Objective: To ascertain how Malaysian Lower Secondary girls copes with stressful situations. Methods: An inclusive sample of four hundred four Malaysian Lower Secondary School girls were interviewed using the self rated questionnaire, Coping Inventory for Stressful Situation. Results: The analysis indicated that the most common coping strategies employed were amongst the task-oriented category. In addition, the results indicated similar mean scores for all the sub-scales of distraction, social diversion, emotion-orientation and avoidance but this study's sample tended to be more task-oriented when compared with the North American sample. Conclusion: Malaysian schoolgirls tend to solve problems using active task-oriented methods. Furthermore, they also use more cognitive restructuring, planning, and actual attempts at altering the situation when compared with their North American counterparts.
Human ; Female ; Adolescent ; ADAPTATION, PSYCHOLOGICAL ; ADOLESCENT

A total of 306 Malaysian university students and staff were surveyed to ascertain the physical and emotional effects of the polluted haze on them. All subjects completed self-reported questionnaires. Analysis of the results indicated that the majority of subjects reduced their outdoor activities and sports, and also reported an increase in emotional and physical health problems. The results indicated that there was a general increase in emotional problems such as feeling depressed, lacking in energy, not feeling like doing anything, feeling anxious and afraid, difficulty sleeping, feeling agitated and irritable, and having no appetite. There was also an increase in physical symptoms such as itchy or red eyes, itchy or running nose, dry throat/cough, headaches, nausea, and fever. This study indicated that emotional and behavioural problems are just as common during the haze, when compared with physical health problems. The study also suggests that there are a broad range of problems which health care and human resource departments need to be aware of and take precautions to minimize during a haze.