Young People In Malaysia Research Articles

Climate and Adolescence Mortality: Exploring the Linkages

The rising frequency of heat-related illnesses among adolescences, particularly during the dry season, is quite concerning. High temperatures and heatwaves have been proven in studies to aggravate pre-existing health issues and raise the risk of mortality in this demographic group. Climate change is projected to worsen current health concerns while also creating new ones, especially among vulnerable groups such as adolescents and young people. Unfortunately, there has been little study on the influence of climate change on death rates among Malaysian adolescents. As a result, the goal of this study is to look at the relationship between annual temperature and mortality rates among Malaysian adolescents. The study's specific goal is to evaluate the extent to which one of the climate change variables, which is temperature is linked to mortality rates in this demographic group. In this study, a linear regression model is used to analyse data from 1980 to 2021 to investigate the relationship between annual temperature and mortality rates among Malaysian adolescents. To isolate the influence of climate change on mortality rates, the study controls for a variety of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. The regression analysis results show that temperature is significantly associated with mortality rates among Malaysian adolescents. This study gives evidence of the major influence of climate change on mortality rates among adolescents and young people in Malaysia. The findings underline the critical need for targeted treatments and policies to address climate change-related health hazards and protect vulnerable groups.

Dampak Positif dan Negatif Aplikasi TikTok Sebagai Medium Pembelajaran Interaktif

This article aims to discuss the positive and negative impact of the TikTok application in shaping the development of individual values. The research methodology conducted is through a literature review. This article states that the negative factors of the TikTok application affect the development pattern of individual values ​​that are not balanced in terms of physical, spiritual, physical, and emotional. Nevertheless, the findings of this article affirm that the content of TikTok videos that lead to harm, the increase in narcissistic behavior and the spread of pornographic content, and the increase in cases of pedophilia and gadget addiction in the TikTok application are the main causes of the imbalance in the development of individual values. This article is expected to benefit and contribute knowledge to those responsible for obtaining information to deal with this issue. Next, the negative effects of TikTok that are discussed are hoped to be given attention by certain parties in implementing appropriate interventions to pattern the development of the values ​​of young people in Malaysia that are inclusive and balanced.

Understanding the rise of teenage depression in Malaysia: Trends, causes, and societal impact

Teenage depression involves feelings of sadness, gloom, regret, unhappiness, suffering, and a diminished interest in many activities, which can lead to a decrease in an individual's potential. This condition can result in inconsistent behavior and negatively impact an individual's quality of life and health, potentially leading to thoughts of suicide. Therefore, this study focuses on the severe impact of teenage depression on young people in Malaysia to increase societal awareness of the seriousness of the issue. The research method employed is a qualitative analysis of existing documents conducted through library research to examine the background and trends of teenage depression in Malaysia. The findings reveal a rise in cases of teenage depression from 2006 to the current period, driven by various factors that urgently require attention from all stakeholders to improve and ensure a more harmonious life.

The Impact of Financial Literacy on Saving Habits among Malaysian Youth: A Gender-Based Analysis

This study examines the financial literacy and saving habits of Malaysia’s youth, with a particular focus on gender-based disparities and their implications. Recent reports highlighted a lot of young Malaysian’s struggles in terms of financial management, including high debt levels and inadequate savings among youth due to low financial literacy. Gender differences in financial literacy have been well documented, with men typically demonstrating higher levels of confidence and understanding in this area. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the saving habits and financial literacy levels of young Malaysians by looking at these factors via a gender lens. The research utilises a quantitative approach, using an online survey to gather information from 332 participants who are under 30 years old. SPSS was used to analyse the data, and descriptive statistics were used to discuss and summarise the results. The respondents’ saving habits and financial literacy were assessed using Likert-scale questions. A regression and correlation analysis were conducted to investigate the relationship between saving habits and financial literacy. The findings suggest that young people in Malaysia are usually quite financially literate; however, there are still gaps in their knowledge of advanced financial instruments. The majority of respondents have good saving habits; nonetheless, there are clear gender disparities, with males rating their financial literacy higher than women, especially when it comes to budgeting and investing. Regression analysis reveals a moderately positive correlation between financial literacy and saving habits, with financial literacy accounting for approximately 26.5% of the variance in saving habits. It appears that while financial literacy influences saving behaviour, there were fewer obvious gender variations in saving behaviours, suggesting that both genders engage in similar saving practices. These findings highlight the need for improved financial education to address identified gaps and promote better financial management for Malaysia’s youth.

Housing preference among young people: A study from the perspective of university students in Malaysia

This article aims to investigate housing preferences among young people in Malaysia. This article argues the difference between the supply and demand of homes in this market that needs to be improved, especially on the actual needs of young people. This study utilises a quantitative survey to collect data, and statistical analysis to evaluate the research findings. The study's findings revealed that their housing preference was significantly influenced by factors such as housing price, housing location, housing environment and housing attributes. This research aims to assist housing providers in developing affordable housing that matches potential homebuyers’ preferences to avoid property overhangs and offer fundamental guidance to the government for creating housing policies that benefit young people.

Young People-Social Problem-Solving Skills: Development and Psychometric Properties

There is a lack of culturally suitable tools to measure social problem-solving skills among young people in Malaysia. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the reliability and validity of our newly invented 14-item Young People-Social Problem-Solving Skills (YP-SPSS) questionnaire. Cronbach’s alpha analysis shows that YP-SPSS has good reliability (α=0.7640), and the factor loadings for the fourteen items are above 0.5. Exploratory Factor Analysis suggests four factors: emotional awareness, insight into having problems, steps in solving problems, and analyzing the problems. The study shows that this questionnaire is statistically suitable to measure the social problem-solving of young people.

Sport engagement model in Malaysia: Effect of cost and volunteerism

Sport engagement plays a crucial role in promoting physical well-being, fostering social connections, and enhancing overall quality of life. However, various factors, including financial constraints and limited resources, can serve as barriers to sport participation. Additionally, volunteerism has been recognized as a significant contributor to the growth and development of sports in communities. This research study aims to explore the relationship between the cost of sport engagement and volunteerism among individuals in Malaysia. This study was conducted to test the effect of sponsorship, expenditure and volunteering on activeness. A causal correlation study was conducted comprising a total of 501 young people in Malaysia who were selected randomly. This study found that sponsorship, expenditure and volunteerism towards activeness amongst youth are at a moderate level. The findings also showed that sponsorship (β = 0.035, sig = 0.682, p > 0.05) and voluntary (β = 0.098, sig = 0.192, p > 0.05) have no significant contribution towards activeness, the sponsorship and volunteering are not factors which contribute to changes in activeness. However, there is a significant effect of expenditure as an intermediary in the relationship between sponsorship and activeness (β = 0.107, sig = 0.001, p < 0.05), whilst there is no significant effect of expenditure as a mediator in the relationship between voluntary and activeness (β = 0.022, sig = 0.115 p > 0.05). This study provides implications to Ministry of Youth and Sports that sponsorship, expenditure, and voluntary are not main factors which contribute to activeness.

Indigenous youth activism: the role of education in creating capabilities

ABSTRACT Globally, there has been attention to the role of youth activism in bringing about socially just change and the associated learning that occurs through this action. Young people in Malaysia have been found to be less likely to be politically active than their elders, but few research studies have focused on activism amongst Indigenous youth. This exploratory interview study focuses on motivations and challenges experienced by eight highly educated Malaysian Indigenous youth (aged 19–24). Youth took action for Indigenous rights in politics, education, development and health. We find systemic oppression and lack of control over their environment as key motivators for activism. These were associated with lack of representation in education and politics, and existential threats posed by major development projects involving dams, oil palm plantations and rice cultivation. Challenges faced by Indigenous youth in their activism included backlash from peers, tensions associated with maintaining true representation, fear of consequences of resistance, and the language of politics and legal knowledge. Education and social networking has an important – and currently under-utilised – role to play in enabling young people to live with dignity.

Understanding the Challenges Faced by the Young People in Malaysia

In Malaysia, it was difficult for young people to secure decent housing through ownership or renting. Due to Malaysia's lack of rental regulation, renting a home is challenging because there is no stability in the rental sector. The study was conducted using a quantitative approach involving a questionnaire survey with young people in the Greater Kuala Lumpur. Findings discovered that high deposits, lack of access to affordable rental schemes and lack of suitable rental housing schemes for the renters were among the critical challenges for them. Policymakers should relook into the rental aspect and formulate rental regulations that benefit both renters and homeowners in Malaysia.

Civic Engagement of Young People in Malaysia

Civic Engagement of Young People in Malaysia

SEXTING AMONG CHILDREN: DIFFERENCES IN LAW BETWEEN MALAYSIAN, ENGLISH, AND AMERICAN LAWS

The recent case of Sugarbook has sparked concerns among the public who are worried about young girls using applications on the Internet. Risky behaviors and worrying trends make online Internet users vulnerable to danger. Risky behaviors exhibited by youth such as distributing sexually explicit images and sharing sexually provocative photographs will not only expose them to danger but also be regarded as contravening the laws. There are also reported cases of revenge pornography among teenagers in local media. Despite the lack of research on this new trend of communication among children and young people in Malaysia, daily local newspapers have released worrying news of how relationships built on the Internet can turn into tragedies for innocent young people, especially teenagers and children. This paper discusses the possible meaning of sexting, the current laws, and the reported cases on sexting, particularly those captured in Malaysian media. This paper used secondary data and information gathered from articles in refereed journals to understand the legal differences between Malaysia and other jurisdictions, namely the USA and the UK. This paper suggests that besides the importance of educating youth to create legal awareness regarding proper use of the Internet, there is an urgent need to revisit the relevant legislations and practices on the governance of sexting in order to protect children and teenagers.

Five Important Considerations for the Development of Anti-corruption Education in Malaysia for Young People

Anti-corruption education is important in curbing corruption behavior. However, there is limited evidence about what should be designed into the anti-corruption curriculum for young people. Hence, this study intends to make suggestions about the development of anti-corruption education in Malaysia based on Theory of Social Representation. A survey to explore young people’s lay representation toward corruption was carried out. 232 respondents between 18 to 33 years old (M=19.79, SD=2.65) participated in this cross-sectional survey performed in Malays Language and translated into English for report purposes. The lay representation of the terms "corruption” was obtained using the free association and the rank-frequency technique. The result suggests five important considerations for the development of anti-corruption education: (1) educate people about the concept of corruption that includes not only money exchange; (2) continue to provide examples of integrity and legal practices in politics; (3) educate people about all types of corruption, (4) emphasize that corruption is not acceptable regardless of any situation or circumstances and (5) educate people about the effects of corruption. This suggestion could be used by the government, stakeholders, schools, and non-profit organizations who are interested in educating the public or creating anti-corruption awareness among young people in Malaysia.

Internet pornography exposures amongst young people in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study looking into the role of gender and perceived realism versus the actual sexual activities

Despite the wide accessibility to internet, pornography activities among youths are not well described in conservative countries like Malaysia. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, elicit gender differences and identify associated factors of pornographic exposure including perceived realism among college students. This cross-sectional study was conducted among students aged 18 to 25 years from seven colleges in Penang, Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics, pornography exposure, pattern of use, sexual exposure and perceived realism. Among 986 participants, the prevalence of lifetime pornography exposure was 74.5%. More males (71.7%) were exposed to pornography, had started at earlier age, were frequent users and using the internet alone at home (p < 0.001). Males had higher odds of having exposure (Adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 20.44, 95% CI: 12.50 – 33.42, p < 0.001), whilst those who perceived pornography as real had lower odds of having pornographic exposure (AOR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.43–0.94, p = 0.02). There is a high prevalence of pornography exposure among Malaysian college students, especially involving males. Easy access to pornographic materials at home facilitates this activity. Gender and perceived realism determined their pornographic exposure. Thus, parental monitoring of online access and planning structured activities to occupy free time are recommended at an early age.

Housing pathways of young starters in urban Malaysia

Young starters refer to those between 25 and 34 years of age who are establishing themselves in society (Zairul et al., 2015). Traditionally, the housing pathways of young people in Malaysia follow the Renting-Owning trajectory, which was the experience of the Baby Boomers up until the Generation X cohort. An important workforce segment, the housing pathways of incumbent young starters may not parallel those of preceding young starters due to current economic uncertainties, challenging housing market conditions and changing preferences. Given this context and the non-linearity and chaotic nature of housing pathways, an examination into the housing pathways of Malaysia’s young starters is highly timely. This paper aims to provide an insight into the experiences and perceptions on housing pathways among young starters in urban Malaysia. A convergent mixed methods strategy was adopted to inform on the current housing tenure and perceptions on the mainstream tenures among young starters. The study area is the Klang Valley which is the development and economic centre of Malaysia and has been the focus of government policy and developer activity pertaining to housing. Results suggest a general perception and experience of unaffordability in home ownership among the respondents, despite general preference and inspiration to own. Although renting is still a viable alternative, psychological and social resistance had led to a prolonged period of living with parents and/or family members. The current housing supply overhang suggests that non-affordability to buy and non-willingness to rent are signals to rethink the mainstream tenure offerings and venture into types of alternative tenures.

STIGMA AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY AT A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN MALAYSIA

The number of mental health problems among the young people in Malaysia is increasing, and this is worrying. Prompt action is needed as the young generation especially university students are the future leaders of the country. This study aimed to evaluate the level of stigma and attitudes of university students towards mental health disorders since limited study regarding this issue conducted in Malaysia. This is a cross-sectional study design whereby 496 students from MAHSA University were asked to complete a pre-validated questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of three main sections which were demographic, measures of knowledge and attitudes of respondents towards mental health disorders. The findings showed that there was a significant difference between knowledge score of the different age groups, ethnicity, faculty and current education level of respondents. Besides that, significant differences were reported between attitude score of the different age groups, faculty and current education level of the respondents. It was also found that there was a statistically significant positive correlation between mental health knowledge and attitudes towards mental health disorders. Overall, the respondents displayed good knowledge and attitude towards mental health disorders.

Healthcare Professionals’ Perspectives on The Provision of Sexual and Reproductive Health to Young People in Malaysia

Objective: In Malaysia, sexual health issues among young people encompassing premarital sex, the incidence of STI including HIV/AIDS, unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortion and the practice of baby abandonment. Little is known about the provision of sexual health care for young people since it has not been examined in-depth in a Malaysian context. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of healthcare professionals who deliver sexual health services provision to young people within primary healthcare settings which included schools as part of an outreach programme. Methods: This qualitative study used a self-developed topic guide for in-depth interview with twenty-four healthcare professionals of several government health clinics in Malaysia. The aim was to understand healthcare professionals’ experiences of dealing with young people and their views on current sexual health services provision. The interview data were entered into Nvivo and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: The findings show that healthcare professionals regarded the use of the Adolescent Health Screening Form as a cornerstone for all initial interactions between and young people in health clinics. The findings also highlight the problem with an appointment system that includes lack of consultation times, privacy issues and the requirement of parental consent when dealing with unmarried young people. Conclusion: This study had recognized several facility-based obstacles that restricted sexual health services to young people in Malaysia. Their access to and the utilization of sexual health services are dependent on health care system improvement.

Age group differences in political activism in Malaysia

ABSTRACT There is a dearth of studies on age-related patterns of political activism in Malaysia, specifically on young people’s patterns of political participation relative to their elders, and in relation to the rich literature that has developed in Western democracies. By analysing survey data from Wave 6 (2010–2014) of the World Values Surveys (WVS), this study aims to investigate the differences in political engagement between younger and older people in Malaysia, including new repertoires outside the mainstream politics, by addressing the question of whether young Malaysians are more active in political activities compared to older groups. The findings conform to the expected patterns in the literature that young people are less likely to participate in conventional political activities than their respective elders. However, we find no significant differences for unconventional political participation. The study further shows that demographic indicators such as the levels of education, gender and ethnic group belonging do not appear to be linked to the age gap between youth and their elders in political activism. As such, the study provides evidence that young people in Malaysia are less likely to be politically active than their elders and that this is not clearly attributable to the socio-demographic factors analysed.

Views of young people in Malaysia on mental health, help-seeking and unusual psychological experiences.

Mental health problems are prevalent among young people in Malaysia yet access to specialist mental health care is extremely limited. More context-specific research is needed to understand the factors affecting help-seeking in youth, when mental health problems typically have first onset. We aimed to explore the attitudes of vulnerable young Malaysians regarding mental health problems including unusual psychological experiences, help-seeking and mental health treatment. In the present study, nine young people (aged 16-23 years) from low-income backgrounds participated in a semi-structured interview about their perspectives on mental health problems, unusual psychological experiences and help-seeking. Four themes were developed using thematic analysis. "Is it that they [have] family problems?" reflected participants' explanatory models of mental health problems. "Maybe in Malaysia" was concerned with perceptions of Malaysian culture as both encouraging of open sharing of problems and experiences, but also potentially stigmatizing. "You have to ask for help" emphasized the importance of mental health help-seeking despite potential stigma. "It depends on the person" addressed the challenges of engaging with psychological therapy. We conclude that young people in Malaysia may hold compassionate, non-stigmatizing views towards people experiencing mental health problems and a desire to increase their knowledge and understandings. Yet societal stigma is a perceived reputational risk that may affect mental health problem disclosure and help-seeking. We suggest that efforts to improve mental health literacy would be valued by young Malaysians and could support reduced stigma and earlier help-seeking.

Factors associated with online sexually transmissible infection information seeking among young people in Malaysia: an observational study.

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Malaysian youth aged 18-25 years who were recruited through social media. Among 1530 respondents who completed the survey, 57.1% sought online STI information in the past 12 months mostly from general Internet websites, health websites, and Facebook. Respondents' overall STI knowledge was low. Young people who had higher STI knowledge (OR = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.87-3.25, P = 0.000), had intention-to-seek online STI information (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.23-3.30, P = 0.000), identified as homosexual or bisexual (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.08-2.57, P = 0.020), experienced STI symptoms (OR = 1.51, 95%CI = 1.02-2.22, P = 0.040), were in a relationship (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.08-1.86, P = 0.012) and had high perceived quality of online STI information (OR = 1.41, 95%CI = 1.09-1.83, P = 0.009) were more likely to seek online STI information. Findings suggest the need to increase STI knowledge and perceived quality of online STI information among Malaysian youth. Young people with low STI knowledge, who are heterosexual, sexually active without STI symptoms and single would benefit from reliable sources of online STI information for STI prevention.

Narrative review of theories on Juveniles deviant behaviour

Recently, Involvement of young people in different criminal activities is evidence of increased deviant behaviour in young people in Malaysia. Over the past decade, the figures for deviant behaviours among young people in Malaysia continue to increase every year. Many theories have been presented over the years to investigate the factors that are linked to the juvenile’s deviant behaviour. The current study aims to review the existing theories on the Juveniles deviant behaviour to identify the possible caused of the deviant behaviour among juveniles in Malaysia. The results indicated that there are many factors that lead young generation to the deviant behaviour like, lack of parental attention, lack of education, drug abuse and media influence, membership in gangs and urbanization. The results of the current study provided insights of the factors that lead young generation to the criminal activities in Malaysia. It will be helpful for the government for policy making to avoid these factors that lead young people to deviant behaviour in Malaysia.Â