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Translation and validation of a Bahasa Malaysia (Malay) version of the Functionality Appreciation Scale

Swami V, Todd J, Aspell JE, Mohd Khatib NA, Toh EKL, Zahari HS, et al.

Body Image, 2019 Sep;30:114-120.
PMID: 31238276 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.06.001

The Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS; Alleva et al., 2017) is a 7-item measure of an individual's appreciation of their body for what it can do and is capable of doing. To date, its psychometric properties have not been examined beyond the parent study and outside English-speaking samples. To rectify this, we examined the psychometric properties of a Bahasa Malaysia (Malay) translation of the FAS. An online sample of 815 Malaysia citizens completed a Malay translation of the FAS, along with validated measures of body appreciation, weight discrepancy, drive for muscularity, perceived pressure from and internalisation of appearance ideals, self-esteem, and trait mindfulness. Exploratory factor analyses supported a 1-dimensional factor structure of FAS scores, which was upheld using confirmatory factor analysis. FAS scores were also invariant across sex and there was no significant sex difference in scores. Construct validity was generally supported through significant associations with the additional measures included in the study. Incremental validity was also established insofar as functionality appreciation predicted self-esteem over-and-above the variance accounted for by other body image measures. The availability of the Malay FAS will be of use to scholars in Malaysia, but establishing cross-linguistic invariance will be an important next step.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive
Change in risk factors for eating disorder symptomatology in Malay students sojourning in the United Kingdom

Swami V

Int J Eat Disord, 2016 07;49(7):695-700.
PMID: 26876737 DOI: 10.1002/eat.22509

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation was to examine change in risk for eating disorders in higher education students sojourning in the United Kingdom (UK), as well as associations between such risk and experiences in the host culture.
METHOD: Participants were 98 female students from Malaysia, who completed a measure of risk factors for eating disorder symptomatology (the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 subscales of drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, and bulimia symptoms) at two time points: two months prior to beginning their sojourn in the UK (Time 1) and four months after the sojourn began (Time 2). At Time 2, participants also completed measures of sociocultural adjustment, cultural distance between home and host cultures, and perceived discrimination in the host culture.
RESULTS: Analyses indicated that, compared to scores at Time 1, participants had significantly higher drive for thinness (d = 0.64), body dissatisfaction (d = 0.54), and bulimia symptoms (d = 0.29) at Time 2. Poorer sociocultural adjustment and greater perceived discrimination significantly predicted greater risk of eating disorders at Time 2.
DISCUSSION: The stress associated with culture change may place sojourning students at risk for disordered eating. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which this risk is related to culture-change specifically, as opposed to a general set of factors associated with transition-related psychopathology more broadly. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2016; 49:695-700).

Matched MeSH terms: Drive
Sexuality and the drive for muscularity: evidence of associations among British men

Swami V, Diwell R, McCreary DR

Body Image, 2014 Sep;11(4):543-6.
PMID: 25201097 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.08.008

Previous studies have documented associations between sexuality and body image, but the directionality of this association is unclear among men. This study examined whether men's drive for muscularity can be considered a correlate of their sexuality. A community-based sample of 292 heterosexual men from London, UK, completed a survey consisting of measures of drive for muscularity, sociosexuality, sexual assertiveness, sexual esteem, and sexual sensation seeking. A multiple regression analysis showed that greater drive for muscularity was predicted by more unrestricted sociosexuality (i.e., a greater proclivity for short-term, transient relationships), greater sexual sensation seeking, and greater sexual assertiveness, once the effects of participant age and body mass index had been accounted for. Possible avenues for intervention based on a sex-positive approach are discussed in conclusion.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive*
Social dominance orientation predicts drive for muscularity among British men

Swami V, Neofytou RV, Jablonska J, Thirlwell H, Taylor D, McCreary DR

Body Image, 2013 Sep;10(4):653-6.
PMID: 23954197 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2013.07.007

The present study tested the hypothesis that men's drive for muscularity would be associated with their valuation of domination, power, status, and aggression over others. A community sample of 359 men from London, UK, completed measures of drive for muscularity, social dominance orientation, right-wing authoritarianism, trait aggression, and need for power, as well as their demographic details. Bivariate correlations showed that greater drive for muscularity was significantly correlated with most of the measures and their subscales. However, in a multiple regression analysis, the only significant predictor of drive for muscularity was support for group-based dominance hierarchies (Adj. R(2)=.17). These results suggest that men's drive for muscularity is associated with a socio-political ideology that favours social dominance.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive*
Fulltext The experiences of implementing generic medicine policy in eight countries: A review and recommendations for a successful promotion of generic medicine use

Hassali MA, Alrasheedy AA, McLachlan A, Nguyen TA, Al-Tamimi SK, Ibrahim MI, et al.

Saudi Pharm J, 2014 Dec;22(6):491-503.
PMID: 25561861 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2013.12.017

Generic medicines are clinically interchangeable with original brand medicines and have the same quality, efficacy and safety profiles. They are, nevertheless, much cheaper in price. Thus, while providing the same therapeutic outcomes, generic medicines lead to substantial savings for healthcare systems. Therefore, the quality use of generic medicines is promoted in many countries. In this paper, we reviewed the role of generic medicines in healthcare systems and the experiences of promoting the use of generic medicines in eight selected countries, namely the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Sweden, Finland, Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. The review showed that there are different main policies adopted to promote generic medicines such as generic substitution in the US, generic prescribing in the UK and mandatory generic substitution in Sweden and Finland. To effectively and successfully implement the main policy, different complementary policies and initiatives were necessarily introduced. Barriers to generic medicine use varied between countries from negative perceptions about generic medicines to lack of a coherent generic medicine policy, while facilitators included availability of information about generic medicines to both healthcare professionals and patients, brand interchangeability guidelines, regulations that support generic substitution by pharmacists, and incentives to both healthcare professionals and patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive
Fulltext COVID-19-related stress and anxiety are associated with negative body image in adults from the United Kingdom

Swami V, Horne G, Furnham A

Pers Individ Dif, 2021 Feb 15;170:110426.
PMID: 33046945 DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2020.110426

The stress and anxiety caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic presents a serious threat to psychological well-being in populations worldwide and may also extend to body image outcomes. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a preliminary study in which an online sample of adults from the United Kingdom (N = 506, age M = 34.25 years) were asked to complete measures of perceived stress, stressful life events, trait anxiety, COVID-19-related stress and anxiety, and negative body image (body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness in women, body fat and muscularity dissatisfaction in men). The results of hierarchical regressions indicated that COVID-19-related stress and anxiety explained significant incremental variance in body image outcomes (Adj. ΔR2 = .02 to .10), over-and-above demographics (age and body mass index) and perceived stress, trait anxiety, and stressful life events. These findings suggest that COVID-19-related stress and anxiety may shape body image outcomes under conditions of physical and social distancing.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive
Fulltext Sociocultural factors affecting drive for muscularity among male college students in Malaysia

Sai A, Furusawa T, Othman MY, Tomojiri D, Wan Zaini WFZ, Tan CSY, et al.

Heliyon, 2020 Jul;6(7):e04414.
PMID: 32743089 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04414

Compared with females, little research on muscularity and the sociocultural influences on this domain has been conducted with males in non-Western societies. The current study explored these sociocultural predictors of drive for muscularity among Malaysian male college students, specifically in terms of ethnicity and exposure to media (i.e., Internet and social media). In total, 166 male college students from two universities in Kuala Lumpur were asked to rate the questionnaires as to muscularity-oriented attitudes and behaviours. Multivariable general linear model analyses revealed that being Chinese was a strong predictor of muscularity-oriented attitudes and behaviours. In addition, modern media, particularly, Internet use and the number of followers on Instagram, was found to significantly predict males' drive for muscularity. Overall findings suggest that males of particular ethnic groups may be at higher risk for negative body image compared to the other ethnic populations and modern media use may accelerate drive for muscularity, which may also in turn place males at higher risk for excess muscularity-oriented thoughts and behaviours.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive
Fulltext Penentu faktor peramal pengekalan pekerjaan dalam kalangan klien AADK

Muhammad Ajib Abd R, Rozmi I, Noh A, Norhayati I, Faizah I

Jurnal Psikologi Malaysia, 2018;32:104-113.

Occupation is the most important element in changing the quality-of-life continuity and the recovery of drug addicts. This study aimed to measure the level of employment sustainability among ex-clients from the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK). This study used a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design. A total of 130 AADK ex-clients who were in employment were selected as respondents for this study. Our findings show that the majority of AADK ex-clients can survive relatively well enough for between 1 to 2 years depending on the factors of wages, work environment, interests and skills. The finding of this study implies that former clients tend to remain only 1 to 2 years in employment if their wages and jobs are not in line with their will. The findings also found that there was a significant relationship between the job-person fit and job satisfaction with motivation. Hence, this study is capable to modify the perceptions and views of employers towards clients' initiative for being persistent at the workplace as well as improving existing policies in providing incentives to clients for being consistent on the job.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive
Fulltext Motivations for Industry Stakeholders in China, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia to Improve Livestock Welfare

Sinclair M, Idrus Z, Nhiem DV, Katawatin S, Todd B, Burn GL, et al.

Animals (Basel), 2019 Jul 04;9(7).
PMID: 31277448 DOI: 10.3390/ani9070416

Understanding what might motivate livestock stakeholders to improve animal welfare is useful information when developing initiatives that benefit from stakeholder engagement. This study was designed to assess the strength of motivating drivers in the development of attitudes to animal welfare, and the factors that impacted their ability to improve animal welfare. During a series of qualitative focus group sessions with livestock leaders across the same countries (Malaysia, China, Vietnam and Thailand), the current study presented livestock leaders (n = 139) with the most significant results in their country, and collected data pertaining to the meaning and applicability of these results. This data was then subject to thematic analysis to identify salient and repeated motivating factors and meanings. This process revealed a complex picture of relationships between motivators and the contexts that drive them. Figures are presented to begin illustrating these relationships. Some strong motivators were uncovered that were previously rated low in the survey (i.e., financial benefit) or not included at all (e.g., food safety). This paper also presents the opportunity to better understand the strength and relationship of extrinsic and intrinsic motivational forces behind animal welfare improvement.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive
Body image and personality among British men: associations between the Big Five personality domains, drive for muscularity, and body appreciation

Benford K, Swami V

Body Image, 2014 Sep;11(4):454-7.
PMID: 25113287 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.07.004

The present study examined associations between the Big Five personality domains and measures of men's body image. A total of 509 men from the community in London, UK, completed measures of drive for muscularity, body appreciation, the Big Five domains, and subjective social status, and provided their demographic details. The results of a hierarchical regression showed that, once the effects of participant body mass index (BMI) and subjective social status had been accounted for, men's drive for muscularity was significantly predicted by Neuroticism (β=.29). In addition, taking into account the effects of BMI and subjective social status, men's body appreciation was significantly predicted by Neuroticism (β=-.35) and Extraversion (β=.12). These findings highlight potential avenues for the development of intervention approaches based on the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and body image.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive*
Factor structure and psychometric properties of a Romanian translation of the drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS) in university men

Swami V, Vintila M, Tudorel O, Goian C, Barron D

Body Image, 2018 Jun;25:48-55.
PMID: 29475191 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.02.004

We examined the psychometric properties of a Romanian translation of the 15-item Drive for Muscularity Scale (DMS). Male university students from Romania (N = 343) completed the DMS, as well as measures of self-esteem, body appreciation, and muscle discrepancy. Exploratory factor analysis indicated that DMS scores reduced to two factors that related to muscularity-oriented attitudes and behaviours, with both first-order factors loading onto a higher-order factor. However, confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a model with two first-order factors and a higher-order factor had poor fit. A two-factor model without a higher-order construct achieved acceptable but mediocre fit. Scores on the two-factor DMS model had adequate internal consistency and demonstrated acceptable convergent validity (significant correlations with self-esteem, body appreciation, and muscle discrepancy). These results provide support for a two-factor model of DMS scores in a Romanian-speaking sample and extends the availability of the DMS to a rarely-examined linguistic group.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive*
Fulltext Investment literacy, social influence and undergraduates' readiness to invest: dataset from Malaysia

Halim ZA, Zolkefli MN, Kusairi S, Nor SM, Zawawi NHM, Sukemi MN

Data Brief, 2021 Feb;34:106700.
PMID: 33490327 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.106700

Since the launch of the InvestSmart™ initiative in 2014, the government agencies in Malaysia have been actively engaging community and university students via their outreach programs to promote investment literacy. Given this background, the state of the investment literacy of Malaysian undergraduates and their readiness to invest is intriguing. Therefore, this article offers a dataset of Malaysian undergraduates' readiness to invest and the role that investment literacy and social influence play in their readiness to invest. Using a non-probability sampling technique, 500 undergraduate students in Malaysia were engaged to participate voluntarily in this survey. Descriptive statistics are presented in this paper. The dataset provides insights into the current state of investment literacy among Malaysian undergraduates, the sources of information on stock investment, and the readiness of these undergraduates to participate in the stock market.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive
Fulltext Carbon cess on fuel consumption

Loganathan, P.

ASM Science Journal, 2011;5(1):75-76.
MyJurnal

In December 2009, at the UN Climate Change Conference COP 15 in Copenhagen, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, the Rt. Hon. Mohd Najib Abdul Razak, had announced that “Malaysia is adopting an indicator of a voluntary reduction of up to 40% in terms of emissions intensity of GDP by the year 2020 compared to 2005 levels. This indicator is conditional on receiving the transfer of technology and finance of adequate and effective levels from Annex 1 partners, that correspond to what is required in order to achieve this indicator”. Malaysia also needs to decouple its GDP from its current relatively high carbon-based energy demand. In trying to meet both these targets, we need to intensify our research efforts in energy-based areas. As government funding in R&D is limited as the aim is for research to be private-sector driven, and with the grim global economic scenario today, it is most unlikely that Malaysia will get any assistance financially or technologically from Annex 1 nations. It is therefore proposed that Malaysia considers implementing a dedicated carbon cess on petroleum products to fund R&D in the country. (Copied from article).

Matched MeSH terms: Drive
Fulltext RULA mobile android application software

Yusof Kadikon, Imran Mohd Shafek, M. Maarof Bahurdin

Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 2015;12(1):121-124.
MyJurnal

In Malaysia, the number of Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) cases is increasing . Rapid Upper Limb Assessment
(RULA) is carried out in a physical paper form which is cumbersome and based on the complex nature and it should
consider human error. This project aims to create the RULA application for mobile devices featuring the android system
for this move will cut down the process time by more than half, create a more structured system and eliminate human
error wholly. The application will be designed on the App Inventor website which features a lot of handy tutorials
and takes the initiative to create a RULA mobile app for Android phones. The RULA mobile app for Android phones
is intended to make it easier and much more efficient to conduct a RULA analysis. Additionally, the analyses can be
conducted by minimally trained users, eliminating the need for highly trained technicians. RULA test is performed to
achieve accurate results and the mathematical processes will be programmed into the app so that the user will have a
friendly interface and will only be asked to tick boxes.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive
Fulltext Mangrove-Associated Fungal Communities Are Differentiated by Geographic Location and Host Structure

Lee NLY, Huang D, Quek ZBR, Lee JN, Wainwright BJ

Front Microbiol, 2019;10:2456.
PMID: 31736902 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02456

Marine fungi on the whole remain understudied, especially in the highly diverse Southeast Asian region. We investigated the fungal communities associated with the mangrove tree Avicennia alba throughout Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia. At each sampling location, we examined ten individual trees, collecting leaves, fruits, pneumatophores, and an adjacent sediment sample from each plant. Amplicon sequencing of the fungal internal transcribed spacer 1 and subsequent analyses reveal significant differences in fungal communities collected from different locations and host structures. Mantel tests and multiple regression on distance matrices show a significant pattern of distance decay with samples collected close to one another having more similar fungal communities than those farther away. Submergence appears to drive part of the variation as host structures that are never submerged (leaves and fruits) have more similar fungal communities relative to those that are covered by water during high tide (pneumatophores and sediment). We suggest that fungi of terrestrial origins dominate structures that are not inundated by tidal regimes, while marine fungi dominate mangrove parts and sediments that are submerged by the incoming tide. Given the critical functions fungi play in all plants, and the important role they can have in determining the success of restoration schemes, we advocate that fungal community composition should be a key consideration in any mangrove restoration or rehabilitation project.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive
Progress in Clinical Neurosciences, Cognitive Neurosciences, Clinical Psychology, Neurotechnology and Brain Mapping in Malaysia

Abdullah JM

Malays J Med Sci, 2021 Apr;28(2):1-14.
PMID: 33958956 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2021.28.2.1

Last year, there was an increase in the amount of manpower in Malaysia, especially in terms of the numbers of neurosurgeons, cognitive neuroscientists and clinical psychologists. One way to increase the number of cognitive neurotechnologists in the country in 2021 is to allow neuroscientists to register as neurotechnologists with the Malaysian Board of Technologists (MBOT). The Malaysian Brain Mapping project has risen from its humble beginnings as an initiative of the Universiti Sains Malaysia Brain Mapping Group in 2017. There is currently a proposal for its entry into the national arena via the Precision Medicine Initiative with the Academy Science Malaysia, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Health. The current Malaysian Government's Science, Technology, Innovation and Economy (STIE) plan was launched in 2020, leading to the establishment of neurotechnology as one of 10 STIE drivers.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive
Fulltext Historical perspective on the synonymization of the four major pest species belonging to the Bactrocera dorsalis species complex (Diptera, Tephritidae)

Hee AK, Wee SL, Nishida R, Ono H, Hendrichs J, Haymer DS, et al.

Zookeys, 2015.
PMID: 26798266 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.540.6028

An FAO/IAEA-sponsored coordinated research project on integrative taxonomy, involving close to 50 researchers from at least 20 countries, culminated in a significant breakthrough in the recognition that four major pest species, Bactrocera dorsalis, Bactrocera philippinensis, Bactrocera papayae and Bactrocera invadens, belong to the same biological species, Bactrocera dorsalis. The successful conclusion of this initiative is expected to significantly facilitate global agricultural trade, primarily through the lifting of quarantine restrictions that have long affected many countries, especially those in regions such as Asia and Africa that have large potential for fresh fruit and vegetable commodity exports. This work stems from two taxonomic studies: a revision in 1994 that significantly increased the number of described species in the Bactrocera dorsalis species complex; and the description in 2005 of Bactrocera invadens, then newly incursive in Africa. While taxonomically valid species, many biologists considered that these were different names for one biological species. Many disagreements confounded attempts to develop a solution for resolving this taxonomic issue, before the FAO/IAEA project commenced. Crucial to understanding the success of that initiative is an accounting of the historical events and perspectives leading up to the international, multidisciplinary collaborative efforts that successfully achieved the final synonymization. This review highlights the 21 year journey taken to achieve this outcome.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive
Fulltext Reflective writing in case summary assignments

Chinniah, Kathiravan, Nalliah, Sivalingam

International e-Journal of Science, Medicine & Education, 2012;6(1):15-20.
MyJurnal

Outcome and competency-based undergraduate and graduate medical education is the desired standard embraced by many medical educationists worldwide. Reflective capacity is an integral component of that strategy and reflective writing has shown tremendous potential as a delivery tool. But there are various challenges in the implementation of the initiative. Efficacy as a delivery tool, achievement of pedagogical outcomes, reliability issues, challenges in assessment outcomes/tools, and whether it can be taught and learnt, need to be addressed. Many questions are still not satisfactorily answered, and this review attempts to offer some perspective on the issues.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive
Fulltext Anorexia Nervosa in Schizophrenia: a starving mind within a susceptible brain

Nik Ruzyanei, N.J., Wan Salwina, W.I., Choo, S.P., Rosdinom, R.

Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 2011;20(1):1-5.
MyJurnal

Schizophrenia poses challenges in diagnosis and treatment strategies when the predominant clinical features represent another spectrum of disorder like eating disorders. Nevertheless, symptoms of eating disorder in schizophrenia are not entirely uncommon although never included in the diagnostic criteria. We reported a case of a woman who first presented at seventeen years old with food refusal and underlying psychosis resulting in severe weight loss, but defaulted treatment for almost a decade. In 2009, she presented again with sinus bradycardia and secondary amenorrhoea. In this report, we discussed about the patient’s vulnerability for psychosis and its psychodynamic drive which led to a complex symptoms manifestation. Our aim is to highlight its diagnostic dilemma and suggestions to treatment strategies unique to this presentation.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive
The infant feeding practices of 2 month-old infants born at the University Hospital

Hamzah Sendut, I., Singh, Surinder, Chan, Patrick

Malaysian Journal of Child Health, 1994;6(1):32-35.
MyJurnal

At the University Hospital only 24.3% of Malays, 3.8% Chinese and 5.9% Indians are fully breast fed at 6-8 weeks postnatally. The majority of Chinese infants are exclusively on infant formula (68.6%) and this holds true for the Indians (52.9 %).These figures were obtained 3-4 months after the introduction of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative at the University Hospital. Comparing our data with previous studies we believe that there has been a decline in breast feeding in urban Kuala Lumpur, especially amongst the Indians and Chinese.

Matched MeSH terms: Drive

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