IIUM Journal of Human Sciences (IJOHS)
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A The Role of Parenting Behaviour and Social Support on The Relationship Between Parenting Stress and Behavioural Outcomes of Autistic Children
No full textRaising a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is challenging as the parents face many difficulties. In relation to this, parents with ASD children often experience more parenting stress than parents with typically developing children and other developmental disabilities. Studies have reported that parenting stress influences child behaviour problems; however, there is inconsistent research findings on the relationship. This is mainly due to the role of third variables (i.e., parenting behaviour and social support) that reveals variability in the research findings. Parenting behaviour in child rearing practices is closely linked with children behavioural outcomes. Research has suggested that negative parenting behaviour is associated with children behavioural problems and most parents act harshly towards their children when there are under stress. This implies that negative parenting behaviour mediates the relationship between parenting stress and children behavioural problems. However, there are also situations where parents with autistic children who experience stress do not practise negative parenting behaviour, in particular those who receive social support. This entails that social support could moderate the negative influence of parenting stress on parental behaviour. There is only a handful of studies that have been conducted on the role of third variables in the parent-autistic child relationship outside the Western context. Thus, there is a need to conduct more research on the role of third variables in non-Western populations, particularly in the Malaysian context. This paper aims to propose an empirical conceptual framework that investigates the role of parenting behaviour in mediating the relationship between parenting stress and autistic children’s behavioural problems and the moderating role of social support in mitigating the effect of parenting stress on parenting behaviour in the Malaysian context
Liberalism Philosophy Influence in Islamic Social Movements in Malaysia
Get PDFThis article focuses on the early development of evolution and the development of liberalism specifically in Malaysia since it was brought by the western colonists to form a social movement in Malaysia. The objective of this article is to see how liberalism progresses in influencing a liberal Islamic movement in Malaysia. The philosophy of liberalism in Malaysia is not a new issue, but a philosophy that has long existed among the Malaysian Muslim community. This article uses the method of historical analysis to look at the development of the philosophy of liberalism to highlight the impact of the evolution of liberalism in Malaysia. This writing found that the philosophy of liberalism has been seen as having an evolution among the community in Malaysia since it was first brought by the colonialists to form a social movement in Malaysia which is referred to as the liberal Islamic movement. In fact, supporters of liberalism are increasingly highlighting the philosophy of liberalism, especially through the liberal Islamic movement and in the name of human rights. Although the philosophy of liberalism has existed in the middle of society in areas of life such as economics, politics, culture, law and administration in Malaysia. This article found that the development and dissemination of the philosophy of liberalism can lead to threats in the society if there are no social control of various new ideology in Malaysia
A SWOT Analysis on the Concept of Spirituality among Muslim Support Staff in a Faith-Based Higher Learning Institution in Malaysia
Get PDFSpirituality and religion are two different concepts that are closely related to one another. For its strategic planning, the organisation under study (a faith-based higher learning institution) needs to conduct a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis related to the concept of spirituality. Therefore, a hermeneutic research design was used to identify the institution’s Muslim support staff’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Purposive sampling was used to recruit eight participants who were Muslim full-time support staff currently working at the institution. Data were collected via a focus group discussion through the Google Meet platform. The findings revealed strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats at both theoretical and practical levels. Although all participants agreed that spirituality is an innate human nature expressed via good deeds, it is still difficult for them to differentiate between spirituality and religion. In terms of opportunities, spirituality becomes the institution’s branding as a faith-based organisation, and this organisation conducted many spiritual-based programmes and community service activities. However, the financial constraints, generational gap, and organisational change might threaten the practice of spirituality in the organisation. The findings serve as an essential basis and guideline for the organisation to develop interventions related to spirituality. Some limitations and recommendations for future research were also discussed
Understanding Teenage Pregnancy Out of Wedlock within the Structure of the Malay Family
Get PDFThis paper discusses family as a risk factor in teenage pregnancy out of wedlock in the Muslim Malay community in Malaysia. Using a qualitative approach, this case study conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with thirty Muslim Malay teenagers who experienced illegal pregnancy. The research took place in two organizations operating as rehabilitation centres to assist the girls overcome the traumatic experience and lead more productive life in the future. Collected data were transcribed and analysed by thematic analysis method. The findings showed that poor parent-daughter relationship contributed to the occurrence of teenage pregnancy. Parents were physically and emotionally separated from their daughters because of busy work life, fighting, divorce or negligence. It was also found out that parents lacked Islamic knowledge and practice that they did not treat or upbring their daughters according to the Islamic values and principles. Funded by the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS), this study seeks to design and implement a social framework to understand the roots of this problem and create effective solutions. It is the first output focusing on one of the factors causing teenage pregnancy. The whole research project will be documented in a book elaborating on other factors and reflecting on the impact of this social problem on the Muslim Malay community and Malaysian society as a whole. The book will also present rational and systematic control mechanisms to minimize this social illness
A Potential Role of Physical Activity Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Study Protocol
Get PDFChildren with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) commonly have difficulties with executive function abilities and motor skills that might complicate their learning. Literatures have shown on the possible role of physical activity to intervene the effects on the executive functions and motor skills. The present study is proposed to examine the executive functions (EF) and motor skills (MS) of children with ASD, and the possible role of physical activity intervention to affect the EF and MS of children with ASD. The relevant domains of EF which include working memory, planning, inhibition and cognitive flexibility will be examined and compared between children with ASD who receive the physical activity intervention and those who do not. In addition, differences in gross motor skills will be compared between children with ASD who receive the physical activity intervention and those who do not. The data will be collected from children with ASD from the Department of Special Education under Ministry of Education Malaysia and Special Needs NGO centres in Selangor and Klang Valley, Malaysia (N=60). The children with the age range of 6-10 years old, bilingual in English and Malay and able to participate in physical activity or physical education class age range 6-10 years old will be targeted. All participants will be randomly and equally assigned into an experimental and a control group. The pre-intervention scores of executive functions will be obtained for both groups based on the Colour-Word Interference Test, Tower of Hanoi task and Number-Letter Sequencing Test. The scores of gross motor skills will be obtained from the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2). Then, the children in the experimental group will receive the physical activity intervention which is 15-20 minutes of jogging that will be conducted twice a week for a 12 weeks period. Meanwhile, the children in the control group will be shown an exercise-related video for the same duration. After 12 weeks, the post-intervention scores for the executive functions and motor skills will be recorded again for both groups. Statistical analyses testing the effect of physical activity on EF will be conducted separately by using a 2 (Group: experimental vs control) x2 (time: pre-test vs post- test) mixed ANOVA and testing the effect of physical activity on MS will be conducted by using a 2 (Group: experimental vs control) x2 (time: pre-test vs post- test) mixed ANOVA as well. It is expected that children with ASD who undergo physical activity intervention will demonstrate significant increase in the executive function scores and motor skills scores compared to those who do not undergo the physical activity intervention. The study is expected to add to the current literatures on understanding the potential role of physical activity intervention for children with ASD in improving their executive function and gross motor skills and mechanisms to optimise their learning experience.
Keywords: Executive function, motor skills, physical activity intervention, ASD, children
Religious Beliefs as Coping Strategies: Exploring the Conceptualisation of Hope in Islam
Get PDFHopelessness tends to correlate with suicidal behaviours. Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) has been claimed to have a good predictive value in predicting suicidality. However, the low rate of suicide in most Muslim nations as compared to non-Muslim nation indicates hopefulness may be a better variable to explain the low rate of suicidality among Muslims. As the BHS lacks this element of hopefulness, especially in integrating the role of religious beliefs as the source of hope to Muslims, the current paper proposes an initiative for BHS to be used in predicting suicidality among Muslims by exploring Quranic verses related to hopefulness. These verses are believed to be the source of strength, comfort and hope for Muslims in facing life difficulties and indirectly predicting the low suicide rate among Muslims
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) as Main Intervention for Autistic Children
Get PDFThis article reviews Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) as one of the best intervention tools for children with an autism spectrum disorder. This intervention is highly suitable for implementing parents with children in the spectrum. In this article, we defined ABA as an intervention that ABA applies the basic principles of behaviours to teach wanted behaviours and remove unwanted behaviours. This article provides some examples of ABA practices that the parents can do at home. ABA helps improve different aspects of children development. Parents who conduct ABA at home, combined with a one-on-one session with a therapist, will provide the children with the best possible outcome for their product. Suggestions on ways to look for therapy centres and ABA centres contact details are also provided in this article
The Role of Social Support and Spirituality with Subjective Well-being in Husbands/Wives of Healthcare Workers During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Get PDFHusband/wife of healthcare workers experienced a lot of negative emotions which result in a decrease in subjective well-being (SWB) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research aims to analyze the relationship between social support and spirituality simultaneously and partially with SWB on the husband/wife of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine the effective contribution of social support and spirituality simultaneously and partially to SWB. Using Purposive Sampling, this research involved 384 respondents (55.6% husbands and 44.4% wives) of healthcare workers who work in healthcare facilities and live in the Solo Raya area. Data analysis used the moderating variable regression test with the sub-group method. The result showed that social support and spirituality simultaneously have a role in increasing the SWB of all respondents (husbands and wives) of healthcare workers (p=0.000). Simultaneously, social support and spirituality have a role in increasing SWB for both husbands (p=0.000) or wives (p=0.000) of healthcare workers. Partially, social support has a positive role in increasing the wife’s SWB (p=0.000), but not for husbands (p=0.172). Partially, spirituality has a positive role in increasing the SWB of husbands (p=0.007) or wives (p=0.001) of healthcare workers. Based on the contribution both simultaneously and partially, the female partners of healthcare workers have a higher SWB than the male partners. This research implies that efforts to improve SWB need support from the environment and an increase in spiritual values. Future researchers are expected to be more concerned about data collection procedures and pay more attention to cultural aspects
Strength-Based Parenting Scale Adaptation and Validation for Adolescents in Eastern Culture: Strength-Based Parenting Scale Adaptation
No full textParenting has long been identified as a potential factor that affects children and adolescents' ability to cope with stress. Strength-based parenting is a parenting approach that strives to develop and nurture children's positive states, processes, and qualities. This paper presents the adaptation and validation of the Strength-Based Parenting scale for Adolescents in eastern culture. Two studies were conducted for this paper. The first study consisted of the translation process and a pilot study. The translation process used a back-translation process and followed WHO guidelines for scale adaptation. It was then piloted to 150 adolescents. The second study involved 582 adolescents in calculating the reliability and validity of the adapted scale. Cronbach's alpha is used to confirm scale reliability, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis is conducted to confirm the validity of the adapted scale. Findings of the first study found that in the pilot stage, the adapted scale had a value of Cronbach alpha α= 0.94, 95% [CI = 0.922, 0.951]. Meanwhile in the second study, with a larger number of participants, the Cronbach value was α= 0.94, 95% [CI = 0.935, 0.948]. The EFA test found two factors, the same as the original SBP scale. Statistical analysis of the Strength-Based Parenting scale that has been adapted and validated shows a good fit. It is appropriate for measuring adolescents in eastern cultures, including Indonesian and Malay
Initial Construction and Validation of the Islamic Gratitude (I-Gratitude) Scale
Get PDFGratitude represents a general state of appreciation and is considered the root of most religious traditions. Islam views gratitude as a way Muslims relate to their Creator by appreciating His assistance. Literature founds that many scales measuring gratitude were constructed without the integration of Shukr (i.e., Islamic concept of gratitude), or limit the constructed items on gratitude between human being and Allah alone, and some lacks it empirical psychometric evidence. a Due to this reason, we aim to construct a scale that follows a more comprehensive conceptualization of gratitude encompasses different domains of Muslim’s life. The current study discusses the processes of Islamic gratitude scale construction and its initial validation. The scale aims to measure Muslims’ level of gratitude (Shukr) conceptualized into three domains: Gratitude by Heart, Gratitude by Verbal, and Gratitude by Action. Thirty initial items were constructed, and ten subject matter experts (SMEs) were approached for their professional insights on the necessity of each item. Content Validity Ratio (CVR) was used to decide which item to retain in the scale. Based on the SMEs’ feedback, the number of items was reduced to 26.A test tryout was conducted on 183 participants for a preliminary analysis on the scale’s psychometric properties. Factorial analysis revealed a four-factor structure with internal consistency of .85. Further discussion on the scale’s usefulness, limitations, and future recommendations are also included