current research contributes to the literature by lending further support to the theoretical two-factor structure of the Grit-S and revealing potential cultural differences in the items. Future studies are thus recommended to address these cultural differences and confirm the usability of the 7-item Grit-S in the Malaysian context