The Psychology International Conference [PSYCIC ] 2025

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Has files: YesSubject: search.filters.subject.Sri Lankan youth

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    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.
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    PublicationOpen Access
    Predictors of Professional Help-Seeking Intentions in Sri Lankan Young Adults
    (School of Psychology. Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2025-10-10) Shiyam, T. S; Selvaratnam, N.D
    Despite a noticeable decline in mental health among youth in Sri Lanka, many remain reluctant to seek help from trained professionals. This cross-sectional study applies the theory of planned behaviour to examine the psychological determinants of professional help-seeking intentions among Sri Lankan young adults, with a focus on how its core components—attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control—contribute to intention formation. An online questionnaire consisting of the Mental Health Seeking Attitude Scale (MHSAS), Subjective Norms Scale (SNS), Perceived Behavioural Control Scale (PBCS) and Mental Help Seeking Intention Scale (MHSIS) was administered to a predominantly female, English-speaking sample of 155 participants aged between 18 – 35. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed a statistically significant model which accounted for 13.2% of the variance in professional helpseeking intentions among this sample. However, subjective norms failed to account for a significant increase in the variance explained by the model after controlling for attitudes and perceived behavioural control. These findings highlight the importance of targeting attitudes and perceived control in interventions aimed at augmenting professional help-seeking intentions among youth. Authorities shouldalso prioritize culturally tailored mental health campaigns that could empower youth while reducing the stigma around professional support.