Displaying publications 21 - 40 of 152 in total

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  1. Hemmati A, Mirghaed SR, Rahmani F, Komasi S
    Malays J Med Sci, 2019 Sep;26(5):74-87.
    PMID: 31728120 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2019.26.5.7
    Background: The present study was conducted to determine the differential profile of social anxiety disorder (SAD) and avoidant personality disorder (APD) based on dimensional diagnosis in criterion B of the DSM-5 Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (DSM-5-AMPD) in a college sample.

    Methods: Samples of this cross-sectional study included 320 (23.08 ± 2.66 years; 57% female) college students in western Iran during February 2015 to December 2017. Liebowitz-social anxiety scale, PID-5, SCID-II, SCID-II-SQ and diagnostic interview for SAD were the tools. The data were analysed using Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analysis.

    Results: Forty-three and 38 participants met criteria for SAD alone and APD, respectively. Five main domains of PID-5 could explain 29% and 54% of the variance of SAD and APD, respectively. Facets of negative affect, detachment, antagonism, disinhibition, and psychoticism could explain 25% versus 43%, 26% versus 54%, 7% versus 27%, 21% versus 41%, 13% versus 30% of the variance of SAD and APD, respectively.

    Conclusion: SAD and APD probably refer to two distinct mental states having prominent anxiety, emotional instability, and interpersonal pattern of avoidance and detachment of challenge. SAD is a simple form of mental disturbances with anxiety in its core features; although, APD is possibly referring to more complicated psychopathology.

    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  2. Jovanović V, Rudnev M, Abdelrahman M, Abdul Kadir NB, Adebayo DF, Akaliyski P, et al.
    Psychol Assess, 2024 Jan;36(1):14-29.
    PMID: 38010780 DOI: 10.1037/pas0001270
    Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) is a widely used measure that captures somatic symptoms of coronavirus-related anxiety. In a large-scale collaboration spanning 60 countries (Ntotal = 21,513), we examined the CAS's measurement invariance and assessed the convergent validity of CAS scores in relation to the fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S) and the satisfaction with life (SWLS-3) scales. We utilized both conventional exact invariance tests and alignment procedures, with results revealing that the single-factor model fit the data well in almost all countries. Partial scalar invariance was supported in a subset of 56 countries. To ensure the robustness of results, given the unbalanced samples, we employed resampling techniques both with and without replacement and found the results were more stable in larger samples. The alignment procedure demonstrated a high degree of measurement invariance with 9% of the parameters exhibiting noninvariance. We also conducted simulations of alignment using the parameters estimated in the current model. Findings demonstrated reliability of the means but indicated challenges in estimating the latent variances. Strong positive correlations between CAS and FCV-19S estimated with all three different approaches were found in most countries. Correlations of CAS and SWLS-3 were weak and negative but significantly differed from zero in several countries. Overall, the study provided support for the measurement invariance of the CAS and offered evidence of its convergent validity while also highlighting issues with variance estimation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  3. Wong LP, Alias H
    J Behav Med, 2021 Feb;44(1):18-28.
    PMID: 32757088 DOI: 10.1007/s10865-020-00172-z
    Monitoring public psychological and behavioural responses during the early phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is important for the management and control of infection. This study aims to investigate the temporal trend in (1) avoidance and protective behaviors, (2) fear, (3) socio-economic impact, and (4) anxiety levels during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a high level of anxiety may have a detrimental impact during an infectious disease outbreak, factors associated with anxiety were also explored. The survey was carried out for 10 weeks and the responses were divided into three periods of around 3 weeks: 25 January-21 February, 22 February-17 March and 18 March-3 April (the period the Malaysian Government issued Movement Control Order). Findings revealed that most of the pyschobehavioural variables showed small increases during first (25 January-21 February) and second (22 February-17 March) periods, and high psychobehavioral responses were reported during the third period. A total of 72.1% (95%CI = 69.2-75.0) reported moderate to severe anxiety as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Factor influencing moderate to severe anxiety is a high perception of severity (OR = 2.09; 95%CI = 1.48-2.94), high perceived susceptibility (OR = 1.71; 95%CI = 1.17-2.50), high impact score (OR = 1.63; 95%CI = 1.17-2.26) and high fear score (OR = 1.47; 95%CI = 1.01-2.14). In conclusion, the psychological and behavioural responses were found to increase with the progression of the outbreak. High anxiety levels found in this study warrant provision of mental health intervention during the early phase of COVID-19 outbreak.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  4. Wong LP, Sam IC
    Prev Med, 2010 Jul;51(1):92-3.
    PMID: 20403375 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2010.04.010
    This paper aimed to examine the temporal changes in psychobehavioral responses in relation to reported 2009 H1N1 influenza deaths.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear*
  5. Muhamad Saiful Bahri Yusoff, Tan, Ying Jie, Ab Rahman Esa
    MyJurnal
    Objective: Medical housemanship training has always been regarded as a highly stressful environment to doctors. This article described findings on stress, stressors and coping strategies among house officers in a Malaysian hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on house officers in a Malaysian hospital. The 12 items General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), General Stressors Questionnaire (GSQ) and Brief COPE inventory were administered to measure perceived stress, sources of stress and coping strategies among house officers respectively. Data was analysed using SPSS version 12. Results: Forty two house officers participated in this study. This study found that approximately 31% of the house officers were in distress. The top five stressors were fears of making mistakes that can lead to serious consequences, work overload, working with uncooperative colleagues, doing
    work that mentally straining and feeling of being underpaid. The most frequent coping strategies used by house officers were religion, acceptance and self-distraction. Conclusion: This study found that there was a high percentage of distressed house officers. It also found that major stressors were related to performance pressure. The main coping strategy used by house officer was emotion-focused coping.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  6. Earnshaw VA, Jin H, Wickersham JA, Kamarulzaman A, John J, Lim SH, et al.
    AIDS Behav, 2016 Jan;20(1):98-106.
    PMID: 26324078 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-015-1168-x
    Men who have sex with men (MSM) living in countries with strong stigma toward MSM are vulnerable to HIV and experience significant barriers to HIV care. Research is needed to inform interventions to reduce stigma toward MSM in these countries, particularly among healthcare providers. A cross-sectional survey of 1158 medical and dental students was conducted at seven Malaysian universities in 2012. Multivariate analyses of variance suggest that students who had interpersonal contact with MSM were less prejudiced toward and had lower intentions to discriminate against MSM. Path analyses with bootstrapping suggest stereotypes and fear mediate associations between contact with prejudice and discrimination. Intervention strategies to reduce MSM stigma among healthcare providers in Malaysia and other countries with strong stigma toward MSM may include facilitating opportunities for direct, in-person or indirect, media-based prosocial contact between medical and dental students with MSM.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  7. Rafizan Abdul Razak, Eley Suzana Kasim, Dalila Daud
    ESTEEM Academic Journal, 2019;15(2):1-10.
    MyJurnal
    Cost and management accounting courses are incorporated in the accounting syllabus for both accounting and non-accounting students. One of the challenges in teaching cost and management accounting to the nonaccounting students is the general fear of accounting subject. Notwithstanding, most of the students still viewed accounting as an interesting subject. Hence, the learning problem faced by students needs to be addressed in a fun yet beneficial way. As such, the objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of using the “Smart Costing Game” as a learning method to overcome this problem. The Smart Costing Game Kit was developed as a learning tool to enable students to correctly classify costs according to certain criteria and subsequently used the cost figures to compute total costs, profit and selling price. Four business settings are chosen consisting of bakery, restaurant, laundry and clinic. At the end of the game activities, the students are required to complete an online survey. Results from the survey demonstrated that the majority of the students agreed that the games were found to be more effective, motivating and engaging than traditional teaching. This implies that students have strong
    preferences in the use of educational games that added value to the costing subject. These results support the inclusion of Smart Costing Game as a successful learning strategy in cost and management accounting courses for the non-accounting students.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  8. Tan SZK, Temel Y, Chan AY, Mok ATC, Perucho JAU, Blokland A, et al.
    Brain Struct Funct, 2020 Sep;225(7):1957-1966.
    PMID: 32594260 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-020-02102-w
    Electrical stimulation of the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray (dlPAG) in rats has been shown to elicit panic-like behaviour and can be a useful as an unconditioned stimulus for modelling anticipatory fear and agoraphobia in a contextual fear conditioning paradigm. In this study, we further analysed our previous data on the effects of escitalopram (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, SSRI) and buspirone (a 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist) on dlPAG-induced anticipatory fear behaviour in a rat model using freezing as a measure. We then attempted to unravel some of the interactions with dopamine signalling using tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry to probe the effects on dopaminergic neurons. We showed that acute treatment of escitalopram, but not buspirone, was effective in reducing anticipatory freezing behaviour, while chronic administrations of both drugs were effective. We found that the dlPAG stimulation induced increase number of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) which was reversed in both chronic buspirone and escitalopram groups. We further found a strong positive correlation between the number of dopaminergic neurons and freezing in the VTA and showed positive correlations between dopaminergic neurons in the VTA and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) in escitalopram and buspirone groups, respectively. Overall, we showed that chronic treatment with an SSRI and a 5-HT1A agonist reduced anticipatory freezing behaviour which seems to be associated, through correlative studies, with a reversal of dlPAG stimulation induced increase in number of dopaminergic neurons in the VTA and/or SNpc.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear/drug effects; Fear/physiology
  9. Su TT, Azzani M, Donnelly M, Majid HA
    Eur J Cancer Care (Engl), 2020 Jul;29(4):e13232.
    PMID: 32050305 DOI: 10.1111/ecc.13232
    OBJECTIVES: The main aims of the study were to identify barriers to seeking help for cancer, appraise demographic and socio-economic differences in relation to barriers and evaluate the association between barriers and cancer symptoms awareness and delayed help-seeking.

    METHODS: A total of 2,360 adults (18 years and above) from randomly selected households in metropolitan Kuala Lumpur completed face-to-face interviews with trained research assistants that incorporated the validated Malay version of the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM). Logistic regression was the main statistical technique that was used to investigate the study objectives and relationships (noted above).

    RESULTS: The most commonly reported barriers to help-seeking were emotional barriers. The probability of delaying seeking help was 49% higher in participants who reported emotional barriers (OR = 1.49; CI: 1.32-1.68; p 

    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  10. Zaki, R.A., Roffeei, S.N., Hazwan, A.E., Musa, N.
    JUMMEC, 2018;21(2):38-44.
    MyJurnal
    Objective: The study was designed to determine the risk perception of the public population in Kota Kinabalu towards childhood immunisation.
    Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study where self-administered questionnaires were distributed to the public in Kota Kinabalu. The respondents who consented were 18 years old and older. The illiterate persons and the foreigners were excluded. The calculated sample size was 400. Only 313 samples collected were suitable for analysis using SPSS v21.0.
    Results: Fever, pain swelling and allergic reaction were correctly identified as risks of immunisation. Autism, mental retardation and even death could also result from vaccination. Of the total respondents, 76.7% agreed with the practice of childhood vaccination, 70.0% thought that childhood vaccinations were safe and effective and 58.1% felt that its benefit outweighed the risk. Other than that, 32.0% refused childhood vaccination from fear of its risks, and this fear was the main reason for the refusal of childhood vaccination. Age, marital status, race and income were the factors which influenced parental willingness to vaccinate their children (p<0.05).
    Conclusions: Most participants understood the risks of childhood vaccination, but few agreed to the practice of childhood immunisation for herd immunity. Public health campaigns are needed, to increase the understanding and acceptance of childhood vaccination especially in the rural community.
    Keywords: Childhood Immunisation, Parental Risk, Perception, Public Acceptance
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  11. S.L. Tan
    ASM Science Journal, 2013;7(2):129-138.
    MyJurnal
    The paper seeks to assuage the fears and worries over living modified organisms (LMOs). It describes how any research carried out on LMOs as well as any release activity on LMOs for public use in Malaysia is controlled by the Biosafety Act 2007. Stringent risk assessment of the LMO and its product/s is carried out to eradicate or minimize the negative effects of these on animal and human health, and to biological diversity and the environment. In contrast, no such risk assessment is carried out on introduced exotic species, or on the products of other types of technology, with the exception of pharmaceuticals. Examples are given comparing risk assessment on LMOs and exotic species.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  12. Ahmad P, Chaudhary FA, Asif JA, AlSagob EI, Alkahtany MF, Almadi KH, et al.
    Work, 2022;71(1):177-186.
    PMID: 34924411 DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205093
    BACKGROUND: When anxiety is persistent among dental students, the consequence could be poor academic performance, ill health, lack of empathy, and exhaustion.

    OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the level of anxiety along with anxiety-provoking factors among clinical dental students.

    METHODS: This study included dental undergraduate and postgraduate clinical students from a public university. A modified version of the self-administered Moss and McManus questionnaire, which consisted of 50 items, was utilized to evaluate the levels of anxiety. The results were analyzed using SPSS® version 24. The significance level was set at p fear of accidental pulp exposure, dealing with a child or non-cooperative patient, and fear of taking an incorrect impression. Postgraduate students showed lower anxiety scores in various clinical tasks as compared to undergraduate students.

    CONCLUSIONS: Postgraduate dental students share largely the same perspectives with undergraduate dental students on the clinical anxiety-provoking situations with slight variations. Being the future healthcare providers, dental students must learn techniques to help them manage their dental anxiety and fear as well as deal with anxiety related to treating patients.

    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  13. Jayaseelan J
    AIDS Action, 1993 Mar-May;[nil](20):4.
    PMID: 12288933
    PIP: Pink Triangle, the only community-based group in Malaysia which works with men who have sex with men, took initial steps in August 1992 to establish a self-help project for people who are HIV-seropositive. Supporting people who are HIV-positive and fighting for their rights is new in Malaysia. The group has thus far been publicized through its public education events, hospitals, and other nongovernmental organizations. For the first time, information is being published specifically by and for people living with HIV/AIDS. The project also has a phone line to allow people to speak anonymously with someone who shares their experience. Many callers are men who have sex with men in the social context of intense prejudice and discrimination. Afraid to openly acknowledge their sexuality with strangers, the callers have yet to accede to meeting each other face-to-face in a group setting. The author notes in closing that Pink Triangle must be realistic about what can be achieved in Malaysia and allow the group to develop according to people's needs and not on the basis of a model imported from outside of the country.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear*
  14. Goodwin R, Haque S, Hassan SB, Dhanoa A
    Public Underst Sci, 2011 Jul;20(4):477-90.
    PMID: 21936262
    Novel influenza viruses are seen, internationally, as posing considerable health challenges, but public responses to such viruses are often rooted in cultural representations of disease and risk. However, little research has been conducted in locations associated with the origin of a pandemic. We examined representations and risk perceptions associated with swine flu amongst 120 Malaysian pig farmers. Thirty-seven per cent of respondents felt at particular risk of infection, two-thirds were somewhat or very concerned about being infected. Those respondents who were the most anxious believed particular societal "out-groups" (homosexuals, the homeless and prostitutes) to be at higher infection risk. Although few (4%) reported direct discrimination, 46% claimed friends had avoided them since the swine flu outbreak. Findings are discussed in the context of evolutionary, social representations and terror management theories of response to pandemic threat.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  15. Nor Ba’yah AK, AbRahman RM, Desa A
    Jurnal Psikologi Malaysia, 2013;olume 27:41-53.
    ocial appearance is common among university students in Malaysia. In this study, we examine the reliability and validity of the SAAS in a sample of university students in Malaysia. This study aims to examine internal consistency and to validate the social appearance anxiety scale for Malaysian university students. Using a systematic random sampling, a set of questions was distributed to 400 academic college residents of a public university in Malaysia with a response rate of 86%. The student participants completed the social appearance anxiety scale, the social interaction anxiety scale, the brief fear of negative evaluation scale, and the general health questionnaire. The internal consistency of questions within the social appearance anxiety scale was 0.92. The social appearance anxiety scale had good convergent validity with the social interaction anxiety scale (r=0.55), the brief fear of negative evaluation (r=0.69, p
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  16. Ahadzadeh AS, Rafik-Galea S, Alavi M, Amini M
    Health Psychol Open, 2018 06 10;5(1):2055102918774251.
    PMID: 29977587 DOI: 10.1177/2055102918774251
    This study examined the correlation between body mass index as independent variable, and body image and fear of negative evaluation as dependent variables, as well as the moderating role of self-esteem in these correlations. A total of 318 Malaysian young adults were conveniently recruited to do the self-administered survey on the demographic characteristics body image, fear of negative evaluation, and self-esteem. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to test the research hypotheses. The results revealed that body mass index was negatively associated with body image, while no such correlation was found with fear of negative evaluation. Meanwhile, the negative correlation of body mass index with body image was stronger among those with lower self-esteem, while a positive association of body mass index with fear of negative evaluation was significant only among individuals with low self-esteem.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  17. Kassim MAM, Pang NTP, Mohamed NH, Kamu A, Ho CM, Ayu F, et al.
    PMID: 33437224 DOI: 10.1007/s11469-020-00444-4
    COVID-19 has affected Malaysia in multitude aspects. Although Malaysia is on the right track to flatten the curve attributed to swift and decisive actions by the government, it is important to assess the psychological after effect that caused by the pandemic and the movement control order. This study performed in Borneo, Malaysia, was conducted using principles of snowballing, and by invitation through university students and staffs mailing list to participate. The survey collected data on sociodemographic, along with measuring psychological impact by using the newly validated Malay version Fear of COVID-19 Scale and DASS-21 scale. There were a total of 255 respondents. The majority of the respondents' age was 25 years and below, with a female male ratio of 2:1 and around 70% respondents were students. Below 25-year-old age group, and females are having significantly higher levels of fear of COVID-19, depression, anxiety, and stress. Single people have higher depression level. There was a significant difference between students and non-students for depression, anxiety, and stress, but not for fear of COVID-19. It is imperative to allay the fears and psychological sequalae of COVID-19, especially those individuals at higher risks. Psychological interventions as well as telepsychiatry mobilisation could prove useful in dealing with the distress.
    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  18. Sugawara D, Gu Y, Masuyama A, Ng SL, Phoo EYM, Raja Reza Shah RIAB, et al.
    BMC Res Notes, 2021 Nov 04;14(1):409.
    PMID: 34736522 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-021-05819-x
    OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health of people worldwide. Psychological resilience has been shown to buffer against the threat of the pandemic (i.e., COVID-19 fear) and sustain mental health. The extent to which psychological resilience factors impact mental health maintenance, however, is unclear, given broad differences in infection rates, prevention approaches, government interventions across different cultures and contexts. Our study examines resilience factors and how they protect individuals from COVID-19-related fear and sustain their mental health.

    DATA DESCRIPTION: Data were collected from 1583 (Mage = 32.22, SD = 12.90, Range = 19-82) respondents from Japan, China, the United States, and Malaysia between October to November 2020. We collected data across age and sex, marital status, number of children, and occupations. We also accounted for stay-at-home measures, change in income, COVID-19 infection status, place of residence, and subjective social status in the study. Our variables included mental health-related and resilience constructs, namely (i) fear of COVID-19, (ii) depression, anxiety, and stress; (iii) present, past, and future life satisfaction, (iv) sense of control, (v) positive emotions, (vi) ego-resilience, (vii) grit, (viii) self-compassion, (ix) passion, and (x) relational mobility. All questionnaires were assessed for their suitability across the four countries with the necessary translation checks. Results from this study can be instrumental in examining the impact of multiple resilience factors and their interaction with demographic variables in shaping mental health outcomes.

    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  19. Farid H, Pasha L, Majeed M
    Malays J Med Sci, 2020 Mar;27(2):112-119.
    PMID: 32788847 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2020.27.2.12
    Background: The objective of the current study was to adapt the Index of Dental Anxiety and Fear (IDAF-4C) in the Urdu language and measure its validity and reliability.

    Methods: Original English questionnaire of IDAF-4C was translated into Urdu language by a panel of dentists and language experts (Urdu and English) followed by critical evaluation, modification and back translation into English language. A final Urdu questionnaire was distributed among 250 patients visiting the Endodontics section at Margalla Institute of Health Sciences (MIHS), Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Cronbach's alpha was used to determine the reliability of the Index whereas validity was assessed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Mean rank scores of IDAF-4C for male and female participants were evaluated using Mann-Whitney U tests (P < 0.05).

    Results: Of 250 questionnaires, 209 were returned with a response rate of 84%. Cronbach's alpha for the Urdu version of IDAF-4C was 0.88. Exploratory factor analysis of the IDAF-4C revealed one factor explaining 55.55% of the common variance (Eigenvalue = 4.5). The mean rank scores of all eight items of IDAF-4C were greater for female participants as compared to male participants with a statistically significant association (P < 0.05).

    Conclusion: The psychometric analysis of the Urdu version of IDAF-4C showed good reliability and consistency compared to the original version as well as other translated versions.

    Matched MeSH terms: Fear
  20. Bahar Moni AS, Abdullah S, Bin Abdullah MFIL, Kabir MS, Alif SM, Sultana F, et al.
    PLoS One, 2021;16(9):e0257304.
    PMID: 34506576 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257304
    INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has enormously affected the psychological well-being, social and working life of millions of people across the world. This study aimed to investigate the psychological distress, fear and coping strategies as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated factors among Malaysian residents.

    METHODS: Participants were invited to an online cross-sectional survey from Aug-Sep 2020. The study assessed psychological distress using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, level of fear using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and coping strategies using the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to adjust for potential confounders.

    RESULTS: The mean age (±SD) of the participants (N = 720) was 31.7 (±11.5) years, and most of them were females (67.1%). Half of the participants had an income source, while 216 (30%) identified themselves as frontline health or essential service workers. People whose financial situation was impacted due to COVID-19 (AOR 2.16, 95% CIs 1.54-3.03), people who drank alcohol in the last four weeks (3.43, 1.45-8.10), people who were a patient (2.02, 1.39-2.93), and had higher levels of fear of COVID-19 (2.55, 1.70-3.80) were more likely to have higher levels of psychological distress. Participants who self-isolated due to exposure to COVID-19 (3.12, 1.04-9.32) and who had moderate to very high levels of psychological distress (2.56, 1.71-3.83) had higher levels of fear. Participants who provided care to a family member/patient with a suspected case of COVID-19 were more likely to be moderately to highly resilient compared to those who did not.

    CONCLUSION: Vulnerable groups of individuals such as patients and those impacted financially during COVID-19 should be supported for their mental wellbeing. Behavioural interventions should be targeted to reduce the impact of alcohol drinking during such crisis period.

    Matched MeSH terms: Fear*
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