MyMedR

Body satisfaction among adolescents in eight different countries

McCabe MP, Fuller-Tyszkiewicz M, Mellor D, Ricciardelli L, Skouteris H, Mussap A

J Health Psychol, 2012 Jul;17(5):693-701.

PMID: 22021271 DOI: 10.1177/1359105311425274

The current study examined body satisfaction and the value of body size among adolescents in Australia, Fiji, Malaysia, Tonga, Tongans in New Zealand, China, Chile and Greece. In total, 2489 adolescent females and 2152 males participated in the study. The results demonstrated that males were more satisfied with their body than females. Males generally had a lower BMI than females, except for males in China and Malaysia. Attitudes towards large bodies for males and females varied by cultural group. These results demonstrate the strong cultural similarities in body satisfaction, but the differences that occur in relation to a large body.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Fulltext The effects of smoking norms and attitudes on quitting intentions in Malaysia, Thailand and four Western nations: a cross-cultural comparison

Hosking W, Borland R, Yong HH, Fong G, Zanna M, Laux F, et al.

Psychol Health, 2009 Jan;24(1):95-107.

PMID: 20186642 DOI: 10.1080/08870440802385854

This research investigated the influence of smoking attitudes and norms on quitting intentions in two predominantly collectivistic countries (Malaysia and Thailand) and four predominantly individualistic Western countries (Canada, USA, UK and Australia). Data from the International Tobacco Control Project (N = 13,062) revealed that higher odds of intending to quit were associated with negative personal attitudes in Thailand and the Western countries, but not in Malaysia; with norms against smoking from significant others in Malaysia and the Western countries, but not in Thailand; and with societal norms against smoking in all countries. Our findings indicate that normative factors are important determinants of intentions, but they play a different role in different cultural and/or tobacco control contexts. Interventions may be more effective if they are designed with these different patterns of social influence in mind.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

A method for cross-cultural adaptation of a verbal memory assessment

Lim YY, Prang KH, Cysique L, Pietrzak RH, Snyder PJ, Maruff P

Behav Res Methods, 2009 Nov;41(4):1190-200.

PMID: 19897828 DOI: 10.3758/BRM.41.4.1190

Verbal memory tests-although important to the neuropsychological assessment of memory-are biased to many cultures. In the present article, we highlighted the limitations associated with the direct translation of tests and word matching, as well as the lack of ecological validity and cultural appropriateness when tests developed in one culture are used in another. To overcome these limitations, a verbal memory paradigm was developed that framed the memory assessment with a shopping-list format, but that developed culturally specific stimuli for the different language groups. The aim of the present study was to determine the equivalence of this shopping list memory test in different cultural and language groups. Eighty-three adults from English-, French-, Malay-, and Chinese-speaking cultures participated in four experiments. The results of all the experiments indicated that performance of verbal list learning is equivalent, irrespective of the language used. These results support the use of this methodology for minimizing cross-cultural test bias, and have important implications for testing culturally and linguistically diverse individuals.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Decomposing self-estimates of intelligence: structure and sex differences across 12 nations

von Stumm S, Chamorro-Premuzic T, Furnham A

Br J Psychol, 2009 May;100(Pt 2):429-42.

PMID: 18851768 DOI: 10.1348/000712608X357876

This study examines the structure of self-estimates of intelligence (SEI) across 12 nations (Australia, Austria, Brazil, France, Iran, Israel, Malaysia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, UK and US). Participants rated themselves on general and specific abilities from three popular models of intelligence: Gardner's multiple intelligences, Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence, and Goleman's emotional intelligence. The results showed that (a) laypeople across nations have similar and invariant concepts of intelligence, (b) concepts of intelligence are cross-culturally closely related to academic notions of intellectual ability and (c) sex differences in general and specific SEI favouring men are consistent across countries. Male hubris and female humility in SEI seem independent of sex differences in actual cognitive ability and national levels of masculinity-femininity. Furthermore, international mean differences in general SEI could not be attributed to discrepancies in national intelligence quotient (IQ) levels or to cultural variations.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Fulltext Culture, cross-role consistency, and adjustment: testing trait and cultural psychology perspectives

Church AT, Anderson-Harumi CA, del Prado AM, Curtis GJ, Tanaka-Matsumi J, Valdez Medina JL, et al.

J Pers Soc Psychol, 2008 Sep;95(3):739-55.

PMID: 18729706 DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.95.3.739

Trait and cultural psychology perspectives on cross-role consistency and its relation to adjustment were examined in 2 individualistic cultures, the United States (N=231) and Australia (N=195), and 4 collectivistic cultures, Mexico (N=199), the Philippines (N=195), Malaysia (N=217), and Japan (N=180). Cross-role consistency in trait ratings was evident in all cultures, supporting trait perspectives. Cultural comparisons of mean consistency provided support for cultural psychology perspectives as applied to East Asian cultures (i.e., Japan) but not collectivistic cultures more generally. Some but not all of the hypothesized predictors of consistency were supported across cultures. Cross-role consistency predicted aspects of adjustment in all cultures, but prediction was most reliable in the U.S. sample and weakest in the Japanese sample. Alternative constructs proposed by cultural psychologists--personality coherence, social appraisal, and relationship harmony--predicted adjustment in all cultures but were not, as hypothesized, better predictors of adjustment in collectivistic cultures than in individualistic cultures.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Belief and disbelief in the existence of genetic risk factors for suicide: cross-cultural comparisons

Voracek M

Psychol Rep, 2007 Dec;101(3 Pt 2):1189-95.

PMID: 18361135

There is evidence for widespread disbelief in the genetics of suicide, despite recent research progress in this area and convergent evidence supporting a role for genetic factors. This study analyzed the beliefs held in 8 samples (total N = 1224) of various types (psychology, medical, and various undergraduates, psychology graduates, and the general population) from 6 countries located on 3 continents (Austria, Canada, Malaysia, Romania, United Kingdom, and the USA). Endorsement rates for the existence of genetic risk factors for suicide ranged from 26% and 30% (Austrian psychology undergraduates and general population) to around 50% (psychology undergraduates in the USA and United Kingdom). In the 8 samples, respondents' sex, age, religiosity, political orientation, and other demographic variables were, for the most part, unrelated, but overall knowledge about suicide throughout was related positively to endorsement rates. Consistent with previous research, across a considerable variety of sample types and cultural settings there was no evidence for a clear majority believing in genetic bases for suicide.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Prevalence of illicit drug use in Asia and the Pacific

Devaney ML, Reid G, Baldwin S

Drug Alcohol Rev, 2007 Jan;26(1):97-102.

PMID: 17364842

This paper reports on the prevalence of drug use in Asia and the Pacific. It is based on the report "Situational analysis of illicit drug issues and responses in Asia and the Pacific", commissioned by the Australian National Council on Drugs Asia Pacific Drug Issues Committee. Review of existing estimates of the prevalence of people who use illicit drugs from published and unpublished literature and information from key informants and regional institutions was undertaken for the period 1998 - 2004. Estimates of the prevalence of people who use illicit drugs were conducted for 12 Asian and six Pacific Island countries. The estimated prevalence of those using illicit drugs ranges from less than 0.01% to 4.6%. Countries with estimated prevalence rates higher than 2% are Cambodia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos and Malaysia. China, Myanmar and Vietnam have estimated prevalence rates ranging between less than 0.01% and 2%. Data to estimate prevalence rates was not available for Pacific Island countries and Brunei. Estimates of the prevalence of drug use are critical to policy development, planning responses and measuring the coverage of programs. However, reliable estimates of the numbers of people using illicit drugs are rare in Asia, particularly the Pacific.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

The relative contribution of profile body shape and weight to judgements of women's physical attractiveness in Britain and Malaysia

Swami V, Tovée MJ

Body Image, 2007 Dec;4(4):391-6.

PMID: 18089286

Ninety-six Malaysian and British men rated for physical attractiveness a set of photographs of real women in profile, with known body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Results showed that BMI accounted for the greater amount of variance in all settings. There were also significant differences in preferences for body weight, with low resource, low socioeconomic status (SES) raters preferring a significantly heavier partner than high resource, high SES raters. The disparity with previous findings using line drawings of women in profile was discussed in terms of the weaknesses of line-drawn stimuli.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Which body features are associated with female adolescents' body dissatisfaction? A cross-cultural study in Australia, China and Malaysia

Mellor D, Waterhouse M, Mamat NH, Xu X, Cochrane J, McCabe M, et al.

Body Image, 2013 Jan;10(1):54-61.

PMID: 23228484 DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2012.10.002

This study investigated how dissatisfaction with various aspects of the body is associated with overall body dissatisfaction among female adolescents in Western and Asian cultures. Data used in the study were obtained from 58 Malaysian Malays, 95 Malaysian Chinese, 242 Chinese from China, and 81 non-Asian Australians aged 12-19 years (M=15.72, SD=1.72) who were recruited from high schools. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing dissatisfaction with their body overall, and dissatisfaction with varying aspects of their body. Malaysian Chinese were the most dissatisfied with their bodies. After controlling for body mass index (BMI), age and dissatisfaction with weight/shape, upper, middle and lower body, and muscles, dissatisfaction with the face was positively correlated with overall body dissatisfaction among Malaysian Malays and Australians. These findings demonstrate the importance of using assessment measures that address all possible areas of body focus as well as being tailored to the relevant culture.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Comparison of radiology residency programs in ten countries

Willatt JM, Mason AC

Eur Radiol, 2006 Feb;16(2):437-44.

PMID: 15702337

The purpose of our study was to compare various aspects of radiology training schemes in ten countries. A questionnaire was sent to senior residents in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Egypt, India, Malaysia and Greece. The questions concerned length of training, required pre-training experience, the organization of the training scheme, teaching, resources, stages at which residents can independently perform and report examinations, fellowships, and progression to jobs. A wide variety of training, ranging from highly scheduled programs with detailed aims and objectives, to self-learning occurs across the world. Examinations and assessments are also variable. There are lessons to be learned from varying practices; more exchanges of ideas should be encouraged. In view of the "internationalization" of radiology services and the variation in training styles an international qualification for quality assurance purposes may be desirable.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Translation, Validation, and Adaptation of the Time Use Diary from English into the Malay Language for Use in Malaysia

Asmuri SN, Brown T, Broom LJ

Occup Ther Health Care, 2016 Jul;30(3):289-309.

PMID: 27219119 DOI: 10.1080/07380577.2016.1183066

Valid translations of time use scales are needed by occupational therapists for use in different cross-cultural contexts to gather relevant data to inform practice and research. The purpose of this study was to describe the process of translating, adapting, and validating the Time Use Diary from its current English language edition into a Malay language version. Five steps of the cross-cultural adaptation process were completed: (i) translation from English into the Malay language by a qualified translator, (ii) synthesis of the translated Malay version, (iii) backtranslation from Malay to English by three bilingual speakers, (iv) expert committee review and discussion, and (v) pilot testing of the Malay language version with two participant groups. The translated version was found to be a reliable and valid tool identifying changes and potential challenges in the time use of older adults. This provides Malaysian occupational therapists with a useful tool for gathering time use data in practice settings and for research purposes.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Children's Faithfulness in Imitating Language Use Varies Cross-Culturally, Contingent on Prior Experience

Klinger J, Mayor J, Bannard C

Child Dev, 2016 May;87(3):820-33.

PMID: 27189408 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12503

Despite its recognized importance for cultural transmission, little is known about the role imitation plays in language learning. Three experiments examine how rates of imitation vary as a function of qualitative differences in the way language is used in a small indigenous community in Oaxaca, Mexico and three Western comparison groups. Data from one hundred thirty-eight 3- to 10-year-olds suggests that children selectively imitate when they understand the function of a given linguistic element because their culture makes frequent use of that function. When function is opaque, however, children imitate faithfully. This has implications for how children manage the imitation-innovation trade-off, and offers insight into why children imitate in language learning across development.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Materialism and life satisfaction: the role of religion

Rakrachakarn V, Moschis GP, Ong FS, Shannon R

J Relig Health, 2015 Apr;54(2):413-26.

PMID: 25811060

This study examines the role of religion and religiosity in the relationship between materialism and life satisfaction. The findings suggests that religion may be a key factor in understanding differences in findings of previous studies regarding the inverserelationship found in the vast majority of previous studies. Based on a large-scale study in Malaysia—a country comprised of several religious subcultures (mainly Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus), the findings suggest that the influence of religiosity on materialism and life satisfaction is stronger among Malays than among Chinese and Indians, and life satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between religiosity and materialism. The paper discusses implications for theory development and further research.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Manshor AT, Abdullah A

Psychol Rep, 2002 Dec;91(3 Pt 2):1187-93.

PMID: 12585535

This study identified job-related motivational factors among Malaysian employees in several telecommunication companies. Responses were obtained from 1,179 employees at all levels up to senior managers and six different functional divisions, sales and marketing, human resources, finance, technical, information, technology, and support division. All employees were asked to rate the importance of Kovach's 10 job-motivational factors. These factors were good wages, job security, opportunity for career growth in the organization, good working conditions, interesting work, company loyalty to employees, tactful discipline, full appreciation of work done, sympathetic help with personal problems, and feeling of being involved in the organization. The top five factors employees identified as motivating them in their jobs were good wages, job security, company loyalty to employees, good working conditions, and full appreciation for work done. Findings were in accordance with Kovach for U.S. employees, in which the top motivational factors were good wages and job security.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Do the Chinese somatize depression? A cross-cultural study

Parker G, Cheah YC, Roy K

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol, 2001 Jun;36(6):287-93.

PMID: 11583458

A large literature argues for the Chinese--whether in mainland China or elsewhere--being highly likely to express depression somatically, leading to predictable detection and diagnostic difficulties. If true, detection might be assisted if a set of somatic proxies of depression were identified, and this was the principal initial objective in mounting this study.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Mental illness beliefs in Malaysia: ethnic and intergenerational comparisons

Edman JL, Koon TY

Int J Soc Psychiatry, 2000;46(2):101-9.

PMID: 10950358

Two groups of college students in Malaysia, ethnic Malay and ethnic Chinese, completed a mental illness attribution and help seeking questionnaire, and these responses were also compared with the responses of their mothers. As expected, ethnic Malays rated religious items, such as God and prayer, higher than the Chinese. However, both groups rated the social and psychological causes higher than religious, supernatural or physical causes. Contrary to our predictions, there were no intergenerational differences among either ethnic group. Medical pluralism was demonstrated, as a variety of apparently contradictory help seeking behaviors received quite high ratings including doctor/pharmacy, prayer, herbal medicine and traditional healers.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Hair distribution on the phalanges of the hands in Malays

Dharap AS, Varma SL, Chary TV

Anthropol Anz, 1994 Dec;52(4):315-20.

PMID: 7840537

618 Malay subjects were selected randomly to find out the frequency and patterns of hair distribution on the phalanges of their hands. Hair on the proximal phalanx was absent in 2% of the males and in 3.3% of the females. The middle phalangeal hair (MPH) was absent in 78% of the females and in 64.9% of the males. The frequency in order of MPH was found to be 4 > 3 > 5 > 2. Fifteen patterns of hair distribution on the phalanges of the hand were found. Such a large number of patterns has not been reported yet. No subject had hair on the distal phalanges. These observations when compared with earlier studies show that the Malays are similar to other Asiatic populations such as the Japanese and Nepalis.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Chinese culture and fertility decline

Wu C, Jia S

Chin J Popul Sci, 1992;4(2):95-103.

PMID: 12317926

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

A Malay crosscultural worldview and forensic review of amok

Hatta SM

Aust N Z J Psychiatry, 1996 Aug;30(4):505-10.

PMID: 8887701

This article attempts to review the criteria for the amok phenomenon since the late 15th century and how its meaning has evolved into its present day usage.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Amok

Kon Y

Br J Psychiatry, 1994 Nov;165(5):685-9.

PMID: 7866687

BACKGROUND: Amok is reviewed from a historical standpoint, tracing how it has changed from the Hindu states of India where it was a war tactic to the sudden incomprehensible violence and mass murder by a single individual associated with the syndrome today.

METHOD: A typical amok attack is described and the criteria for amok discussed. Amok in Malaysia, New Guinea, Laos, North America and other countries are presented. The possible motives for such violent killings and a possible psychiatric diagnosis in relation to contemporary diagnostic criteria is discussed.

CONCLUSION: Classification of amok remains unresolved. The reason for its frequency in and around Malaysia remains unknown.

Matched MeSH terms: Cross-Cultural Comparison*

Displaying publications 61 - 80 of 307 in total