The study analysed the perlocutionary effects elicited by an autistic child through the use of directive speech acts during joint comprehension activities. While studies related to ASD are largely conducted quantitatively, this study incorporated a case study method involving a Malaysian English speaking ASD child, to analyse the conversational interactions between the subject and the interlocutor during joint comprehension activities. This case study draws on Searle's (1975) framework, under which the speech acts are described alongside perlocutionary actions which are analysed through discourse analysis. The data of the case study was collected through audio/video recordings, and triangulated with observations during the joint comprehension activities, as well as interviews with the parents and teacher. The definitions and classifications of the disorder were reviewed from the first description by Kanner (1943) and the Theory of Mind (Leslie, 1987) interpretation of the core impairments in Autism, to the current 5th Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V, 2013) classifications. Many patterns of communication arose from the use of the directive speech acts which impede and support interaction. Findings also revealed that specific communication skills used by the special needs facilitator have implications for communication in English where meaningful interactions can be formed with the Autistic child. This could help to create awareness among educators in designing special needs learning materials, especially in Malaysia.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in general, possess selective eating habits and sensory sensitivity that predispose them to the risk of poor nutritional status. Nutritional status of children is important for optimal physical and cognitive development and reduction of the risk of chronic diseases in the future. Given the limited information on the body weight status and nutrient intake of Malaysian children with ASD, this study, therefore, assessed the body weight status and dietary intake of children with ASD in an autism intervention centre in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 224 children with ASD aged 3–7 years (82.6% boys and 17.4% girls) and their mothers participated in this study. Mothers completed a self-administered questionnaire on the sociodemographic background and recorded a 3-day food diary of their children with ASD at home. The researcher measured body weight and height of the children with ASD in the centre. The prevalence rates of underweight, stunting, wasting/thinness, and overweight/obesity were 9.3%, 8.0%, 4.0%, and 21.5%, respectively. Total energy and protein intakes were adequate for most of the children with ASD but calorie from fat was higher than the recommendation. A majority of the children with ASD in this study did not meet the RNI requirements for fibre (99.6%), thiamine (67.4%), vitamin C (50.9%), vitamin D (98.2%), vitamin E (74.6%), vitamin B12 (64.3%), folate (88.8%), calcium (90.2%) and zinc (77.2%). More girls showed inadequate intakes of vitamin C, niacin and vitamin B12 than boys. Children with ASD in this study showed poor body weight status and inadequate intake of several essential nutrients. Nutritional intervention programmes in improving nutrient adequacy and regular anthropometric measurements are recommended to be carried out in order to improve nutritional status of children with ASD.

Parenting programs often train parents in improving their parenting practices and parent-child relationship to reduce behavioral problems in children. However, the children’s prosocial behaviors are less examined as an intervention outcome in these programs. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Incredible Years parenting program (IYPP) for Malaysian parents of school-going children and its sustainability in improving the children’s prosocial behaviors. This randomized controlled study involved pre- and post-intervention assessments at 2 and 14 weeks. Mothers of children aged 6-12 years (n = 70) recruited through the pediatrics and the child and adolescent psychiatric clinics were randomly assigned to the parenting program or a waitlist control condition. The mothers rated their children’s prosocial behaviors using a self-administered questionnaire. The program ran two to three hours weekly for 14 weeks. Several modifications were made to the program to accommodate public health control during the pandemic. Children in the intervention group showed a notable but non-significant increase in prosocial skills. However, subsequent score decline at follow-up may suggest a lack of evidence that the program is potentially effective in improving prosocial behaviors among school children who are at risk of or already having behavioral problems.

Introduction: There is a strong body of evidence advocating parent training programmes in the management of behavioral problems in children. In these programmes, attrition is a major challenge. We aimed to examine the sociodemographic and clinical profiles, parental motivation, and pre-intervention severity of children’s behavioural problems as rated by mothers who completed (PC) and mothers who dropped out (PD) of a parent training programme. We also aimed to determine whether there was any change in their children’s behaviour scores before and after intervention. We hypothesized that parent and child sociodemographic and clinical profiles, parental motivation, and pre-intervention severity of children’s behavioural problems would be different between PC and PD, and that children of PC would experience significant improvements in their behaviour. Methods: Data from a randomised controlled trial (RCT) involving 35 mothers and children aged 6–12 years old with behavioural problems who were enrolled in a parent training programme were examined. Child behaviour was measured using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results: No significant differences were found between PC and PD in terms of the sociodemographic and clinical profiles, parental motivation, and pre- or post-intervention child behaviour. After programme completion, PC (n=27) reported improvements in all the behaviour subscales; total difficulties (p<0.001), emotional problem (p=0.004), conduct problem (p=0.001), hyperactivity symptoms (p<0.001), peer problems (p=0.036), and prosocial behaviour (p=0.001). Conclusion: The parent training programme produces significant child behaviour improvements in mothers who complete the programme. Nonetheless, the study has some limitations which restrict the generalizability of these findings.

Background Migrant children and adolescents face a significantly increased risk of mental health issues. Focusing on this population’s mental health issues is fundamental and requires more attention to detect and reduce these burdens in adulthood. Nevertheless, life skills intervention can improve mental health. Its effects on Arab migrant adolescents have not been tested. Here, an evaluation protocol of the effect of an online life skills-based intervention for improving depression, anxiety, stress, self-efficacy, and coping skills among Arab adolescents in Malaysia will be examined. Material and methods This cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) will involve 207 Arab students (14–18 years old) from 12 Arabic schools in the Klang Valley. The schools will be assigned randomly to an intervention (online life skills programme) or control group at a 1:1 ratio. The researcher will deliver eight one-hour sessions to the intervention group weekly. The control group will receive the intervention at the evaluation end. Both groups will complete assessments at baseline, and immediately and three months after the intervention. The primary outcome is anxiety, depression, and stress [Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21)]. The secondary outcomes are self-efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale) and coping skills (Brief COPE Inventory). Data analysis will involve the Generalised Estimation Equation with a 95% confidence interval. P < .05 will indicate significant inter- and intra-group differences. Discussion This will be the first cluster RCT of an online life skills education programme involving Arab adolescent migrants in Malaysia. The results could support programme effectiveness for improving the participants’ mental health problems (depression, anxiety, stress), increasing their self-efficacy, and enhancing their coping skills. The evidence could transform approaches for ameliorating migrant children and adolescents’ mental well-being.

Children and adolescents are at a significantly high risk of mental health problems during their lifetime, among which are depression and anxiety, which are the most common. Life skills education is one of the intervention programmes designed to improve mental wellbeing and strengthen their ability to cope with the daily stresses of life. This review aimed to identify and evaluate the effect of life skills intervention on the reduction of depression, anxiety and stress among children and adolescents. Following the Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome (PICO) model and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2009 checklist, eight databases (Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, Cochrane, MEDLINE, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) were systematically reviewed from 2012 to 2020. The search was limited to English papers only. It included published experimental and quasi-experimental studies addressing the effect of life skills interventions on the reduction of at least one of the following mental health disorders: depression, anxiety and stress among children and adolescents (from the age of 5 years old to 18 years old). We used the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for experimental and quasi-experimental studies to evaluate the quality of the included studies. This study was registered in PROSPERO [CRD42021256603]. The search identified only 10 studies (three experimental and seven quasi-experimental) from 2,160 articles. The number of the participants was 6,714 aged between 10 years old and 19 years old. Three studies in this review focused on depression and anxiety, whereas one study investigated depression and the other anxiety. Three studies targeted only stress and two examined the three outcomes, namely, depression, anxiety and stress. Almost in all studies, the life skills intervention positively impacted mental disorders, considering the differences among males and females. The overall methodological quality of the findings was deemed to be moderate to high. Our results clearly indicated the advantages of life skills programmes among adolescents in different settings and contexts. Nonetheless, the results highlight some important policy implications by emphasising the crucial roles of developers and policymakers in the implementation of appropriate modules and activities. Further research examining life skills intervention with a cultural, gender perspective, age-appropriate and longterm effect is recommended.

Although parenting programs have been supported as an effective family-based intervention for children’s behavioral problems, they are underutilized in developing countries. This randomized controlled study aims to determine the effectiveness of the Incredible Years parenting program (IYPP) in improving behavioral problems in children, parenting stress, and parental mental health. Seventy mother–child dyads from three tertiary hospitals in Malaysia were divided into the IYPP and waitlist control groups. Weekly parent training sessions were adjusted during the pandemic period. Child’s total difficulty scores of the Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ-TDS), Parental Stress Scale (PSS) scores, and parental DASS-21 scores were measured at pre- and post-intervention, and follow-up, and analyzed using generalized estimating equation (GEE). Compared to the control group at baseline, the intervention group showed a 4.2- and a 3.5-point significantly lower SDQ-TDS at 2 weeks post-intervention and 3 months follow-up, respectively (B = -4.20, 95 % CI: −6.68, −1.72, p = 0.001; B = -3.51, 95 % CI:-6.37, −0.66, p = 0.016), a 5.0-point significantly lower PSS at 3 months follow-up (B = -5.03, 95 % CI: −9.16, −0.90, p = 0.017), and a 4.1-point significantly lower general stress scores at 2 weeks post-intervention (B = -4.06, 95 % CI: −7.20, −0.92, p = 0.011). Effect sizes were small (ds = 0.28–0.40). There was no significant intervention effect on maternal anxiety and depression scores. The modified parenting program was effective in improving children’s behavior, parenting stress, and general stress among mothers of children aged 6–12 years presented with borderline and abnormal levels of behavioral problems, with sustained effects demonstrated for child behavior. However, the interpretation of these findings requires careful consideration of potential pandemic-instigated challenges and implications.

Background: Lengthy instruments for assessing personality traits may not be applicable in certain research settings. In situations where time is scarce, a briefer measurement is preferable. However, the reliability of a briefer measurement of the Big Five Inventory (BFI) among firefighters in Malaysia has not been reported. This study aimed to investigate the reliability and model fit of the Malay version of the BFI with 13 items (BFI-13) and 10 items (BFI-10) among Malaysian firefighters. Methods: A cross-sectional study using cluster sampling was conducted in a state in Malaysia. Each respondent completed BFI-10 and BFI-13 using an online survey with a 1-month interval between each response. Reliability testing was evaluated using internal consistency and a 2-week interval test-retest. The model fit of these two BFI questionnaires was evaluated via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results: A total of 124 firefighters participated in the study, with a zero-dropout rate. The Malay version of BFI-13 exhibited higher reliability by displaying good internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.919, 0.838, 0.871 and 0.896 for the domains conscientiousness, neuroticism, agreeableness and extraversion, respectively, and acceptable test-retest reliability with moderate to good intraclass correlation (0.588–0.806). The CFA model also indicated that BFI-13 has a better model fit (comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.993; Tucker-Lewis index [TLI] = 0.991; standardised root mean squared residual [SRMR] = 0.029; root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.035). Conclusion: The Malay version of BFI-13 is reliable and applicable enough to be supplementarily used in surveys among Malaysian firefighters. By using a brief personality assessment, it will reduce the cognitive and emotional burden on respondents.

This qualitative study aimed to investigate knowledge, perspectives, and priorities related to self-care among Iranian adolescents. Through snowball sampling, the link to the questionnaire was shared in available social media apps. The results showed that 192 of 294 participants reported that they had heard about “self-care”. Parents/family and school were the most frequent sources of learning about self-care among the male and female respondents, respectively. Analyzing the participants’ statements regarding their own understanding of self-care activities, three major terms—“taking care of”, “avoid”, and “respect” were identified. When being ask about what they do for their own self-care, the results showed spending time on the Internet had the highest repetition rate among boys’ responses, followed by “going to gym”, “video games”, and “listening to music”. Regarding the desired activities, both girls’ and boys’ statements indicated that among leisure activities, “traveling” was the most frequent word, followed by being with friends. The girls showed more interest in attending night clubs or spending time outside the home late at night. Insights from this study identifying preferences in self-care activities can be used to develop intervention programs for Iranian adolescents to improve their lifestyle and, consequently, their well-being based on their needs and situation.

Atypical eating behaviors displayed by children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) predispose them to unhealthy weight gain. We determined the factors associated with body weight status among 261 children with ASD (3–18 years) at nine autism intervention centers. Their mothers completed a self-administered questionnaire on sociodemographic background, parenting style, parental feeding practices, parenting stress, sleep habits, eating behaviors, and autism severity. Children with older age, non-full term gestational age, high maternal perceived weight, high maternal concern about child weight, and low pressure to eat were more likely to be overweight and obese. Obesity is a major concern among children with ASD. Healthy weight management programs for parents should incorporate appropriate feeding practices and a healthy perception of body weight.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and the associated factors among 632 adolescents (age range: 13-17 years, Mage = 14.47, SD = 1.32) staying in sheltered homes in Malaysia. The Malay versions of the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were applied. The overall prevalence of mild to severe depression and anxiety in this study was 70.9% and 82.3% respectively, with 64.1% for comorbidity of both symptoms. Specifically, the prevalence rates of minimal, mild, moderate, and severe depressive symptoms were 29.1%, 38.4%, 22.4%, and 10.1% respectively whereas the prevalence rates of minimal, mild, moderate, and severe anxiety symptoms were 17.7%, 27.7%, 33.2%, and 21.4% respectively. The severity of negative automatic thoughts increased with the severity of depression and anxiety. Age, anxiety, negative automatic thoughts, and self-esteem were significantly associated with depression while depression, negative automatic thought, and anger were significantly associated with anxiety. The high rates of depression and anxiety among adolescents residing in the sheltered homes indicate the need to identify these at-risk populations and provide trained personnel who can deliver psychiatric and psychological services at sheltered homes. © Universiti Putra Malaysia Press.

The spread of COVID-19 and its subsequent social distancing measures carried a significant psychological burden on many parents worldwide. This study was done to determine the prevalence and factors associated with psychological distress experienced by mothers of children with emotional and behavioral problems (EBP) during the lockdown period in Malaysia. An online survey using purposive sampling technique was conducted. Psychological distress was determined by DASS-21 scores. Prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms among mothers of children with EBP during the pandemic in Malaysia was 36.4%, 43.6%, and 30.9%, respectively. Mothers with a total monthly income of ≤ RM 999 were 25 times more likely to have stress symptoms (OR = 25.275, 95% CI = 1.17 – 547.41) and ten times more likely to have depressive symptoms (OR = 10.289, 95% CI = 1.17 – 90.88). Mothers with lower incomes are more psychologically vulnerable to the pandemic impact.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Malay version of the Beck Youth Inventories-Second Edition (BYI-2 Malay) in a sample of adolescents living in the nongovernment-run sheltered homes. In this study, 300 adolescents completed the BYI-2 Malay, the Beck Depression Inventory-Malay (BDI-Malay), the Beck Anxiety Inventory-Malay (BAI-Malay), the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-Malay (ATQ-Malay), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale-Malay (RSES-Malay). The internal consistency estimates for the BYI-2 Malay scales, as measured by Cronbach’s alpha, were excellent: .86 for self-concept, .89 for anxiety, .92 for depression, .92 for anger, and .92 for disruptive behaviours. The five-factor model of the BYI-2 Malay (i.e., Self-Concept, Anxiety, Depression, Anger, and Disruptive Behaviour) showed a good fit to the data. Evidence for concurrent validity was established between the BYI-2 Malay Self-Concept scale and the RSES-Malay (r = .41), between the BYI-2 Malay Anxiety scale and the BAI-Malay (r = .60), and between the BYI-2 Malay Depression scale and the BDI-Malay (r = .69). The evidence for convergent validity was established between the BYI-2 Malay Anger scale and the ATQ-Malay (r = .71), and between BYI- 2 Malay Disruptive Behaviour scale and the ATQ Malay (r =.52). The present findings shed light on the utility of the BYI-2 Malay in aiding clinicians as well as therapists for identifying multiple symptoms of social and emotional problems in adolescents.

The literature suggests that some children at increased risk of parentification, which includes children of chronically ill or substance-misusing parents and children of divorced or migrant parents. Despite the necessity for some children to assume adult roles, parentification is potentially harmful. This paper aims to: (i) investigate the parentification concept and outcomes and (ii) summarize the components that render parentification adaptive in children. Articles were retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, Dimensions AI, Google Scholar, and reference list tracking using the keywords “parentification” and “parentification AND children”. A critical review was performed with a narrative approach to synthesize the 61 included studies to determine the existing knowledge and identify research priorities within the field of parentification. The findings were reported based on the Literature Review Synthesis Process and the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA). The experience of parentification could be adaptive and empowering for children. The potential components of adaptive parentification included emotional support, supportive and positive relationships with siblings and grandparents, parents openly delegating the roles to each child, having age-appropriate roles, parental support and validation, and children’s positive appraisal and perception of the role-taking.

The clinical presentation symptoms among psychiatric pediatric patients often illustrate the characteristic psychotic features of traumatized children. Cases may go underdiagnosed, misdirected, or commonly treated inappropriately. Clinical studies have conclusively shown an obvious link between childhood trauma and the emergence of symptoms. Transient dissociative episodes are common and normative phenomena during childhood. We reported a case of an 8-year-old boy, who presented with a 5-day history of hallucinatory behavior. He was causing significant nuisances, sudden onset of shouting aggressively, and behavioral changes, associated with neuropsychiatric presentation such as repetitive irregular movement involving his head, neck, and upper limb. There was an asynchrony of symptoms exhibited which were unexplained by clinical semiology or patterns. He was screaming in fear, talking irrelevantly, and acting suspiciously. This was his first presentation to the hospital and no features to suggest organicity. There was no family history of mental illness. No substances, or alcohol and drug usage Serial investigation turned out to be normal and unremarkable. The episodes get frequent whenever parents or hospital staff give more attention toward him. He was given a low dose of antipsychotics, but no obvious rapid changes were observed afterward. Further exploration noted, his parents reported that the patient had been very worked up with past related trauma at school and constantly talking about it. He was afraid, distressed, and anxious as he felt something bad would happen to him. There were significant issues related to attachment figures in this boy, possibly the absent parenting style. He spent most of time playing online games and was preoccupied with them on a daily basis.