Browsing by Author "Abeysinghe, N"

Now showing 1 - 12 of 12

Open Access
Academic Ritualistic Behaviours and Exam Stress: Insights from Generation Z Undergraduates in Sri Lanka
(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Dissanayake, I. N. D; Abeysinghe, N
This study explores the role of Academic Ritualistic Behaviours (ARB) in managing exam stress among Generation Z university students in Sri Lanka. Exams are often highly stress-inducing events, and this research aims to examine how ritualistic behaviours rooted in personal, cultural, generational, and psychological frameworks help students in managing exam-related stress. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six undergraduates between ages 18 to 26, till data saturation. The interview transcripts were thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) framework, and the analysis gave rise to three themes: (1) Personal and cultural anchors: Rituals rooted in family, tradition, and peer influence; (2) Rituals as emotional needs: Objects, music, and symbolic actions providing comfort and focus; and (3) Technology-infused rituals: Apps, digital platforms, and manifestation practices shaping modern coping. While rituals promoted reassurance and structure, overreliance sometimes heightenedanxiety when disrupted, highlighting the double-edged nature of such practices. The Findings suggest that academic ritualistic behaviours influenced by cultural heritage and digital practices contribute to resilience, focus, and emotional stability during exams, but also reveal potential risks of overreliance. They emphasise the need for educators and researchers to acknowledge both benefits and risk associated with these behaviours when addressing student wellbeing.
Open Access
Approach or Avoid? A Quantitative Study on the Dualistic Nature of Social Media Envy in Undergraduates in a Non-state University in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Perera, R; Abeysinghe, N; Galappaththi, K
Envy is a complex emotion studied recently, especially with the impact of social media. This study explored the dualistic nature of social media envy in Sri Lankan undergraduates from a nonstate university. Using a quantitative design, data from 155 participants were collected via Google Forms and analysed with Spearman’s Rank test. Results indicated statistically significant positive moderate relationships between social media usage and both benign envy and malicious envy. However, social media only accounted for 20% of benign envy and 8.8% of malicious envy, suggesting it’s only one of many contributors. Furthermore, the association between social media usage and benign envy was stronger than that with malicious envy, implying social media envy may be less severe than perceived in Sri Lanka. The study acknowledges limitations, such as sample size and focus on one university. Future research should address these limitations and explore the dualistic nature of social media envy in different populations and contexts. Overall, the study emphasises the need to understand the complexity of envy and how social media can amplify or alleviate it. Findings have implications for social media usage, regulation, and interventions promoting emotional well-being.
Open Access
Construction and Validation of Academic Stress Scale for 18-35-year-old Sri Lankan University Students
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Ponnamperuma, L; Hettiarachchi, A; Jayakodi, P; Abeysinghe, N
This article describes the development and initial validation of a new instrument to measure the academic stress of university students in Sri Lanka. A 16-item scale was developed by reviewing the literature and conducting interviews. Surveys were conducted with 726 Sri Lankan undergraduate students, and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were used to analyse the data. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Oblimin rotation produced a two-component model of the Academic Stress Scale: (1) Stress due to lack of sufficient knowledge and (2) stress due to interpersonal relationships, which together explains 59% of the total item variance. The ASS is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring academic stress. A CFA suggested that the proposed factor model fits moderately well. Therefore, for researchers who have a particular interest in academic stress among Sri Lankan students, the ASS promises to be a helpful tool.
Open Access
Drawing in or ruling out “Family?” The evolution of the family systems approach in Sri Lanka
(Springer, Cham, 2019) Ekanayake, E. S; Abeysinghe, N
This chapter traces the baby steps of family systems approaches (FSA) in Sri Lanka. It captures some of the early known discussions about FSA held between academics, development workers, practitioners and grassroots counsellors and shares with the reader their genuine questions, doubts, cautious enthusiasm and joyous discoveries. The chapter also provides insights into the sociocultural realities within which counselling services are offered, the nature of the mental health and psychosocial services (MHPSS) in Sri Lanka, the diverse players and the specific limitations and challenges that proponents of FSA would need to navigate. The reader is invited to experience two real-life events in which the authors have explored the adaptation and use of FSA together with their students, co-workers and trainees. The first is in a classroom where masters-level students of counselling experience FSA as a practical learning experience. The second shares explorations with field counsellors working directly with vulnerable family members of migrant workers. These two scenarios highlight the reasons for and the manner in which FSA has been chosen as a robust, flexible and powerful tool capable of addressing the demands of evolving family systems and a changing Sri Lankan society.
Embargo
The Evaluation of ENhancing Assessment of Common Therapeutic factors – Sri Lanka (ENACT-SL) to Assess Common Factors in Counselling in Determining Therapist Competence in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2022-09-15) Abeysinghe, N; Kohrt, B; Galappatti, A
Counselling and psychotherapy play an essential part in mental health care. The modern field of mental health care includes many counselling modalities. Each modality consists of specific knowledge and skills. This diversity makes objective evaluation of a therapist's competence across counselling modalities challenging. The "common factors" theory claims that along with each modality's specific strengths and techniques, common factors in counselling are essential for successful counsellor–client relationships. In high-income countries, the mental health care field has developed many tools to evaluate counselling skills based on the common factors relevant to specific socio-cultural settings. Hence, the usefulness of these tools is limited to the socio-cultural backgrounds where the tools were developed. The current study evaluated the ENhancing Assessment of Common Therapeutic factors – Sri Lanka (ENACT-SL) rating scale with the participation of 68 novice and experienced counsellors who used two versions of the scale to evaluate 10- minute pre-recorded counselling sessions. The scale's reliability was assessed using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC). The ICC for interrater reliability was above 0.75, denoting ‘good’ inter-rater reliability, while the ICC for intrarater repeatability was poor for both groups. The research findings contributed in developing a new version of ENACT-SL based on 'five domains' of counselling skills to be used in counsellor training and assessment in Sri Lanka.
Open Access
Exploring the Role of Parental Communication Patterns in Academic Stress: A Qualitative Study of Sri Lankan University Students
(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Kodagoda, P; Abeysinghe, N
Academic stress is a prevalent issue among university students, with parental communication playing a crucial role in shaping their stress experiences. While extensive research has examined academic stressors, there remains a gap in understanding how specific parental communication patterns influence students' ability to manage stress, particularly within the Sri Lankan context. This study explored how Sri Lankan university students perceived and experienced parental communication in relation to academic stress, focusing on the role of verbal encouragement, emotional understanding, and parental expectations in shaping students' stress experiences and coping mechanisms. A qualitative phenomenological approach was adopted, with six undergraduates (aged 19–25) purposively sampled. Data were collected throughsemi-structured interviews and analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis. Findings revealed that supportive parental communication, characterized by emotional validation and encouragement, mitigated academic stress, whereas critical or dismissive communication exacerbated stress levels. Parental expectations emerged as a significant factor influencing students’ stress. The study highlights the crucial role of parental communication in academic stress among Sri Lankan undergraduates and underscores the need for parental awareness and interventions to foster healthier communication patterns. These findings provide valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and mental health professionals in developing support mechanisms to enhance students’ academic well-being.
Open Access
Factors influencing the timely completion of construction projects in Sri Lanka
(Public Library of Science, 2022-12-15) Abeysinghe, N; Jayathilaka, R
Timely completion is a crucial factor for the success of a construction project, especially in the Sri Lankan context. This study aims to identify the most influential factors that affect the timely completion of construction projects in Sri Lanka. Thirty-nine factors were identified through a comprehensive literature review and experts’ opinions. A questionnaire incorporating the 39 project delay factors was distributed among 163 Civil Engineers, and responses were obtained. Random sampling method was adopted to select the sample. The Relative Importance Index (RII) analysed and ranked the project delay factors. The top ranked significant project delay factors were identified as shortage of skilled subcontractors/suppliers, shortage of labourers (Skilled, semi-skilled, unskilled), financial difficulties of contractors, delay in delivering materials to the site, and Covid-19 pandemic situation. According to the main three respondent types, i.e., clients/owners, contractors and consultants, the contractor related factors was the key group among others that delay a construction project. The scientific value of the study includes assisting the Sri Lankan construction industry to identify the factors affecting the timely completion of construction projects, and developing mitigation methods and strategies. Also, the stakeholders could duly schedule the construction work by identifying areas that need more attention. The contribution of this study would assist stakeholders to adopt a proactive approach by identifying mistakes on their part and minimising potential issues that lead to construction project delays in Sri Lanka. Figures
Open Access
Improving the understanding of safe-sex behaviours with the use of two models in Health Psychology
(Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Abeysinghe, N
Health psychology, which is a branch of psychology, aims to understand human health (wellbeing, illnesses, and vulnerabilities) from a biopsychosocial perspective that takes the biological, psychological, and social aspects of life into consideration. This sub-discipline broadly emphases its role in health promotion and maintenance of health, prevention and treatment of illness, detection and focus on causes of illnesses, and overall improvement of the health care system. Health psychologists utilise a broad range of psychological theories and models developed within the sub-discipline for the above functions. This paper outlines how two theoretical models in Health Psychology, the Transtheoretical Model (TTM), and the Health Belief Model (HBM), contribute to the understanding of safe-sex behaviours. Unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases are noticeable problems around the globe. Almost one million adolescent women aged 19 or under become pregnant each year in the USA alone (Ventura & Freedman, 2000), and the number of adolescents acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STI), including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), approximates to 3.5 million (Chambers, & Rew, 2003). In the UK the number of new diagnoses for STIs has increased from 63% over the last ten years (Health Protection Agency, 2008). In relation to homosexual relationships, there is still a high incidence of unsafe sex, mainly in the form of unprotected anal intercourse, despite the long number of years of health promotion and education aimed at this population (Crossley, 2000).
Open Access
Love and Marriage in the Eyes of Gen Z: A Qualitative Exploration
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2024-12-04) Kulathunga, A; Abeysinghe, N
Love and marriage are two interconnected concepts which serve as pillars of society. However, marriage rates are declining, and the percepti on of love changes with the newer generati ons. This study aims to explore the percepti on of love among Gen Zers in Sri Lanka and to understand the implicati ons of these percepti ons on marriage. A total of 11 parti cipants who belong to Generati on Z (age 18-26) were included in this study. Focus group and in-depth interviews were conducted to elicit the views on the related topic elements. This data was analysed using themati c analysis to identi fy the common themes presented within the data. Five main themes were constructed to explain the key ideas presented by the parti cipants. Namely: Views on love, Relati onship expectati ons and breakups, Views on marriage, marriage rates, and Role of culture. The results emerged showed that love is a crucial factor in marriage, especially in the newer generati ons because it has become a primary moti vator towards marriage in contrast to past generati ons where marriage was considered a social obligati on. However, the percepti on towards love has changed in the new generati ons, resulti ng in a decrease in marriage rates. This research off ers valuable insights into the evolving concepts of love and marriage in newer generati ons, emphasising the need for further explorati on to understand its broader implicati ons to the society.
Embargo
Online Socializing and Offline Alcohol Usage: Influence of Daily Social Media Usage on the Level of Alcohol Usage among Students at a Non-state University in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2022-09-15) Galappaththi, S.K; Abeysinghe, N
Alcohol misuse can affect both the individual and society negatively. Specifically, young adults exhibit close associations with alcohol and social media. Previous studies demonstrate that online alcohol advertising promotes young people using social media to consume alcohol. This study examines the relationship between alcohol use among young adults and their usage of social media in the Sri Lankan context and any differences between levels of alcohol consumption among males and females. 300 students from a non-state university in Sri Lanka between the ages of 18 and 25 participated in a cross-sectional study conducted via online survey. Correlation and independent-sample t-test were used for data analysis. There was no significant relationship between daily social media use and alcohol use among young adults in Sri Lanka. A significant difference was observed between the level of alcohol use among males and females. Young adults in Sri Lanka are significantly influenced by a variety of sociocultural influences in their use of social media and alcohol intake. The use of social media in Sri Lanka and various alcohol-related behaviours among young people should be the subject of exploratory research, thus according to researchers.
Open Access
Perceived Stress as a Predictor of Sleep Quality in Undergraduates: A Cross-Sectional Study
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Jayasena, M; Abeysinghe, N
Research spanning several years has explored the topic of perceived stress among university students. Globally, investigations consistently highlight that undergraduates encounter escalated levels of perceived stress during their academic journey, often attributed to the intricate interplay between their physical, social, and emotional well-being. The transition to an unfamiliar lifestyle, coupled with the demands of academia and evolving familial dynamics, contributes substantially to heightened stress levels. Sleep disruptions and compromised sleep quality emerge as prevalent issues for a considerable number of undergraduates. Recent studies conducted in Sri Lanka underscore a noteworthy upswing in perceived stress among local undergraduates within the last decade. This study undertakes an exploration into the intricate connection between perceived stress and sleep quality within the context of a nonstate Sri Lankan university. Employing quantitative research methods, data was gathered from a cohort of 125 participants, (83 female, 39 male,3 LGBTQ) from the Humanities and Sciences faculty. The perceived stress scale, K10 and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index were used to collect the data. According to the results, participant’s gender has no influence on perceived stress levels, but does affect sleep quality in undergraduates (U = 103.0, p = .033), with males reporting lower sleep quality than females. This finding highlights the need for targeted interventions to reduce stress and improve sleep quality among undergraduates.
Open Access
Where Ethics and Culture Collide: Ethical Dilemmas in Grief Work Following the Easter Sunday Attacks in Sri Lanka
(Springer, Cham, 2021-05-23) Abeysinghe, N; Ekanayake, E. S
The success of mental health care for individuals and affected communities is strongly connected to the service providers' adherence to ethical standards of the profession. These ethical standards aim to ensure the safety, well-being and the best possible quality of service to the service users. As trainees and novice counsellors, these aspects are discussed and learned in detail during counsellor training programmes and other courses in mental health care. Continued professional supervision is considered an essential element of providing mental health care within an ethical framework by almost all the counsellor and mental health-care professional bodies in the world. Yet, this is practiced by few practitioners in low- and middle-income countries due to the shortage of trained, accessible, experienced supervisors. In this chapter, we discuss the importance of continued supervision in a changing sociocultural context to help mental health practitioners to be alert and prompt to safeguard the clients and ensure the best possible care for them when cultural aspects and ethical standards of client care are in conflict as they some times are.