Browsing by Author "Selvaratnam, N. D"

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Open Access
Assessment of Judgmental Validity of the Sinhala Physical Abuse Subscale (SPAS) of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–Short Form (CTQ-SF)
(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Nayanathara, V; Selvaratnam, N. D
Childhood physical abuse (CPA) remains a critical public health issue in Sri Lanka, yet there is a notable absence of culturally validated assessment tools in the Sinhala language. This study aimed to translate and assess the content validity of the 5-item Physical Abuse subscale from the Child Trauma Questionnaire–Short Form (CTQ-SF) using the Delphi method. A single round of Delphi was conducted with five subject matter experts (SMEs) selected based on extensive experience in trauma, psychology, and scale validation.
Open Access
Cultural Adaptation and Statistical Validation of the General Self-Efficacy Scale Tamil (GSES-T)
(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Vasudevan, T; Selvaratnam, N. D
The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), extensively validated across cultures, has not previously been available in Tamil, restricting its application in research and practice. This study, guided by Classical Test Theory (CTT), aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the GSES for Tamil-speaking populations. Adaptation followed rigorous procedures: forward–back translation, expert evaluation via the Delphi method (n = 4), and a pilot test (n = 10) to ensure cultural and linguistic relevance. Data from 204 Tamilspeaking Sri Lankans, recruited through cluster-based random sampling across multiple provinces, were analysed. Findings demonstrated strong content and consensual validity, excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .892), and a unidimensional structure explaining 50.98% of variance. The validated GSEST offers a robust tool for assessing self-efficacy, advancing culturally responsive research and supporting evidence-based interventions in Tamil-speaking communities
Open Access
Effects of Childhood Physical Abuse and Social Support on Young Adult Self- Esteem
(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Nayanathara, V; Selvaratnam, N. D
Childhood physical abuse has been empirically linked to reduced self-esteem, reflecting its lasting impact on psychological well-being. Although social support is often considered a protective factor, research on its role in shaping self-esteem among those who have experienced childhood abuse remains inconclusive, especially among Asian populations. This study aimed to investigate the impact of childhood physicalabuse and social support on self-esteem among young adults residing in rural and suburban areas of Sri Lanka. The sample consisted of 351 Sinhala-speaking individuals (53.56% female and 46.44% male), aged between 18 and 29 years, drawn from 11 rural and suburban districts in Sri Lanka using cluster sampling.Descriptive and inferential statistics, including two-way ANOVA and a post-hoc analysis, were conducted in SPSS and Jamovi to examine main and interaction effects of childhood physical abuse and social support on self-esteem. There were significant main effects of both childhood physical abuse and social support on self-esteem. However, the interaction effect between physical abuse and social support was not significant.Post-hoc analyses indicated that moderate levels of social support mitigated some of the adverse effects of severe childhood physical abuse on self-esteem. The absence of a significant interaction suggests independent effects, warranting further investigation into related psychological outcomes for relevant authorities to make informed decisions governing child protection.
Open Access
Impact of Social Media Usage on Self-esteem and Body Image among Female Young Adults in Sri Lanka
(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Kaludewalage, M; Selvaratnam, N. D
Social media has become an integral part of modern communication, with millions of users worldwide. While it facilitates connectivity and information sharing, its psychological effects, particularly on selfesteem and body image, have raised significant concerns. This study investigates the impact of social mediause on self-esteem and body image among female young adults in Sri Lanka. Using convenience sampling, the study included 251 females with ages ranging from 18 to 26. A Google form that included a demographic questionnaire, the Social Media Use Scale, the Body Image Questionnaire, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was shared through social media platforms to collect data. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) confirmed a statistically significant multivariate effect of social media use on both body image and self-esteem, with social media use explaining 8.5% of the variance in the combined dependent variables. Follow-up analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated a significant effect of social media use on body image and self-esteem separately, with small to moderate effect sizes. Further analysis using Welch’s t-test showed that individuals with Low social media use had significant and higher self-esteem (d= 0.459) and more positive body image (d = 0.580) compared to those with High social media use. Findings highlight that social media use has a significant effect on both self-esteem and body image, with higher social media use associated with lower self-esteem and poor body image. Future research should examine usage patterns and cultural influences.
Open Access
Job Insecurity in Sri Lanka: How Self-Efficacy Mediates its Effect on Optimism
(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Ajmal, A. A; Selvaratnam, N. D
Job insecurity is a significant concern globally and in Sri Lanka. It has been determined to detrimentally affect various job-related factors and the psychological health of individuals. Job insecurity may be a significant stressor that affects the optimism of youth, and optimism is crucial for mental and physical wellbeing. Accordingly, job insecurity’s negative effects may potentially be reduced by self-efficacy by fosteringbeliefs in their abilities despite job uncertainty. Consequently, self-efficacy has been identified as a potential psychological buffer. Nevertheless, empirical studies examining the mediating effect of self-efficacy between job insecurity and optimism are limited. The study aims to investigate the effect of job insecurity on optimism and the mediating role of self-efficacy, addressing the research gap in Sri Lanka. This quantitative study follows a cross-sectional survey design, treating job insecurity as the predictor variable, optimism as the outcome variable, and self-efficacy as the mediator. The final sample size included 164 Sri Lankan young career adults aged 18 to 35 who are currently working, with data collected through convenience sampling. The data was analysed using simple linear regressions and mediation analysis. The results revealed that job insecurity was a significant predictor of both self-efficacy and optimism. Similarly, self-efficacy emerged as a significant predictor of optimism. A partial mediation effect of self-efficacy was observed. These findings highlight the significance of self-efficacy in mediating the relationship between job insecurity and optimism and suggest enhancing self-efficacy as an empowering approach to diminish the adverse impacts of job insecurity.
Open Access
''Mental Well-Being at Risk”: Are Internet Usage and Impulsivity Warning Signs?
(School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Siriwardene, N; Selvaratnam, N. D
Excessive internet usage negatively affects the mental well-being of university students, particularly when coupled with poor self-control and impulsivity, disrupting inner harmony. While this relationship has been empirically tested in other cultural contexts, related discourse in Sri Lanka remains limited. This cross-sectional survey examined the impact of internet use and impulsivity on the mental well-being of undergraduates at state and private universities in Sri Lanka’s Western Province. The survey, disseminated via WhatsApp and Instagram, employed Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Barratt’s Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS). Data from 260 participants were cleaned and analysed using SPSS (version 25). A two-way ANOVA revealed that both internet use and impulsivity had significant, independent negative effects on mental well-being, though their interaction was not significant. These findings underscore a critical concern in higher education and call for universities to promote healthy digital habits. It is recommended that institutions implement evidence-based support systems to encourage balanced internet use that fosters both academic performance and psychological well-being.