Measuring the factors that underlie adolescent connectedness has become a prominent focused issue in past studies across many disciplines. Thus far, the Hemingway: Measure of Adolescent Connectedness (HMAC) is the first research-based measure of adolescent’s relationship and sense of belonging with other people and their surroundings. The current study aimed to examine the measurement model of the Hemingway: Measure of Adolescent Connectedness which has been translated into Bahasa Melayu (HMAC‒BM) in order to check for its feasibility among Malaysian adolescents. A total of 377 adolescents aged 16 years old were recruited from the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. Three factors, namely connectedness to family, school, and neighbors with seven sub-factors of the HMAC‒BM, were analyzed by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) using the IBM SPSS Amos 23.0 (23.0, IBM Technology, Armonk, NY, USA). Results of the CFA supported the second-order factor of the HMAC‒BM structures. The overall HMAC‒BM scale and its subscales have higher factor loadings ranging from 0.60 to 0.79. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.78 to 0.95 for the three subscales and 0.84 for the total scale. Results also revealed seven sub-factors with forty-one factors—solution that accounted for 0.89% of total variance explained for adolescent connectedness. Findings provide empirical support for the feasibility of HMAC‒BM in explaining Malaysian adolescents’ social connectedness. Hence, the HMAC‒BM is a promising measure that can be used on Malaysian adolescents. The findings have important implications which provide a clear picture of HMAC‒BM as an accurate instrument to measure adolescent’s social connectedness toward enhancing prosocial attitudes and well-being.
Autism spectrum disorder, a subtype of neuro-developmental disorder is characterised by deficits in social interaction skills and the presentation of restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviours. These symptoms in turn, increase the tendency for risky behaviours towards violation of the law. Thus, this situation necessitates a specific Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the arrest and detention of persons with autism. In Malaysia, even though reported cases of criminal offences by persons with autism are infrequent, a specific SOP would provide a guideline to enable police authorities the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) and religious enforcement officers (REO) to perform their duties properly and guarantee persons with autism and those who are disabled their legal rights. The aim of this article is to discuss about high risk behaviours which gravitate towards violation of the law by persons with autism. Next, discussion is focused on the feedback by various parties on the need to develop a specific SOP from the legal perspective, mainly by police authorities, religious enforcement officers and head of religious departments, politicians and special education teachers as well as the agency that support and care for persons with autism. This qualitative research involved document analyses and interviews, round table discussion as well as focused group discussions (FGDs) with informants. Data collected was descriptively analysed and thematically presented. Research results showed that the behaviours of persons with autism that were related to violation of the law include theft, molestation, indecent conduct in public places and setting building on fire (arson). According to research informants it was necessary to develop an SOP for Arrest and Detention of Persons with Autism in order for the police and religious enforcement officers to fulfill their responsibilities based on clear legal provisions. Development of this SOP also showed the concern of authorities to ensure legal justice to persons with autism and those who are disabled, and sharing of information between frontliners and the public, as well as parents in handling them appropriately.
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