MOJPC: Malaysia Online Journal of Psychology & Counselling

UNDERSTANDING COPING STRATEGIES OF MALAYSIAN PARENTS DURING CHILD PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION

Hooi Mei Chuah, Melati Sumari — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Caring for children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD) is associated with elevated stress levels among parents. However, there is little knowledge of how parents cope during participation in their child’s psychotherapeutic intervention for EBD. The current study explored the coping strategies adopted by the parents during their contact with their child's mental health services by using a transcendental phenomenological design. Seidman's three-interview series collected detailed data from seven parents (six mothers and one father) in the Malaysian peninsula. The Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen method was used to analyse data collected from individual interviews. Four main strategies were identified from the study: emotion-focused coping, information-based coping, social support, and spirituality-based coping. Additionally, information-based coping included two sub-strategies: (a) means for informed decision-making and (b) access to mental health information. Mental health professionals need to incorporate clinical strategies that could help parents cope better during this challenging time.

THE EFFECT OF SCHOOL-BASED CHARACTER-BUILDING PROGRAM ON SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-EFFICACY AND RESILIENCE AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Charles Ganaprakasam, Tamil Arasi Muniandy, Mohd Nazrul Azizi — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

Character-building programs play a crucial role in fostering students' personal growth and psychological well-being. This study examines the effectiveness of a school-based character-building program in enhancing self-esteem, self-efficacy, and resilience among primary school students. The intervention, grounded in the Information-Motivation-Behavioral (IMB) model and Emotional Intelligence (EI) theory, aims to equip students with essential emotional regulation skills, decision-making abilities, and adaptive coping strategies. A single-group pre-test and post-test design was employed, in which students participated in structured activities that focused on self-awareness, motivation, and behavioral skills. Findings indicated significant improvements in self-esteem, self-efficacy, and resilience, supporting previous literature emphasizing the role of emotional intelligence-based interventions in character development. The results suggest that integrating IMB and EI strategies into school programs can enhance students’ self-esteem, self-efficacy, and resilience. These findings have implications for educators, policymakers, and future research, highlighting the need for longitudinal studies and broader implementation of character-building initiatives in school settings.

TEACHER SELF-EFFICACY AND PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY AMONG INDONESIAN NON-SPECIALIST EFL TEACHERS: A MULTIPLE CASE STUDY IN PRIMARY SCHOOL CONTEXTS

Rudha Widagsa, Fatiha Senom, Fonny Hutagalung — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This study examines the development of teacher self-efficacy and professional identity among non-specialist English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers in Indonesian primary schools who lack formal training in English language teaching (ELT). It investigates how these teachers construct their professional roles and self-beliefs through experiential learning within a low-support educational environment. Using a qualitative multiple-case study design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and document analysis which involves four primary school teachers. The findings indicate that mastery experiences - particularly successful classroom teaching - were the most influential in building self-efficacy and shaping professional identity. Vicarious experiences, often accessed through online resources and personal educational histories, also contributed significantly by enhancing instructional strategies and confidence. However, emotional challenges such as imposter syndrome and identity vulnerability emerged, especially in under-resourced schools. The study underscores the dynamic interplay between self-efficacy and professional identity and highlights the need for targeted, context-sensitive support for non-specialist teachers. These findings offer new insights into teacher development in marginalized educational contexts and suggest practical strategies to promote professional growth in similarly resource-constrained settings.

THE CRITICAL INFLUENCE OF MINDFULNESS IN REDUCING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ANXIETY: A STUDY ON MALAYSIA’S NATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Chang Yin Liang, Chew Fong Peng, Fonny Dameaty Hutagalung — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

The learning of a foreign language is generally an arduous, anxiety-laden psychological experience. However, recent studies have observed the virtues of mindfulness practices in education in yielding positive benefits for a smoother learning outcome. To test its efficacy in the local context, this quantitative non-experimental correlational research surveyed 429 students from 32 secondary schools in Selangor, Malaysia. First, it examined the levels of mindfulness and foreign language anxiety among the target population using the Theory of Foreign Language Anxiety and the Mindfulness Model. Next, it investigated the direct effects of mindfulness on foreign language anxiety. Questionnaires with measurement scales co-opted from previous studies were used as survey instruments. These included the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale by Horwitz et al. (1986) and the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure by Greco et al. (2011). Conclusively, the research findings showed a distinct relationship between mindfulness and foreign language classroom anxiety, with mindfulness exerting a mediating influence in alleviating foreign language anxiety. Accordingly, the research encourages the development of learning environments that are strategically empathetic in bolstering students’ confidence for successful foreign language acquisition.

MENTAL HEALTH OF FEMALE EMPLOYEES ACROSS INDUSTRIES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF PSYCHOLOGICAL CHALLENGES AND RESILIENCE FACTORS

Ao Shen, Rafidah Aga Mohd Jaladin — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0800

This systematic review analyses the mental health-related challenges and resilience factors of women in employment within various industries, focusing on their psychological distress and the factors fostering positive health outcomes. The review integrates results from different studies concerned with the incidence of stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression while paying special attention to the consequences of gender bias, organizational culture, and management approaches. The data suggest that while supportive organizational environments, transformational leadership, and work-life balance policies exist, abusive environments where women are faced with gender discrimination, harassment, and limited opportunities for advancement continue to be primary sources of stress. Furthermore, some social support systems, mentorship, and career development opportunities were found to aid in alleviating psychological barriers, thereby enhancing resilience. This review emphasizes measures that organizations should take in formulating Gender-sensitive policies and leadership approaches that support mental health among women employees.