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Fulltext Exploring the impact of a transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural therapy-based intervention on a group of Malaysian adolescents with problematic drug use and emotional problems

Zakaria S, Sasagawa S, Essau CA

Addict Behav Rep, 2021 Dec;14:100381.
PMID: 34938839 DOI: 10.1016/j.abrep.2021.100381

Introduction: Adolescents with problematic substance use frequently have anxiety and depression and tend to have "unhealthy" lifestyle such as having poor dietary patterns and physical inactivity. The overall aim of the present study was to explore the impact of a Transdiagnostic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-based Intervention ("Super Skills for Life" - adolescent version; SSL-A) on emotional problems among adolescents with problematic substance use and to identify demographic factors which influence the intervention outcomes.
Method: A total of 108 adolescents (M = 16.30 years, SD = 1.6) with problematic substance use who showed high levels of anxiety and depression participated in this study. They completed a set of questionnaires to measure substance use, mental health problems, cognitive emotion regulation strategies, loneliness, and lifestyle and habits at pre- and post-intervention.
Results: The adolescents reported less emotional symptoms and more prosocial behavior after the intervention. These adolescents were also consumed less substance and used less maladaptive emotion regulation strategies after participating in SSL-A. Females compared to males showed more treatment gains (i.e., reduction in loneliness and improvement in psychological health and self-esteem) after the intervention.
Conclusion: This study provides empirical evidence for the utility of the SSL-A in reducing emotional problems and substance use among adolescents with problematic substance use.
Fulltext Factors related to substance use among adolescents from six low-and middle-income countries

Ozeylem F, de la Torre-Luque A, Essau CA

Addict Behav Rep, 2021 Dec;14:100370.
PMID: 34938831 DOI: 10.1016/j.abrep.2021.100370

Substance use is a common public health problem among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), however, factors that are associated with this condition are not clearly understood. The aim of the present study was to examine personal and interpersonal factors that contribute to risk for substance use among adolescents in six ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) LMICs (i.e., Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines and Thailand). Data of 57,825 adolescents (52.64% girls; median age = 14 years old) who participated in the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) were analysed. After the weighted prevalence was estimated for each country, multilevel models were employed to examine the influence of the risk factors on the prevalence of substance use across the countries. The results indicated a high prevalence of substance use among adolescents in all these six ASEAN LMICs. Alcohol use, smoking and drug use were more prevalent among adolescents in Thailand, Laos and Philippines. Adolescents who were bullied and who had no close friends had a high prevalence of alcohol and drug use. Problematic drinking and smoking were more prevalent among older adolescents, and smoking and drug use were more prevalent among boys. Furthermore, frequent worry, loneliness and regular physical activity were found to predict adolescents' heavy and binge drinking. This study contributed to knowledge on risk factors for specific substance use among adolescents and drew attention for the urgent need to strengthen the intervention, law policies and professional support for reducing substance use in ASEAN LMICs.
Fulltext From ToyBox Study to eToyBox: Advancing Childhood Obesity Reduction in Malaysian Kindergartens

Reeves S, Poh BK, Chong YT, Lee JAC, Cheah WL, Hafizah YN, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2023 Aug 20;20(16).
PMID: 37623197 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20166614

Prevention and treatment of childhood obesity is a global concern, and in Malaysia, it is considered a national public health priority. Determinants of childhood obesity are multifactorial and include factors that directly and indirectly influence energy balance-related behaviours, including energy intake and energy expenditure. Interventions to address childhood obesity that have multiple components at different levels have been shown to be the most influential. The ToyBox-study is a childhood obesity intervention aimed at preschool-aged children and their families that had been shown to be effective in several European countries and so was chosen for adaption for the Malaysian setting. Materials were translated and adjusted for the Malaysian context and audience and implemented in kindergartens in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, teaching transitioned to being online. This brought an opportunity to reach a wider audience and consider the long-term sustainability of the intervention, and thus eToybox was born. eToybox aims to bring support for healthy energy balance behaviours directly to the teachers, into kindergartens and homes, to encourage families to be active and eat healthily, and prevent or reduce obesity. Through online innovation, the Toybox Study Malaysia programme has been expanded to enhance its potential to impact the promotion of healthy lifestyles among preschoolers and their families, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach to preventing and treating childhood obesity in Malaysia.
Fulltext Validity and Reliability of a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) to Assess Dietary Intake of Preschool Children

Noor Hafizah Y, Ang LC, Yap F, Nurul Najwa W, Cheah WL, Ruzita AT, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2019 11 27;16(23).
PMID: 31783477 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16234722

As there are few food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) to assess the dietary intake of preschool children, this study examined the validity and reliability of an FFQ for this purpose. A total of 210 preschoolers aged 4 to 6 years participated in the validation study, while a subsample of 66 participants joined the reliability study. The FFQ is modified from the ToyBox-study and South East Asian Nutrition Surveys (SEANUTS), and comprised 108 food items from 13 food groups. A three-day estimated dietary record (3DR) was used as reference and reliability was assessed through a second administration of the FFQ (FFQ2), four weeks after the first administration (FFQ1). For the validation study, Spearman's correlation coefficients showed moderate to high correlations (p < 0.001) between FFQ and 3DR. Cross-classification of quartile analysis showed moderate agreement between the two methods. As for reliability, Spearman's correlation coefficients showed moderate to high correlations (p < 0.001) between FFQ1 and FFQ2. Cronbach's alpha values (0.708 to 0.824) and intraclass correlation coefficients (0.710 to 0.826) showed good agreement between repeated FFQs. The results suggest that the FFQ has acceptable validity and good reliability. Hence, the FFQ can be used to assess preschool children's food intake.