Abstracts for the 15th International Conference on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (ICCAP 2023), Kuching, Sarawak (on Borneo Island), August 7 – 9, 2023
Guest Editor:
Cecilia A Essau, HBA, MA, PhD, Habilitation, SFHEA, CPsychol, FBPsS
Chair, Organizing and Scientifi c Committees of the ICCAP2023
Sleep Diary and Actigraphy-Based Assessment of Sleep Quality and Physical Activity in Young Adults
Fatanah Ramlee, Hazalizah Hamzah, Asma Perveen, Syaza Hazwani Zaini, Nor Fadila Kasim, & Vanida Tian
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, MALAYSIA
Background: Previous cross-sectional and qualitative studies have suggested that physical activity is associated with improved sleep, however studies have predominantly relied on self-report measures and have not accounted for within person variability.
Aims: The aim of this micro-longitudinal study was to investigate the within-person link between physical activity and both subjectively and objectively measured sleep in a sample of healthy young adults.
Methods: 112 participants (81% female; mean age = 22 years old) were trained to monitor and record their physical activity and sleep in their natural sleeping and living environment for seven days. Participants were asked to wear actigraphy (Philips Actiwatch 2) and complete a self-reported sleep diary. Sleep diary and actigraphy provided a subjective and objective index of sleep parameters (i.e., sleep quality, total sleep time, sleep efficiency). The actigraphy also provided a mean of physical activity scores. They were also asked to complete a set of questionnaires assessing their demographic information. Multilevel modelling was used to explore the within-person effects of physical activity on sleep, and vice versa, that considered the variations in relationships at the “day” and “participant” level.
Results: Findings indicated the presence of bidirectional and temporal relationship between sleep and physical activity in healthy young adults. Within a participant higher physical activity during the day was associated with better sleep on the subsequent night.
Conclusions: The results support the feasibility of using sleep diary and actigraphy to measure sleep and physical activity in young adults. The methodological implication and future studies are also discussed.
Relationship Between Mood, Physical Activity, and Sleep Quality: Ecological Momentary Assessment Study Among Young Adults
Vanida Tian, Fatanah Ramlee, Hazalizah Hamzah, Asma Perveen, Nor Fadila Kasim, & Syaza Hazwani Zaini
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia
Background: Mood disturbances and physical inactivity, among other factors, are often associated with poor sleep quality. High prevalence of poor sleep quality among young adults in Malaysia, specifically undergraduate students, is concerning as it can affect their achievements and daily functioning.
Aims: Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the within-subject temporal association of mood and overall level of daytime physical activity affecting sleep quality on the subsequent night.
Methods: The study adopted within-subject daily process study where 112 participants (81.3% female, mean age=21.91 years) monitored and recorded their mood, physical activity, and sleep in their natural living environment for a week. Actigraphy was used to record participants’ daily physical activity and night sleep. Mood diary and sleep diary were used to record self-reported mood and sleep subsequently. Participants also completed a set of questionnaires assessing their demographic information, physical activity level, insomnia severity, and sleep quality. The 784 observations were analysed using multilevel modelling to examine the effects of mood and physical activity on subsequent night sleep quality.
Results: Results indicated that higher physical activity level was a significant predictor of better subsequent night sleep quality. On the other hand, there was no association between mood disturbances and subsequent night sleep quality.
Conclusions: The findings highlighted the importance of physical activity in promoting good sleep quality and contradicted the assumed association between mood and sleep quality. Future studies should explore the effects of mood on sleep in a clinically diagnosed individual.
Exploring Children’s Perception of Sleep and Sleep Habits
Amirah Munawwarah Badruzzaman, Fatanah Ramlee, & Nor Mashitah Mohd Radzi
Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia
Background: Sleep plays a vital role in children’s growth, development and psychological well-being. Children start to understand about their world and what is happening around them as they begin to use primitive reasoning at the age of 4-7 years old. However, relatively little is known about how pre-school children perceive their sleep and sleep habits.
Aims: This qualitative study aimed to explore children’s perception of sleep and sleep habits.
Methods: In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted among twelve children at a pre-school in Perak. Children aged 5-6 years old that were generally healthy and in typical development were recruited and interviewed about their sleep and sleep habit. Thematic analysis was performed on the interview transcripts accordance with Braun and Clark’s (2006) guidelines. ATLAS.Ti was utilised to organise transcripts and to manage the codes and themes.
Results: Four themes emerged from the analysis of the transcripts on perception of sleep and sleep habits which are (i) nature of sleep, (ii) sleep disturbance, (iii) bedtime routine, and (iv) sleeping environment.
Conclusions: Overall, the findings show the perception of sleep among children have been established at the age of five and six years old. The findings could help the parents to manage their child’s sleep and enhance children understanding of a good sleep. Possibly, sleep education can be introduced to children at the preschool age.
Association Between High Energy Dense Food Intake and Physical Activity Level Among Malaysian Female Adolescents
Siti Sabariah Buhari1, Aini Areesha Badrol Hisham1, Siti Sarah Mohd Nawi2, Kartini Ilias1, & Nur Azma Amin2
1Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
2Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Background: High consumption of high energy-dense (HED) foods among adolescents has turned into a global concern due to its negative impact on health.
Aims: This cross-sectional study was carried out to determine Malaysian adolescents’ high energy-dense food consumption and its association with physical activity.
Methods: HED food intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire adapted from the Malaysian Adolescent Nutrition Survey 2017 while physical activity level was assessed using physical activity questionnaire for adolescents (PAQ-A).
Results: 249 male and 348 female adolescents aged 13 to 17 years old in Peninsular Malaysia were involved in this study. The mean daily consumption of HED foods among male adolescents was 981.5+1125.8 g and for female adolescents was 893.15±1077.34 g. There was a significant difference in HED food consumption between the different ethnicities, regions and fathers’ education levels. The linear regression results revealed that younger age (ß = -0.145, p = 0.007) and lower fathers’ education level (ß = -0.129, p = 0.045) were associated with higher HED consumption. There was no association between physical activity level with the intake of HED food.
Conclusion: The majority of adolescents consumed a high amount of HED foods with a low level of physical activity. Therefore, promoting a healthy lifestyle with healthy food consumption and regular physical activity may help to reduce the excessive consumption of high-energy-dense foods among adolescents in Malaysia.
The Influence of Parenting Style of Working Mothers Towards Child Temperament in Sabah: Child Sleep Habit as Mediator
Suwaibah Binti Zakaria & Nur Farhana Ardillah Aftar
Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia
Background: Previous results show that parenting style of working mothers and child sleep habits play a role in influencing child temperament. However, inconsistent findings induced questions on how far maternal parenting style, child sleep habits and temperament interact with each other. Hence, further research about the role of child sleep habits as mediator in influencing child temperament is needed.
Aims: (1) To determine the direct effect of parenting style of working mothers towards child sleep habit and temperament and the effect of child sleep habit towards child temperament. (2) To determine child sleep habits as a mediator in the relationship between parenting style of working mothers towards child temperament. (3) To test the compatibility of the measurement model and the structural model with the study data.
Methods: This quantitative study was conducted with 350 married working mothers with children, aged 18 to 36 months in Sabah. These participants were recruited using stratified random sampling technique.
Results: Parenting style of working mothers has a significantly direct effect towards child sleep habits. Child’s sleep habit has a significant direct effect towards child temperament. Child sleep habits are found to mediate relationships between parenting styles of working mothers towards child temperament. The measurement model also found compatible with structural model. All predictors are found to contribute 65% variance of temperament construct.
Conclusions: Caregivers, teachers and child practitioners should take into consideration the parenting style of working mothers, child sleep habits, and temperament in order to optimize the development of children.
“How Do You Sleep at Night?” The Association Between Stressful Life Events, Sleep and Callous-Unemotional Traits
Sinead Morrison, Rachael Bedford, & Jennifer Allen
University of Bath, UK
Background: Callous-Unemotional (CU) traits are characterised by a lack of guilt, empathy, and concern for performance. These traits in young people are associated with more severe antisocial behaviour and predict psychopathic traits in adulthood. In adults, it has been suggested that CU traits may also be associated with enhanced resilience in some areas, e.g., lowered response to stress and therefore better-quality sleep. However, this has not been investigated yet in young people, where increased understanding of CU traits could guide more positive strength-based approaches to prevention and treatment.
Aims: This study aimed to investigate the association between Stressful Life Events (SLE), CU traits, and sleep. Specifically, whether SLE and sleep (duration, onset latency and awakenings) are longitudinally associated during adolescence, and whether CU traits moderate this association.
Methods: Secondary analysis of data from 8,261 participants from the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), a UK-based, national cohort study was carried out. Children self-reported on CU traits at age 11, and sleep at age 14. Parents reported on SLE at age 11.
Results: A greater number of SLE at age 11 was associated with shorter sleep duration, longer sleep onset latency and increased night awakenings at age 14. There was a significant interaction between SLE and CU traits on night awakenings.
Conclusions: SLE were associated with poorer sleep. CU traits moderated the relationship between SLE and night awakenings but not sleep duration or onset latency. Findings will be discussed with reference to theory and implications for clinical practice.
Multicomponent Interventions in Childhood Obesity Prevention: Insights from ToyBox Study Malaysia’s Transition to eToyBox
Bee Koon Poh1, Whye Lian Cheah2, Yi Ting Chong1, Yatiman Noor Hafizah1, Julia Lee2, Abd Talib Ruzita1, Denise Koh1, Sue Reeves3, Carolyn Summerbell4, Cecilia A. Essau3, & Leigh Gibson3,
1Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, MALAYSIA
2Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, MALAYSIA
3University of Roehampton, London, UK
4University of Durham, Durham, UK
Background: Childhood obesity rates are on the rise globally, making interventions for its prevention increasingly important. Given the multifactorial causes of childhood obesity, effective intervention programmes must be comprehensive and address both energy intake and expenditure. ToyBox Study Malaysia (TSM) is a multicomponent childhood obesity intervention programme aimed at promoting healthy energy balance behaviours among preschool children.
Aims: This presentation reports the implementation and expansion of TSM intervention into eToyBox, a digitized version of the programme that has been implemented on an online learning platform.
Methods: The TSM modules were adapted from European ToyBox-study, with materials translated and culturally tailored for the Malaysian context. TSM intervention was conducted in kindergartens in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Sarawak, and evaluated for feasibility and effectiveness. Development of eToyBox content was based on original TSM modules, which cover water drinking, healthy snacking, physical activity, and reduced sedentary behaviour. eToyBox was evaluated for usability, and its capability to increase preschool teachers’ self-efficacy in teaching nutrition to young children will be assessed.
Results: TSM intervention group demonstrated positive improvement in healthy energy balance behaviour, leading to subsequent enhancement of BMI status among the children. eToyBox was found to provide good user experience, with satisfactory design aesthetics, content arrangement, and functionality.
Conclusions: TSM has been successfully expanded through online innovation, enhancing its potential to promote healthy lifestyles among preschoolers and their families. This emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive approach that includes integrating technology into teaching and learning to address childhood obesity issues in Malaysia.
Reduced Stunting in Young Children Following a Multi-Component Kindergarten-Based Behavioural Intervention: ToyBox Study Malaysia
Leigh Gibson1, Bee Koon Poh2, Whye Lian Cheah3, Sue Reeves1, Denise Koh2, Julia Lee3, Abd Talib Ruzita2, Carolyn Summerbell4, & Cecilia A. Essau1,
1University of Roehampton, UK
2Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, MALAYSIA
3Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, MALAYSIA
4University of Durham, Durham, UK
Background: ToyBox Study Malaysia is a multi-component intervention to improve energy-balance behaviours in 3–6-year-old kindergarten children. Based on the European ToyBox-Study, the teacher-led intervention focused on improving four target behaviours: drinking water, eating healthily, reducing sedentary behaviour, and increasing physical activity.
Aims: To test the hypothesis that stunted children (standardised height for age, HAZ < -2.0) in the intervention group would show improved growth compared to those in the control group.
Methods: The intervention lasted 24 weeks, with 4-week periods focusing on each behaviour, then 2-week repetitions. Kindergartens were recruited via the Community Development Department (KEMAS), Malaysia, sampling from 3 states with different urbanisation and ethnicities: Kuala Lumpur/Selangor (n=10/5 intervention, 13/5 control), Sarawak (7 intervention, 8 control), with random allocation to group. Anthropometric outcomes were examined in 812 children who completed either the intervention (n=403) or control (n=409) conditions (dropout: 9%, 11%, respectively).
Results: Changes in standardised height for age (HAZ) were compared between groups in children with stunted growth at baseline (WHO: HAZ < 2; intervention n=48, control n=39). HAZ increased in the intervention group vs. control, interaction effect, p<0.05, 2-tail, partial η2=0.05, and also when adjusting for baseline HAZ (ANCOVA group effect, p=0.05, 2-tail, partial η2=0.04), post-intervention adjusted means, intervention HAZ = -2.0, SE=0.10; control HAZ = -2.30, SE=0.11.
Conclusions: ToyBox Study Malaysia can reduce stunted growth in young children, implying improved functional nutrition following the intervention.
The Influence of Body Image Perception on Eating Self-Regulation and Weight Status of Youth in Kuala Lumpur
Nor Adiani Mohd Hadzir, Noor Azimah Muhammad, & Nur Hana Hamzaid
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia
Background: Obesity continues to rise and nearly 1 in 3 of young people in Malaysia are overweight or obese. One of the underlying concepts in the management is the ability of them to self-regulate their eating behaviour.
Aims: This research aims to assess the relationship between body image, eating self-regulation and weight status.
Methods: This was a cross sectional study involving university students in Kuala Lumpur which was conducted between June to July 2022. Selected students were requested to answer an online questionnaire that includes the Stunkard Figure Rating Scale to capture body image dissatisfaction, Self-Regulation of Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, and self-declaration of weight and height.
Results: From 258 respondents, 34.1% of them were found to be overweight or obese. High proportion of the students were dissatisfied with their weight status [79.5%; males (89.9%) and females (74.9%)] with medium level of eating self-regulation [73.3%; males (73.4%) and females (73.2%)]. There was a positive correlation between weight status and body image (r=0.67, p-value <0.001) but there was no correlation between weigh status and eating self-regulation (r=-0.04, p-value=0.57) and between body image and eating self-regulation (r=-0.12, p-value=0.06). Eating self-regulation did not mediate the relationship between weight status and body image.
Conclusions: Overweight and obesity is an issue among the university students. Despite not being satisfied with their weight status, it did not change their self-regulating eating habit. Therefore, there is a need to explore further on the concept of body image and self-regulation among young people, in order to allow a better understanding and helping them to meet their ideal weight status.
Healthy Warrior Project Seberang Perai Tengah
Anuradha Thiagarajan 1, Ong May Ying2, Marshita Mohamed1, Carol Kirtana Anbarasan1, Nur Syafawani Bt Moktar 2, & Muhammad Hakim Bin Che Sab 3
1Klinik Kesihatan Bukit Minyak, Seberang Perai Tengah, MALAYSIA
2Klinik Kesihatan Seberang Jaya, Seberang Perai Tengah, MALAYSIA
3Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Perda, Seberang Perai Tengah, MALAYSIA
Background: Obesity in adolescents is an issue and more than 50% of them are practicing unhealthy lifestyle in which they are physically inactive and having high sugar intake.
Aims: This is a review of the impacts of a group therapy named Healthy Warrior Project on (1) creating the awareness among parents and adolescents on healthy lifestyle and (2) help building self-confidence of obese adolescents through social skills and resiliency trainings.
Methods: This project was conducted among school students in Seberang Perai Tengah. The inclusion criteria were (1) aged 12 years old and (2) morbidly obese based on growth chart. Both parents and adolescents received group therapy activities that focused on healthy lifestyles, effective exercise, and healthy eating. The adolescents also had sessions that aimed to improve their mental well-being and self-confidence.
Results: From 30 adolescents that stayed till the end of the program, 15 had successful weight loss, 10 adolescents remained highly motivated with successful behaviour changes and 5 adolescents with no lifestyle changes but were keen to change in the future. All parents were satisfied with their adolescents physical and mental changes, 10 parents felt their adolescents were empowered to change and 5 parents were happy to witness the boost in self confidence in their adolescents.
Conclusions: The Healthy Warrior Project was successful in improving the mental well-being of the adolescents with obesity and the improvement in the weight status towards ideal weight is promising. It is an epitome of success to all involved and motivate them to further continue their efforts.
The Effect of an Integrated Multidisciplinary Weight Management Clinic Intervention in Adolescent with Obesity: A University Healthcare Facility Experience
Nik Munirah Nik Nasir1,7, Mazapuspavina Md Yasin 1,7, Khasnur Abd Malek 1,7, Zahirah Tharek 1,7, Khairatul Nainey Kamaruddin 1,7, Mazlifah Omar 2,7, Hashbullah Ismail3, Noor Fatihah Ilias3, Mahenderan Appukutty3, Nazrul Hadi Ismail4, Sakinah Idris 5,7, Azlina Wati Nikmat 5,7, Che Zarina Ishak7, Fatimah Zaherah Mohamed Shah 6,7, Rohana Abdul Ghani 6,7 on behalf of the Weight Management Clinic Team HASA
1Primary Care Medicine Department, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, MALAYSIA
2Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, MALAYSIA
3Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, MALAYSIA
4Centre for Dietetics Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA, MALAYSIA
5Department of Psychiatry, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, MALAYSIA
6Department of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh, MALAYSIA
7Hospital Al Sultan Abdullah, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam, MALAYSIA
Background: Multidisciplinary team (MDT) intervention approach has been shown to improve health related outcomes in adolescents with obesity.
Aims: To review the effect of an integrated multidisciplinary (MDT) weight management clinic intervention among obese adolescents in a university health care facility.
Methods: We reviewed the records of 27 patients attending our weight management clinic aged 10-24 years old. Patients’ assessment include questionnaires for sociodemographic, clinical history, knowledge, attitude, and perception on obesity, 24-hour dietary recall, short international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), general health questionnaire (GHQ-12), physical examination, blood biochemistry and electrocardiogram. MDT consultations includes primary care physician, endocrinologist, rehabilitation physician, nutritionist/dietitian and clinical psychologist. Follow up intervals were at 2nd month, 3rd month, 5th month, 7th month, 9th month and 1 year. Data trends were analyzed using repeated measures analyses.
Results: Majority were male (63%), Malay (92.6%) and admitted that job influenced their food intake (43.8%). Mean weight at baseline was 114.96kg and BMI was 44.91kg/m2. There is significant reduction with mean difference for neck circumference (1.36, SD=+1.68) and body mass index (BMI) (1.27, SD=+1.47) at 3 months follow up (p < 0.05). There is good adherence (66%) to follow up within the first 3 months however there is gradual attrition thereafter.
Conclusions: There is positive improvement noted within the first 3 months of the clinic programme however additional support could be considered to improve adherence to follow up to ensure sustained outcomes.
Engaging Adolescents in Physical Activity: Challenges and Practical Implications
Puteri Shanaz Jahn Kassim1,2, Noor Azimah Muhammad2, Cecilia A. Essau3, Sherina Sidek4, & Shamsul Azhar Shah5,
1,2Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
2Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia
3University of Roehampton, UK
Background: Physical activity (PA) in adolescents is a significant investment in both their current well-being as well as future health and development across their lifespan. Despite the health benefits of physical activity, a large proportion of adolescents do not meet the recommended PA guidelines, which led to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in this age group leading to cardiometabolic consequences and future risk for developing a wide range of chronic diseases.
Aims: This review includes an update on adolescents’ current physical activity patterns, including known explanations for these patterns, as well as on methods for engaging adolescents in physical activity.
Methods: Studies that examined moderators and mediating factors known to foster and sustain physical activity participation in adolescents were reviewed. Studies were identified via electronic database searches and reference checks.
Results: Self-efficacy and parental support were the most common factors that moderate physical activity behaviour in adolescents. Self-efficacy also acts as a potential psychosocial mediator that promote physical activity in adolescents, along with competence, sense of ‘fun’ and autonomy.
Conclusions: These constructs have practical implications in understanding and enhancing physical activity in adolescents, as well as facilitating strategies in developing physical activity interventions in youth. Opportunities for fun experiences should be emphasized to empower youth in acquiring physical activity habits towards lifelong healthy behaviours.
Food Insecurity, Dietary Habits, and Mental Health of Children and Adolescents in the OxWell Study
Blossom Fernandes1,2, Simona Skripkauskaite1, Mina Fazel1, & the OxWell Study Team1,
1University of Oxford, UK
2London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
Background: Diet quality has been strongly associated with well-being, in particular mental health during childhood and adolescence. Research further shows that a poor diet is linked with difficulties in mental health for pre-adolescents, however, this is often associated with socio-economic status (SES).
Aims: The aim of the present study therefore is to examine the impact association of between food insecurity and its impact on mental health in children and adolescence. Moreover, the relationship of food insecurity to breakfast skipping and snack consumption will also be explored.
Methods: This a large dataset consisting of self-reports from children and adolescents between the ages of 11-18 years. This data was collected between the period of 2019-2021, and focuses on factors such as mental health, wellbeing and lifestyle. Participants from different schools in England completed these self-reports during school hours. We are expecting to use correlation analyses to observe any associations between items of breakfast skipping, food insecurity, school experience and mental health variables (WEMWBS and RCADTs).
Results: We expect to find that children reporting food insecurity are likely to report skipping breakfast. Following economic patterns, they are then likely to be receiving free school meals. Children and adolescents going to bed hungry and/or skip breakfast are also expected to show higher levels of mental health difficulties and lower well-being than those who do not report food insecurity.
Conclusions: Further implications of the results following analyses will be discussed in the presentation.
The Development and Psychometric Evaluation of an Animated Child Self-Report Screening Tool: Overview
Kirsty Zieschank, Michael Ireland, & Sonja March
Centre for Health Research, Innovative Mental Health Solutions, University of Southern Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Background: Half of all mental health conditions present before 14 years of age, and prevalence rates are increasing. Parents and caregivers report high costs of assessment services and lack of problem recognition as barriers to accessing care. There is a pressing need for accessible screening tools for children.
Aims: The aim was to develop and validate a digitally animated screening instrument (Interactive Child Distress Screener; ICDS) capable of obtaining accurate, self-reported emotional and behavioural distress from young children aged 5-11 years. The ICDS is intended to increase detection rates and facilitate further assessment and earlier intervention for child mental health problems.
Methods: The ICDS was co-designed and tested with experts in child mental health and 366 children and caregivers over four, staged development and psychometric evaluation studies. An exploratory sequential mixed methods approach with an emphasis on iterative, participatory co-design was utilised throughout each stage.
Results: Children can accurately report on their own internalising and externalising states via digitally animated assessment items. Findings highlighted the importance of iterative and participatory co-design methodologies when developing instruments for children to ensure outcomes are acceptable and accurate. Classical evaluation of the ICDS revealed a clear two-factor structure with good overall psychometric properties and high acceptability with children aged five through 11 years.
Conclusions: A digitally animated instrument capable of obtaining self-reported emotional and behavioural distress from young children was produced. The internet-based design of the ICDS is highly accessible and unrestricted and provides a feasible approach for broad application across various contexts.
Smiley Likert Scale: Unveiling Children’s Emotional Response with Visual Cues
Elissa Fay & Julia Ai Cheng Lee
University Malaysia Sarawak, MALAYSIA
Background: Teachers, psychologists, and researchers who work with young children must have a comprehensive understanding of the emotional responses of children. The reliability and validity of the Smiley Likert Scale were tested on children aged 5 to 9 years old (N = 15). The children’s emotional responses were tested after they had participated in the Readie© system pilot study, aiming to assist children with dyslexia and learning loss to learn literacy skills in a multisensory manner.
Aims: The aim of the study was to measure children’s emotional responses using smiley faces.
Methods: The children were shown Smiley Likert Scale cards in different colours with three emoticons to represent different emotions, from unhappy (red) to unsure (yellow) to happy (green). They were asked to describe the emoticon that was displayed on the card. Then, they were asked to indicate their emotional response to the system using the Smiley Likert Scale. They were also shown a second set of Smiley Likert Scale cards with similar colour which is a light yellow featuring the three emoticons like the first set.
Results: The results show that the Smiley Likert Scale accurately measured the emotions of children. The visual scale assisted children in comprehending and expressing their emotions. When asked how they felt about the system, each child selected the green card depicting a smile. Most children preferred multicoloured to single-coloured cards.
Conclusions: By enabling children to effectively express their emotions, the Smiley Likert Scale has the potential to improve the development of interventions based on multi-cultural children’s emotional response.
Screening for Developmental Delay and Social-Emotional Functioning Among Children in East Malaysia
Geok Har Yong1, Mei-Hua Lin1, Nigel Marsh2, & Teck Hock Toh3,
1Sunway University, Malaysia
2James Cook University, SINGAPORE
3Department of Paediatrics & Clinical Research Centre, Sibu Hospital, Malaysia
Background: Early identification for children at-risk of developmental delay and social-emotional malfunctioning is imperative. There are limited studies on children’s early development in Malaysia and most studies were from West Malaysia.
Aims: We compared the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development of young children with typical development (TD) and developmental disabilities (DD) in Sibu and Kapit, East Malaysia.
Methods: Parents/caregivers of 4 to 8 years old TD and DD children from Sibu and Kapit completed a set of questionnaires related to children’s developmental status and social-emotional functioning physically or online. Parents-children dyads were identified in kindergartens, schools, hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation centres. The questionnaires are available in English, Mandarin, and Malay languages.
Results: A total of 623 parents/children dyads were recruited. Preliminary analyses on PEDS questionnaires showed a strong correlation between children’s development status and parent’s/caregiver’s reports on each developmental domain. Referring to the PEDS: DM path scores, majority of TD children were identified as moderate risk (33.5%) for DD, while for DD children, 80.9% were identified as high risk. For social-emotional development, 25.7% of TD children were reported to have slightly raised peer problems; for DD children, 52% had very low prosocial scores on the SDQ. An Independent t-test analysis showed a significant difference in hyperactivity, peer problems, and prosocial subscales scores for the TD and DD groups. The effect sizes indicated a large effect among the groups.
Conclusions: These findings indicate significant differences in developmental status and social-emotional development among children with TD and DD in Sibu and Kapit.
The Capability of Self-Love: Theory Construction, Scale Development, and Scale Validation
Siying Li1, Tom Cochrane1, Jyoti Khadka1, Godfred Boateng2, Vivian Issac1,3
1Flinders University, AUSTRALIA
2York University, CANADA
3Charles Sturt University, AUSTRALIA
Background: It is well-known that children who grow up with loving parents could present better mental health conditions throughout lifespan than their peers with unloving parents, but the reasons behind this phenomenon are not fully discovered. In this study, we suggest that this is due to the daily exposure to parental love in the first two decades of life, which teaches children what love is and how to love themselves. Therefore, the development of the capability of self-love could play an essential protective role in youth mental health.
Aims: We aim to find a clear definition and reliable and valid measurement tool for the capability of self-love.
Methods (completed part): The capability of self-love theory was constructed by synthesising philosophical theories (e.g., Rousseau’s theory of self-love and Nussbaum’s ten central capabilities), psychological theories (Baumrind’s parenting style) and empirical evidence. Focus groups and interviews were conducted to collect the public’s perspective on self-love and to evaluate the capability of self-love theory results. The collected data were then processed using thematic analysis to generate a list of potential scale items for further evaluation.
Results: The constructed theory finds a definition for the capability of self-love: an individual’s capacity to identify, understand, and manage their essential needs and harmful desires. It also generated a list of 26 potential items for the Capability of Self-Love Scale, which were evaluated in the focus group and interviews.
Conclusions: The final list of potential items generated from the qualitative data will be refined through expert evaluation, cognitive interviews, and a qualitative survey.
Assessing Vocabulary Development of Malaysian Bilingual School Age Children: Validity and Issues of Using a Western Assessment Tool
Yasmin Idris binti Izham & Christine Leong Xiang Ru
University of Nottingham Malaysia, MALAYSIA
Background: Vocabulary development has been a popular measure of language attainment among school age children. A delayed vocabulary development could indicate an underlying language, communication, or developmental disorder.
Aims:Administering a non-locally developed and normed test to test takers who do not speak native English or a directly translated test without cultural adaptation come with doubts relating to the validity and utility of the test scores. To demonstrate these, we tested the English Expressive Vocabulary Test (EVT) with 80 secondary school students in Malaysia, alongside with its translated Malay version.
Methods: All test takers spoke Malay as their first language (L1) and English as their second language (L2), and they completed both EVTs in a counterbalanced order. The construct and convergent validity of Malay EVT and English EVT was checked against test takers’ linguistic information (i.e., age of acquisition and frequency of usage) and their language proficiency scores measured by other means (i.e., past exam scores and lexical test scores).
Results: Despite of our concerns, our results provided some evidence that support the use of both EVTs. All linguistic variables and language proficiency measures reliably predicted test takers’ English EVT performance. However, test takers’ reported linguistic variables were not good predictors of their L1 Malay vocabulary development. Item level analyses also revealed several problematic test items for the Malaysian test takers.
Conclusions: Practicality and issues of administering foreign vocabulary tests, translated tests and the use of vocabulary tests to assess language attainment of multilinguals or non-native speakers will be further discussed in this presentation.
Screening Children for Social-Emotional Learning: Administration of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire in India
Hina Sheel, Lidia Suárez, & Nigel Marsh
James Cook University, SINGAPORE
Background: Screening for social-emotional competence is essential in early childhood. However, Low- and Medium-Income countries lack adequate screening instruments. The Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is suitable for a developing country like India because it is free-of-cost, uses self-report, and has good psychometric properties. However, there is limited published research on the use of the SDQ with children with developmental disability (DD) in India, using either parent or teacher reports.
Aims: This study aimed to describe and compare parent and teacher reports on the social-emotional development of young children with DD.
Methods: The sample included 59 children, aged from 4 to 8 years, recruited from different socioeconomic backgrounds living in Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, and the National Capital Region in India. Parents and teachers completed the SDQ form online.
Results: On the total difficulties score for the parent report SDQ, 37% of the children were classified as normal, 15% as borderline, and 48% as abnormal. A similar distribution was found for the total difficulties score on the teacher report SDQ with 33% as normal, 12% as borderline, and 54% as abnormal. Interestingly, on the prosocial behaviour scale, the teachers reported 72% of the children with DD as normal, 11% as borderline, and 17% as abnormal. Overall, parents reported significantly greater concerns than teachers on the SDQ subscales.
Conclusions: Gathering information from multiple sources is essential when considering a child’s SEL. Using the same measure completed by parents and teachers can increase the validity of the assessment process.
Individual Differences in Children’s Eyewitness Report: The Impact of Interviewing Conditions on Memory Recall Accuracy and Suggestibility
Yishan Wong & Kai Li Chung
University of Reading Malaysia, Malaysia
Background: Eyewitness testimony is among the most crucial evidence in criminal trials. During the investigation and prosecution of child abuse or neglect cases, children are often the key witnesses to alleged crimes. However, prior research has shown that children’s testimony may be inaccurate due to the problem of suggestibility. It is therefore important to conduct investigative interviews that are free from bias and misleading information.
Aims: To clarify the factors and conditions under which children are likely to be vulnerable (or resistant) to suggestions during forensic interviewing, this study explored the impact of interviewing conditions (i.e., interviewer supportiveness and exposure to misinformation) and individual differences (i.e., temperament and parenting style) on children’s memory and suggestibility.
Methods: A between-subject design was employed, which involved experimental manipulation of interviewer behaviour and exposure to post-event misinformation. One hundred and sixty Malaysian children (aged 7-12) were assessed using the adapted version of the Video Suggestibility Scale for Children. Parent reports of child temperament and their own parenting style were obtained.
Results: A hierarchical multiple regression was performed to examine the predicting effects of each factor on children’s recall accuracy and suggestibility. Those who were exposed to misinformation reported lower recall accuracy and higher suggestibility. Individual differences emerged as stronger predictors than interviewing conditions. Children’s withdrawal temperament was significantly related to lower recall accuracy, and authoritarian parenting style was a significant predictor of higher suggestibility.
Conclusions: Findings provide valuable insights on how well children can accurately report remembered information, and when children with specific characteristics fall prey to suggestive influences.
Document Analysis of Support for Disabled Preschool Children’s Transition to Mainstream Primary School in China
Qian Jiang, Tze Peng Wong, & Subarna Sivapalan
University of Nottingham, MALAYSIA
Background: In China, ‘Learning in Regular Classrooms’ (LRC) is a national policy that supports inclusion of disabled children in mainstream classrooms. While the policy has increased disabled children’s access to compulsory education starting from primary education, many disabled preschool children in the country, especially those from underdeveloped provinces, continue their primary education in special schools or rehabilitation centres. Exclusion from mainstream schools may hinder equal participation as their peers. The concurrent yet contradictory practice of inclusion and exclusion may derive from the lack of understanding of information, strategies and regulations on polices and mainstream school entrance.
Aims: This study seeks to explore how key national and provincial educational documents indicate the factors, practices and values related to mainstream primary school readiness for disabled children in the Guizhou Province, China, an underdeveloped province.
Methods: This study will apply a qualitative research design using document analysis of education policies, regulations and guidelines in China at the national and local provincial levels. To ensure the relevance and validity of the documents, only those which are issued by the central government, various ministries, commissions and local provincial governments will be selected, followed by content analysis.
Results: Content analysis will focus on identifying themes from key areas such as (a) inclusive education, (b) access to mainstream primary education, (c) special education and (d) early childhood education.
Conclusions: A comprehensive policy analysis of China’s endeavor towards inclusion forms the foundation to further generate insights towards the contradictory inclusion-exclusion practice and support inclusive education in the Chinese context.
