Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan - Tesis
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- PublicationAssociations between types of social media use, social anxiety & loneliness among USM students(2025)Subramaniam, TineshThe extensive social media use among higher education students has concerns surrounding its influence on their social anxiety and loneliness. The general objective is to study the impact of social media use types (consumption, image, comparison, & belief-based) on mental health outcomes of USM Health Campus undergraduate students. A quantitative, cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 85 full-time undergraduate students from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Health Campus. Questionnaires such as Social Media Use Scale (SMUS), Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS), and UCLA Loneliness Scale 3rd edition were used to collect data from the study’s sample. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics such as Pearson's correlations & multiple regression was run and findings were reported. Results showed that consumption use type had a significant positive correlation with social anxiety and significantly predicted social anxiety. This suggests higher consumption levels are associated with elevated social anxiety. Conversely, comparison use type had a significant positive correlation with loneliness & significantly predicted. Image and Belief-based use didn’t significantly predict either outcome or had any significant correlations with the dependant variables. The study advocates for targeted psychoeducational interventions focusing on reducing maladaptive consumption and comparison behaviors to foster healthier social media use and mitigate adverse effects on student mental health.
- PublicationThe correlation of gaming addiction on psychological resilience and stress coping mechanisms among Malaysian youths(2025)Azad, Muhammad Hazeeq ShammimVideo games have recently become highly prevalent worldwide, with players of all ages participating in such activities. However, because gaming has a negative impact on players' mental health, particularly among young people in Malaysia, addiction to video games has become cause for concern. This research examined the interrelations among gaming group classification, psychological resilience, and stress coping strategies within the youth demographic in Malaysia. Employing a quantitative, cross-sectional methodological approach, data were gathered from 203 individuals who were classified into Contrast, Highly Engaged, Problem, and Addicted gamer categories according to the Gaming Addiction Scale (GAS). Psychological resilience was measured through the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and stress coping strategies were classified into Problem-focused, Emotion-focused, or Avoidant-focused categories using the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief-COPE). One-Way ANOVA and Multiple Linear Regression analyses demonstrated the absence of statistically significant differences in psychological resilience across the various gaming groups, indicating that classification does not serve as a predictor of resilience levels within this population. In contrast, a Chi- Square Test of Independence revealed a statistically significant correlation between gaming group classification and stress coping strategy. Although Emotion-focused coping was prevalent across all classifications, the Addicted gamer group distinctly exhibited the utilization of an Avoidant-focused coping strategy, thereby differentiating them from other categorizations. In summary, the findings indicate that gaming group classification does not have a direct correlation with overall psychological resilience. However, it is significantly associated with specific coping mechanisms. This suggests that interventions aimed at addressing gaming-related challenges, particularly for individuals classified as addicted gamers, should focus on modifying maladaptive coping strategies, such as avoidance, in order to foster more effective stress management techniques.
- PublicationThe effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on dysfunctional attitudes and difficulties in emotion regulation among University students in Malaysia(2025)Jun, Tan WeiDepression, anxiety, and stress are common psychological difficulties reported among university students in Malaysia, with dysfunctional attitudes and difficulties in emotion regulation often underlying these conditions. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a third-wave cognitive behavioural intervention, has demonstrated effectiveness across various psychological disorders by enhancing psychological flexibility. However, research examining its impact on dysfunctional attitudes and emotion regulation among Malaysian university students remains limited. This study adopts a single-blinded, randomised controlled trial design involving 28 university students experiencing mild to moderate depression, anxiety, and/or stress. Participants were randomly assigned to either an ACT intervention group (n = 14) or a waitlist control group (n = 14). The ACT group attended six weekly online intervention sessions based on an adapted ACT protocol, whereas, the control group received no intervention during the study period. The Malay version of the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS-Malay) and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-18-M) were administered at three time points: pre-test, intermediate, post-test. Mixed ANOVA results indicated a statistically significant interaction effect between group and time for both dysfunctional attitudes (F (2, 52) = 14.32, p <.001, partial η² = .355), and difficulties in emotion regulation (F (2, 52) = 9.22, p <.001, partial η² = .262). Post hoc tests showed that while no significant changes were observed from pre-test to intermediate test, statistically significant reductions were found to pre-test to post-test and from intermediate test to post-test in the ACT group. These findings provide empirical support for the effectiveness of ACT in addressing cognitive and emotional inflexibility in university students. The nonconfrontational nature of the intervention and online delivery format were well-received,suggesting both cultural appropriateness and practical feasibility within the Malaysian context.
- PublicationUnderstanding the cognitive process of imagery in young adults with social anxiety(2025)Salleh, Nurizzati MohdSocial anxiety is characterized by a persistent fear of being judged or negatively evaluated in social situations, often leading to avoidance behaviours and emotional distress. Mental imagery, defined as the ability to generate sensory-like experiences in the absence of external stimuli, has been found to play a critical role in social anxiety. Although previous research highlights the significance of mental imagery in maintaining social anxiety, findings remain inconsistent regarding the vividness and frequency of these mental images, especially among young adults and non-clinical populations in Malaysia. This study aimed to investigate how different levels of social anxiety affect three key aspects of mental imagery: vividness of visual imagery, vividness of sensory imagery, and frequency of mental imagery among Malaysian young adults. A cross-sectional comparative design was employed. A total of 137 university students aged 18 to 26 participated after being screened using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale–Self-Report (LSAS-SR) and categorized into high and low social anxiety groups. Participants completed the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ), the Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire (Psi-Q), and the Spontaneous Use of Imagery Scale (SUIS). Data were analyzed using Welch’s t-tests and Mann–Whitney U tests. The results revealed statistically significant differences in the vividness of both visual imagery and sensory imagery, with individuals in the low social anxiety group reporting higher vividness. However, no significant difference was found in the frequency of mental imagery between the groups. These findings suggest that social anxiety may impair the clarity, but not the frequency of mental imagery. This study contributes to existing cognitive models of social anxiety and supports the advancement of tailored psychological assessments and evidence-based interventions for socially anxious young adults, particularly those in higher education settings.
- PublicationExamining the relationship between post-traumatic stress symptoms, depressive symptoms, and emotional regulation in individuals with traumatic brain injury(2025)Zulkarnain, Iszati Afiqah IskandarTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is commonly associated with psychological challenges, including post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depressive symptoms, and emotional regulation difficulties. Despite the high prevalence of these issues, research on their co-occurrence and interrelationships in TBI populations is limited. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of PTSS, depressive symptoms, and emotional regulation difficulties among individuals with a history of TBI and to explore the relationships between these challenges. A sample of 150 individuals with TBI participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed self-report measures: the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics and correlation tests, were conducted to assess the prevalence and relationships between variables. The results indicated that 80.7% of participants met the clinical threshold for PTSS, with 43.3% exhibiting moderately severe depressive symptoms and 26.7% reporting moderate symptoms. Emotional regulation difficulties were prevalent, with 32.0% showing low cognitive reappraisal scores and 48.0% exhibiting medium levels of expressive suppression. A moderate positive correlation was found between cognitive reappraisal and PTSS (Spearman’s ρ = 0.253, p = 0.002), while a strong positive correlation was observed between expressive suppression and PTSS (Spearman’s ρ = 0.532, p < 0.001). Additionally, a strong positive correlation was found between PTSS and depressive symptoms (Spearman’s ρ = 0.728, p < 0.001). These findings highlight the significant psychological challenges faced by individuals with TBI and underscore the role of emotional regulation in the co-occurrence of PTSS and depression. However, limitations such as the small sample size and reliance on self-report measures suggest that future research should explore larger, longitudinal studies to better understand the interrelationships between these psychological challenges in TBI populations.