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The literature suggests that some children at increased risk of parentification, which includes children of chronically ill or substance-misusing parents and children of divorced or migrant parents. Despite the necessity for some children to assume adult roles, parentification is potentially harmful. This paper aims to: (i) investigate the parentification concept and outcomes and (ii) summarize the components that render parentification adaptive in children. Articles were retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, Dimensions AI, Google Scholar, and reference list tracking using the keywords “parentification” and “parentification AND children”. A critical review was performed with a narrative approach to synthesize the 61 included studies to determine the existing knowledge and identify research priorities within the field of parentification. The findings were reported based on the Literature Review Synthesis Process and the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA). The experience of parentification could be adaptive and empowering for children. The potential components of adaptive parentification included emotional support, supportive and positive relationships with siblings and grandparents, parents openly delegating the roles to each child, having age-appropriate roles, parental support and validation, and children’s positive appraisal and perception of the role-taking.

Although parenting programs have been supported as an effective family-based intervention for children’s behavioral problems, they are underutilized in developing countries. This randomized controlled study aims to determine the effectiveness of the Incredible Years parenting program (IYPP) in improving behavioral problems in children, parenting stress, and parental mental health. Seventy mother–child dyads from three tertiary hospitals in Malaysia were divided into the IYPP and waitlist control groups. Weekly parent training sessions were adjusted during the pandemic period. Child’s total difficulty scores of the Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ-TDS), Parental Stress Scale (PSS) scores, and parental DASS-21 scores were measured at pre- and post-intervention, and follow-up, and analyzed using generalized estimating equation (GEE). Compared to the control group at baseline, the intervention group showed a 4.2- and a 3.5-point significantly lower SDQ-TDS at 2 weeks post-intervention and 3 months follow-up, respectively (B = -4.20, 95 % CI: −6.68, −1.72, p = 0.001; B = -3.51, 95 % CI:-6.37, −0.66, p = 0.016), a 5.0-point significantly lower PSS at 3 months follow-up (B = -5.03, 95 % CI: −9.16, −0.90, p = 0.017), and a 4.1-point significantly lower general stress scores at 2 weeks post-intervention (B = -4.06, 95 % CI: −7.20, −0.92, p = 0.011). Effect sizes were small (ds = 0.28–0.40). There was no significant intervention effect on maternal anxiety and depression scores. The modified parenting program was effective in improving children’s behavior, parenting stress, and general stress among mothers of children aged 6–12 years presented with borderline and abnormal levels of behavioral problems, with sustained effects demonstrated for child behavior. However, the interpretation of these findings requires careful consideration of potential pandemic-instigated challenges and implications.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in general, possess selective eating habits and sensory sensitivity that predispose them to the risk of poor nutritional status. Nutritional status of children is important for optimal physical and cognitive development and reduction of the risk of chronic diseases in the future. Given the limited information on the body weight status and nutrient intake of Malaysian children with ASD, this study, therefore, assessed the body weight status and dietary intake of children with ASD in an autism intervention centre in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 224 children with ASD aged 3–7 years (82.6% boys and 17.4% girls) and their mothers participated in this study. Mothers completed a self-administered questionnaire on the socio demographic background and recorded a 3-day food diary of their children with ASD at home. The researcher measured body weight and height of the children with ASD in the centre. The prevalence rates of underweight, stunting, wasting/thinness, and overweight/obesity were 9.3%, 8.0%, 4.0%, and 21.5%, respectively. Total energy and protein intakes were adequate for most of the children with ASD but calorie from fat was higher than the recommendation. A majority of the children with ASD in this study did not meet the RNI requirements for fibre (99.6%), thiamine (67.4%), vitamin C (50.9%), vitamin D (98.2%), vitamin E (74.6%), vitamin B12 (64.3%), folate (88.8%), calcium (90.2%) and zinc (77.2%). More girls showed inadequate intakes of vitamin C, niacin and vitamin B12 than boys. Children with ASD in this study showed poor body weight status and inadequate intake of several essential nutrients. Nutritional intervention programmes in improving nutrient adequacy and regular anthropometric measurements are recommended to be carried out in order to improve nutritional status of children with ASD.

The current study amid to determine whether a life skills-based education could improve coping skills among adolescents in Malaysian orphanages. It was a randomized controlled trial comprising intervention and control groups which were randomly selected to receive the life skills, or the Placebo education programmes. The DASS21 and Brief COPE were used as the study instruments. Results showed the mean scores of self-distraction, active coping, use of emotional support, use of instrumental support, positive reinterpretation, planning and acceptance, at post-test, were significantly increased compared to the pre-test values. Denial, substance abuse, behavioural disengagement and self-blame significantly decreased. The findings provide an opportunity to assess the effects of participation in a life skills education programme on behavioural health in Malaysia orphanages.

Background: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) of different levels of symptom severity may exhibit a wide range of behaviours and characteristics. There is a limited nutrition-related study on children with ASD of different severity in Malaysia. Aims: This cross-sectional study aims to determine the association between sociodemographic factors, parental factors, and lifestyle factors with autism severity in children with ASD. Methods and procedures: A total of 224 children with ASD were included in this study. Their mothers completed a self-administered questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, autism severity, parenting style, parental feeding practices, parenting stress, child's sleep habits and eating behaviours. Outcomes and results: As high as 78.1 % of the children with ASD demonstrated a high level of autism severity. Multiple linear regression showed that father's employment status (B = 6.970, 95 % CI = 3.172, 10.768, p < 0.001) and perceived child weight (B = 3.338, 95 % CI = 1.350, 5.327, p = 0.001) predicted autism severity. Conclusions and implications: Children with ASD in this study had a high level of autism severity. Regular anthropometric measurements by healthcare professionals should be conducted at the autism intervention centres. It is important to have multidisciplinary collaboration in future research to develop customised guidelines for parents with autistic children.

The aim of the current study was to determine if a life skills-based intervention programme could improve the emotional health, self-esteem and coping skills of Malaysian institutionalised adolescents. This study was a randomized controlled trial with pre-, post- and four-month follow-up tests comprising intervention and control groups which were randomly selected to receive the intervention programme (life skills education) or the placebo education programme (COMBI programme). Overall, 271 adolescents, who experienced a mild to extra severe score in one of the objectives of the DASS21 questionnaire were selected to participate in the study. The findings of this study can be the starting point of continuous, systematic life skills education for Malaysian children and adolescents, and can be used by researchers and educational planners across the country.

Background/objective: Missing main meals and an unhealthy snacking pattern can lead to poor diet quality and consequently to the presence of chronic diseases among which mental disorder is no exception. Since there is little research on diet, skipping meals and psychological status in Asian countries, this study tries to determine eating behaviour and predicting symptoms of stress and depression of adolescents in Pasir Gudang, Malaysia. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Form 1 secondary school-going adolescents (n 1565, response rate: 90%) in southern Malaysia from April to May 2013. A self-administered structured and validated questionnaire (socio-demographic, eating behaviour questionnaire, and depression, anxiety and stress scales (DASS-21)) was used for data collection. Results: Among respondents, 803 (51.3%) were female, 1125 were Malay (71.9%) with a mean age of 13.7 (SD = 0.8) years. Logistic regression analysis indicated that students who were underweight (OR = 3.07, 95% CI 1.21, 7.76), obese (OR = 2.64, 95% CI 1.01, 6.87), used to eat out of home (OR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.28, 2.13), eat dinner (>4 days/week) (OR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.04, 2.43) were more likely to have depression or stress symptoms. Moreover, participants with 4–7 days/week eating breakfast (OR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.21, 0.89) were less likely to be at mild/moderate stress. Conclusions: Findings underscore the effect of unhealthy eating practices among adolescents on mental health. Targeted education should be implemented to improve psychological well-being.