MyMedR

Displaying all 8 publications

Abstract:

Sort:

River and fish pollution in Malaysia: A green ergonomics perspective

Poon WC, Herath G, Sarker A, Masuda T, Kada R

Appl Ergon, 2016 Feb 21.
PMID: 26911247 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2016.02.009

Human activities, such as industrial, agricultural, and domestic pursuits, discharge effluents into riverine ecological systems that contains aquatic resources, such as fish, which are also used by humans. We conducted case studies in Malaysia to investigate the impacts of these human activities on water and fish resources, as well as on human well-being from an ergonomics perspective. This research shows that a green ergonomics approach can provide us with useful insights into sustainable relationships between humans and ecology in facilitating human well-being in consideration of the overall performance of the social-ecological system. Heavy metal concentrations contained in the effluents pollute river water and contaminate fish, eventually creating significant health risks and economic costs for residents, including the polluters. The study suggests a number of policy interventions to change human behavior and achieve greater collaboration between various levels of government, academia, civil society, and businesses to help establish sustainable relationships between humans and ecology in Malaysia.
Fulltext Functional Food Consumption and Its Associated Factors among University Students in Malaysia during COVID-19 Pandemic

Tay JEF, Tung SEH, Mok KT, Tan CH, Gan WY, Poon WC

Malays J Med Sci, 2023 Dec;30(6):133-146.
PMID: 38239254 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2023.30.6.13

BACKGROUND: In the current situation of COVID-19, dietary intake that incorporates functional foods may potentially be a preventive measure for defence against viral infection. This study aimed to determine the consumption of functional foods and its associated factors among university students during COVID-19.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 284 Malaysian university students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. An online self-administered questionnaire was employed to assess subjects' nutrition knowledge, dietary habits, attitude towards functional foods, recognition and consumption of functional food products.
RESULTS: Out of 284 respondents, 41.9% had poor level of nutrition knowledge and 57% had moderate level of functional food-related attitude, with seven types of functional foods consumed on average (57.0%). Binary logistic regression showed that university students who consumed fruits at least three times per day (aOR = 11.18; 95% CI: 1.46, 80.17), salty snacks (aOR = 2.90; 95% CI: 1.43, 5.86), soft drinks/sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) (aOR = 3.12; 95% CI: 1.53, 5.26) and pure juice (aOR = 2.80; 95% CI: 1.48, 5.30) were more likely to consume functional foods during COVID-19 (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: The findings could provide information to public and private sectors in terms of creating a supportive environment to encourage and promote the awareness and consumption of functional foods and their associated health benefits.
Fulltext Associations of Problematic Internet Use, Weight-Related Self-Stigma, and Nomophobia with Physical Activity: Findings from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia

Liu W, Chen JS, Gan WY, Poon WC, Tung SEH, Lee LJ, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2022 Sep 25;19(19).
PMID: 36231435 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912135

Insufficient physical activity is a common problem for university students because they may engage in sedentary lifestyle owing to excessive time spent on their smartphones and social media use. This may result in problematic internet use (PIU) and nomophobia (fear of not having a mobile phone). Moreover, prior evidence shows that weight-related self-stigma is an important factor contributing to low physical activity. Therefore, the present study examined the associations between PIU, nomophobia, and physical activity among university students across mainland China, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Participants (3135 mainland Chinese, 600 Taiwanese, and 622 Malaysian) completed the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS), Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMPQ), Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF). The measurement invariance of the assessed questionnaires was supported across the three regions. The present findings analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling showed that (i) greater nomophobia was associated with higher levels of physical activity, (ii) greater weight-related self-stigma was associated with higher levels of physical activity, and (iii) greater nomophobia was associated with greater weight-related self-stigma. Although the present findings suggest the possibility that experiencing some level of nomophobia or weight-related self-stigma appears to help improve physical activity, it is not recommended that these be encouraged, but reducing PIU should be targeted as a means to improve physical activity.
Fulltext Validation of the Thai Assessment of Criteria for Specific Internet-use Disorders (ACSID-11) among young adults

Yang YN, Su JA, Pimsen A, Chen JS, Potenza MN, Pakpour AH, et al.

BMC Psychiatry, 2023 Nov 08;23(1):819.
PMID: 37940885 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05210-z

BACKGROUND: The Assessment of Criteria for Specific Internet-use Disorders (ACSID-11) is a consistent and comprehensive instrument to assess symptoms of specific internet-use disorders including those related to gaming, shopping, pornography use disorder, social networks use and gambling considering criteria in the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). However, to date, there is little evidence supporting instruments assessing major types of specific internet use disorders in Thailand. The aim of this present study was to assess the psychometric properties of the ACSID-11 among Thai young adults.
METHODS: A total of 612 participants were recruited. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) examined construct validity of the ACSID-11. Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω were used to assess reliability of the ACSID-11. Pearson correlations examined relationships between ACSID-11 domains and Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF) scores.
RESULTS: The CFA supported validity of the Thai version of the ACSID-11 and a four-factor structure. Specific domains of the Thai ACSID-11, particularly gaming, were positively and significantly correlated with IGDS9-SF scores.
CONCLUSIONS: Data indicate that the Thai version of the ACSID-11 is a valid and reliable instrument to assess major types of specific internet use disorders. Additional studies are needed to further examine the validity and reliability of the Thai ACSID-11.
Fulltext The Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 and the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 in Taiwan: Factor structure and concurrent validity

Chen IH, Huang PC, Lin YC, Gan WY, Fan CW, Yang WC, et al.

Front Psychiatry, 2022;13:1014447.
PMID: 36506452 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1014447

INTRODUCTION: The most widely used instruments to assess food addiction - the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (YFAS 2.0) and its modified version (mYFAS 2.0) - have not been validated in a Taiwanese population. The present study compared the psychometric properties between the Taiwan versions of YFAS 2.0 and mYFAS 2.0 among university students.
METHODS: An online survey comprising the YFAS 2.0, mYFAS 2.0, Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) were used to assess food addiction, self-stigma, and physical activity.
RESULTS: All participants (n = 687; mean age = 24.00 years [SD ± 4.48 years]; 407 females [59.2%]) completed the entire survey at baseline and then completed the YFAS 2.0 and mYFAS 2.0 again three months later. The results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated that the YFAS 2.0 and mYFAS 2.0 both shared a similar single-factor solution. In addition, both the YFAS 2.0 and mYFAS 2.0 reported good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.90 and 0.89), good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.71 and 0.69), and good concurrent validity with the total scores being strongly associated with the WSSQ (r = 0.54 and 0.57; p < 0.01), and less strongly associated with BMI (r = 0.17 and 0.13; p < 0.01) and IPAQ-SF (r = 0.23 and 0.25; p < 0.01).
DISCUSSION: Based on the findings, the Taiwan versions of the YFAS 2.0 and mYFAS 2.0 appear to be valid and reliable instruments assessing food addiction.
Problematic Gaming in Malaysian University Students: Translation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Malay Language Versions of Gaming Disorder Test and Gaming Disorder Scale for Young Adults

Ghazi FR, Gan WY, Tung SEH, Chen IH, Poon WC, Siaw YL, et al.

Eval Health Prof, 2024 Mar;47(1):93-104.
PMID: 37365830 DOI: 10.1177/01632787231185845

As research on gaming disorder (GD) is growing globally, the need for a valid and reliable instrument to assess GD has become crucial. Therefore, the present cross-sectional study translated and evaluated the psychometric properties of Gaming Disorder Test (GDT) and Gaming Disorder Scale for Young Adults (GADIS-YA) into Malay language versions. The sample comprised 624 university students (females = 75.6%; mean age = 22.27 years) recruited via an online survey from May to August 2022, using a convenience sampling method. Participants completed both GDT and GADIS-YA scales and other relevant measures including Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF), and time spent on social media and gaming. Results showed that both instruments reported satisfactory internal consistency, and confirmatory factor analysis supported the one-factor structure for GDT and two-factor structure for GADIS-YA. Both scales were strongly correlated with each other and with the IGDS9-SF, BSMAS, and time spent on social media and gaming, supporting concurrent validity. Measurement invariance of both scales was confirmed across gender and gaming time. These findings suggest that the Malay versions of GDT and GADIS-YA are reliable and valid measures of problematic gaming among Malaysian university students.
Sequentially mediated effects of weight-related self-stigma and psychological distress in the association between perceived weight stigma and food addiction among Taiwanese university students: A cross-sectional study

Huang PC, Lee CH, Griffiths MD, O'Brien KS, Lin YC, Gan WY, et al.

J Eat Disord, 2022 Nov 21;10(1):177.
PMID: 36414956 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-022-00701-y

BACKGROUND: Weight-related stigma has negative physiological and psychological impacts on individuals' quality of life. Stigmatized individuals may experience higher psychological distress and therefore increase the potential risk to develop obesity and/or food addiction. The present study examined the associations and mediated effect between perceived weight stigma, weight-related self-stigma, and psychological distress in explaining food addiction among Taiwanese university students.
METHODS: All participants (n = 968) completed an online survey which included the Perceived Weight Stigma Questionnaire, Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire, Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21, and Yale Food Addiction Scale Version 2.
RESULTS: After controlling for demographic variables, significant associations were found in the paths from (1) perceived weight stigma to weight-related self-stigma ([Formula: see text] = 0.23), psychological distress ([Formula: see text] = 0.35), and food addiction ([Formula: see text] = 0.23); (2) weight-related self-stigma to psychological distress ([Formula: see text] = 0.52) and food addiction ([Formula: see text] = 0.59); and (3) psychological distress to food addiction ([Formula: see text] = 0.59) (all p-values
Fulltext Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (YFAS 2.0) and modified YFAS 2.0 (mYFAS 2.0): Rasch analysis and differential item functioning

Saffari M, Fan CW, Chang YL, Huang PC, Tung SEH, Poon WC, et al.

J Eat Disord, 2022 Nov 28;10(1):185.
PMID: 36443860 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-022-00708-5

BACKGROUND: Food addiction (FA) is a prevalent concern that may manifest as poorly controlled food consumption and promote overweight/obesity. Thus, having a well-established instrument for assessment may facilitate better prevention and treatment. The current study investigated the psychometric properties of two common measures of FA (i.e., the Yale Food Addiction Scale [YFAS] 2.0 and its modified version, mYFAS 2.0) using a robust statistical analysis (Rasch model).
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the scales were sent to 974 students studying in higher education (60% females) in Taiwan through online media including email and social networks. Rasch modeling was used to assess dimensionality, difficulty level, and item misfit and hierarchy. Differential item functioning (DIF) was performed to examine consistency of the items across gender and weight status.
RESULTS: Rasch analysis indicated 3 items of the 35 items belonging to the YFAS 2.0 (8.6%) and none belonging to the mYFAS 2.0 were misfit. Unidimensionality and construct validity of both scales were supported by appropriate goodness-of-fit for diagnostic criteria. The person separation was 3.14 (reliability = 0.91) for the YFAS 2.0 and 2.17 (reliability = 0.82) for mYFAS 2.0, indicating the scales could distinguish participants into more than 3 strata. Only one substantial DIF was found for diagnostic criteria of "Failure to fulfill major role obligation" in the YFAS 2.0 across gender.
CONCLUSION: According to Rasch modeling, both the YFAS 2.0 and mYFAS 2.0 have acceptable construct validity in Chinese-speaking youth. Scoring methods using either diagnostic criteria or symptom counts for both the YFAS 2.0 and mYFAS 2.0 are supported by the present Rasch findings.