Vol. 16 No. 3S(I)a (2024)

Stress remains one of the most difficult challenges in responding to various situations. It elicits negative thoughts and feelings in the person. Counseling, training, exercise, and other methods effectively reduce stress. However, with the advancement of technology, different approaches to dealing with it have emerged. One of the types of digital health applications was stress relief applications. This application was starting to become famous as an alternative to help individuals manage their stress levels. Numerous stressmanagement or stress-relief applications are available for smartphones and tablets. These applications include a variety of stress-reduction techniques, including meditation, mindfulness breathing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and relaxation techniques . This review paper explores the psychological factors influencing the usage of stress relief applications. In this review paper, researchers focused on perceived stress, motivation for selfcare, and cognitive engagement. Understanding these psychological factors can help the individual experiencing high stress levels to utilize the stress relief application. Besides, for the application developers, it gives the idea to create compelling digital tools that cater to users' specific needs and preferences, ultimately promoting better stress management and overall well-being.

Workplace mistreatment, such as bullying, abusive supervision, and interpersonal conflict, is increasingly conceded as a critical issue affecting the mental health of junior professionals, particularly interns. Due to their momentary status, high expectations, and lack of support, interns are highly susceptible to negative workplace interactions that can lead to severe psychological outcomes such as including suicidal ideation. Drawing on the Fluid Vulnerability Theory, this study aims to examine the prevalence and impact of various forms of workplace mistreatment on suicidal ideation among internship students in Malaysia, providing insights for effective intervention strategies. The study used a cross-sectional research design and involved 247 internship students from the Faculty of Business and Management at UiTM Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Data were collected through a structured online questionnaire assessing experiences of workplace bullying, abusive supervision, interpersonal conflict, and suicidal ideation. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis, were employed to examine the relationships between the variables. The analysis revealed significant correlations between workplace bullying, abusive supervision, and interpersonal conflict with suicidal ideation. Regression models indicated that workplace bullying and interpersonal conflict were significant predictors of suicidal ideation, accentuating the critical need for targeted interventions in educational and professional environments. The findings suggest that workplace mistreatment significantly contributes to suicidal ideation among interns, highlighting the importance of developing supportive interventions and policies. Addressing workplace mistreatment through targeted programs can improve mental health outcomes for young professionals and foster healthier work environments.

This study investigates the key determinants influencing the adoption of family takaful among residents of Puncak Alam, Selangor. Despite the strategic design of family takaful to provide financial protection, particularly for low-income earners in the event of financial loss, its market penetration in Malaysia remains low. This raises important questions about the barriers to its widespread adoption, despite extensive promotional efforts by the takaful industry. The research aims to address these challenges by identifying and analyzing the factors that hinder the broader uptake of family takaful. A quantitative and descriptive research approach was adopted to gain a deeper understanding of the issue. Data collection was conducted using random sampling techniques, and the responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The study involved a structured survey of 100 respondents from Puncak Alam, which examined the impact of three key variables - price, knowledge, and satisfaction - on the adoption of family takaful. The findings of this study underscore the significance of these three factors in shaping consumers' decision-making processes regarding family takaful. Price, as an indicator of affordability, knowledge about family takaful products, and the level of satisfaction with existing services, were all found to significantly influence adoption rates. By highlighting these critical determinants, the research provides valuable insights for policymakers, takaful operators, and financial service providers to refine their strategies and promote wider adoption of family takaful, ultimately enhancing financial security for the Malaysian population.

The focus of this study is to examine the effects of economic shocks along with the crude oil price on gold prices in Asian countries. This study utilizes a regression analysis to measure the relationship between the macroeconomic indicators, crude oil price, and gold price in six selected nations from 1990 until 2022. The validity of the data was diagnostically checked by performing a VIF procedure, autocorrelation test, and normality test on residual, and data were analyzed via EViews software. The analysis showed mixed findings, however, a major variable that positively affects the fluctuation of the gold price is “the crude oil price” and it reflects global economic stability in the six countries. A sudden rise in crude oil prices might trigger conflicts in oil-exporting countries and limit access to material sources. This situation may force investors to move their funds into a safe-haven commodity like gold. The fluctuations in crude oil prices are not only a response to current market conditions but also alarming a lot more fundamental problems in an economy, which include approaching economic recessions, currency devaluation and a major financial crisis. For practical implications, this study suggests that policymakers pay extra attention to this commodity besides other economic indicators like inflation, interest and currency rates, and a GDP rate to ensure a sustainable economic condition. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first that examines the economic shocks along with crude oil prices pre-and-post COVID-19 pandemic focusing on a few Asian countries.

This paper examines the key relationships between independent variables and inflation fluctuations in the ASEAN-5 countries, which include Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. Using annual data from 2001 to 2020, a static panel data regression model is employed. The empirical results reveal that at least two independent variables significantly impact inflation rates in these five ASEAN nations. Specifically, the unemployment rate has a significant negative correlation with inflation fluctuations, while economic growth shows a significant positive correlation. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into how exchange rate determinants influence inflation fluctuations, highlighting the importance of balanced policies to address the interactions between unemployment, economic growth, and inflation.

In the digital age, information technology (IT) ethics plays a critical role in shaping netizenship behavior within online communities. This concept paper examines the relationship between individual IT ethics and netizenship behavior and emphasizes how ethical principles guide responsible and constructive participation in digital spaces. Based on theoretical frameworks such as the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Digital Citizenship, the article examines the influence of ethical IT practices on positive netizenship, including factors such as digital literacy, hierarchical influence and cultural or religious values. The review shows that people with strong IT ethics are more likely to engage in responsible online behavior, promoting healthier digital environments. By identifying gaps in the existing literature, the paper proposes a conceptual model to guide future empirical research on how ethical IT use influences digital citizenship. The findings highlight the importance of promoting IT ethics and digital literacy to improve online interactions and contribute to more engaged, respectful and responsible digital communities.

Job burnout in employees is caused by individual factors, including demographic characteristics and nurses’ support. This study analyzed the relationship between nurses’ support and job burnout among medical doctors in Malaysian public hospitals. This research was a correlational study with a cross-sectional design. The research sample was 471 employees, using the non-probability sampling method with the purposive and quota sampling techniques. Data collection used the Abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory (aMBI) and nurses’ support items. The data in this study were analyzed using the Statistical Package Social Science (SPSS) and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) software. Findings suggest that 77 medical doctors who participated in the study were from Hospital Pulau Pinang, from the Emergency Department, mostly female, ranging from 24-56 years old, single, and have an MBBS education level. The study assessed the measurement model’s loading, average variance extracted (AVE), and composite reliability (CR) where the loadings were above 0.60. AVEs were greater than 0.50 and CRs were greater than 0.708. Additionally, the bootstrap BCI LL (-0.079) and UL (-0.002) for nurses’ support and job burnout were not straddled a 0 in between. Job burnout had a negative association with nurses’ support. In particular, nurses’ support towards medical doctors lowers their risk of job burnout, which has a substantial impact on medical doctors’ overall well-being. The findings indicated that medical doctors who had complete support from their nurses performed their jobs more efficiently, displayed good task performance, and experienced less job burnout.

This paper aims to analyze the development process of a famous food manufacturing company that started only in local farmer markets aiming at snacks and agricultural products. Looking back at the different fiscal years, the company has acquired numerous accomplishments, hence attributing it to a strong focus on quality and innovation. There are several serious issues that a company faces while the strategies revealed above are to establish and consolidate a position in the rapidly growing food manufacturing industry. Some of these are the challenges of globalization, diversification of product portfolio, sustaining innovation, and building a strong and easily identifiable brand. In this paper analyzing the specifics of the company’s development, its strategic directions, and defining the major issues and problem-solving approaches in responding to these complex challenges a certain group of questions will be highlighted. The paper discusses the factors that have facilitated the effectiveness of its strategic management concerning the achievement of the firm’s goals and sustained growth amidst challenges. From the examination of the company’s strategic choices, operating changes, and patterns of analyzing the market environment, this study has gone a long way in establishing the key dynamics underlying operation scaling within the food manufacturing industry. The lessons from this case suggest that to sustain a commitment and build a highly competitive mass-market business over time there is a need for flexibility, creativity, and vision.

Various studies have been conducted to identify factors that contribute to student engagement, personalized learning experience, and student academic performance. The evolution of technology offers various benefits including in the education sector. To date, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education has been seen to provide various benefits. This study aims to identify the relationship between the usage of AI with student engagement, personalized learning experience, and student academic performance. Data was collected from 110 undergraduate students from the Faculty of Business and Management, UiTM Puncak Alam Campus using a questionnaire. 106 data were analyzed using SPSS version 29. The findings show that AI usage for study purposes significantly influences student’s engagement and academic performance. On the other hand, the usage of AI and personalized learning experience show no significant influence. This study not only provides a deeper understanding of the context of AI usage for better student engagement and academic performance but also gives valuable insight for UiTM and faculty specifically to develop strategies and modules that enhance the implementation and usage of AI in their learning activities.

This study investigates the long-run equilibrium relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and its key determinants in Malaysia. Employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model on annual data between 1971 and 2021, it aims to identify the factors influencing FDI inflows and assess its impact on the Malaysian economy. The key findings confirm a long-run equilibrium relationship between FDI and the selected macroeconomic variables as a group. However, the individual impact of gross domestic product, inflation, exchange rate, and trade openness on FDI is not statistically significant when analyzed separately. Specifically, the long-run results suggest that the determinants do not have significant effects on FDI. Meanwhile, the short-run relationship between FDI and its determinants in Malaysia reveals a complex interplay of factors. Inflation and exchange rates play significant roles, with inflation generally encouraging FDI and exchange rate volatility creating mixed effects. Trade openness on the other hand shows some short-run significance but it is not consistently impactful. The error correction (ECM) model also confirms the existence of a long-run relationship. It highlights that while short-term fluctuations can occur, FDI tends to move towards a long-term equilibrium influenced by a relatively moderate speed of adjustment. The key conclusion implies that FDI is influenced by the combined effect of these variables in the longer term, but the individual contribution of each variable is not strong enough to stand out statistically. This research contributes to the understanding of FDI dynamics in Malaysia by providing insights, thereby informing policymakers and investors about effective strategies to attract and leverage FDI for sustainable development. It also indicates that the relationship between FDI and macroeconomic variables is more complex, involving other underlying factors or non-linear dynamics.