SERENA IN
Salutation
Dr
School/Centre
School of Psychology and Social Sciences
Department
Psychology and Counselling
Appointment
Head of Department, Psychology
Position
Senior Lecturer
Email
Education
a
Doctor of Philosophy (Psychology), 2021
Monash University Australia
a
Master of Clinical Psychology (Clinical Psychology), 2010
HELP University
a
Bachelor of Science (cum laude) (Psychology), 2006
Upper Iowa University
Memberships
a
Malaysian Allied Health Professions Council
Registered Full Member
2023 - Present
a
Malaysian Marriage and Family Therapy Association
Committee
2021 - Present
a
American Psychological Association
International Affiliate Member
2020 - 2022
a
Malaysian Society of Clinical Psychology
Full Member
2011 - Present
Research Funding
a
Barriers encountered in approaching counselling services by the gay and lesbian community in Malaysia
IMU Internal Research Grant | 09 May 2024 - 28 Feb 2026
a
A Qualitative Study: Understanding the experience and coping strategies in reintegration for people who were formerly incarcerated
IMU Internal Research Grant | 01 Mar 2024 - 28 Feb 2026
a
Exploring the marital strengths of long-term marriage among Chinese couples in Malaysia
IMU Internal Research Grant | 15 Feb 2024 - 28 Feb 2026
a
Perspectives of Malaysian Mental Health Professionals on the usage of Non-erotic Touch in Therapy
IMU Internal Research Grant | 23 Nov 2023 - 30 Nov 2024
a
Comparing the effectiveness of individual and group therapy for Generation-Z undergraduate students with perceived stress: A randomised pilot study
IMU Internal Research Grant | 16 Nov 2023 - 30 Apr 2025
a
A qualitative research: Understanding Malaysian Chinese dual-earner married couples’ lived experience for opting to be childfree.
IMU Internal Research Grant | 01 Apr 2023 - 31 Aug 2023
a
The Association between Trauma History and Suicidality among Malaysian University Students: Moderating and Mediating Roles of Depression, Anxiety, Psychological Strain, and Religious Commitment
UKM | 01 Apr 2023 - 29 Feb 2024
a
Understanding the role of spousal support in managing midlife career crisis transition among middle adulthoods in Klang Valley
IMU Internal Research Grant | 01 Mar 2023 - 31 Aug 2023
a
The Experience of Older Persons on Hypertension Treatment in Malaysia.
IMU Internal Research Grant | 01 Mar 2023 - 10 Feb 2024
a
Formal and Informal Mental Health Help-Seeking among Transition-Aged Youth in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: A Qualitative Study
IMU Internal Research Grant | 01 Mar 2023 - 31 Aug 2023
a
An Exploratory Qualitative Study: Emerging Adults’ (EAs) Perspective on Situationships in Malaysia
IMU Internal Research Grant | 19 Sep 2022 - 30 Aug 2023
a
Exploring the Hookup culture in Malaysia: A Phenomenological Study on Undergraduate Students
IMU Internal Research Grant | 19 Sep 2022 - 30 Aug 2023
a
Understanding the Experience of Malaysian Muslim Malay Women in Post-Divorce Adjustment
IMU Internal Research Grant | 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Dec 2023
a
The Relationship between Photo Manipulation, Self-esteem and Need to Belong Among Malaysian Young Adults who use Instagram
IMU Internal Grant | 04 Oct 2021 - 30 Sep 2022
a
The Experiences of Youth Couples Dating Outside of Their Faith
IMU Internal Grant | 04 Oct 2021 - 30 Sep 2022
a
A Qualitative Study of Generational Attitudes Towards “Vaccine Hesitancy” Among Malaysians Despite Accessibility to Covid-19 Vaccination Services
IMU Internal Grant | 01 Jul 2021 - 31 Dec 2021
a
Covid-19 and its Psychological Impact on Malaysian Government Healthcare Workers (HCWs)
IMU Internal Grant | 01 Mar 2021 - 28 Feb 2022
a
Factors associated with stress and coping strategies among Postgraduate Students who are employed in Klang Valley
IMU Internal Grant | 01 Mar 2021 - 30 Apr 2022
a
A qualitative study of the experiences of dual-working couples adapting to new roles within the early years of marriage
IMU Internal Grant | 01 Dec 2020 - 30 Sep 2021
a
The Relationship between Smartphone Usage, Self- Esteem, and Procrastination of University Students in Malaysia
IMU Internal Grant | 01 Dec 2020 - 30 Sep 2021
Publications
Research Articles
a
An Exploratory Qualitative Study on Cyberbullying Experience from a Victim’s Perspective and Coping Strategies among Women with Heavy Social Media Usage
INTERNATIONAL E-JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, MEDICINE AND EDUCATION (IEJSME) 2024
a
Psychometric Properties of the Malay Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) in Malaysian Undergraduates
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES 2024
a
Navigating the world of academic mentoring
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, MEDICINE AND EDUCATION (IEJSME) 2023
a
Decriminalizing suicide attempt in the 21st century: an examination of suicide rates in countries that penalize suicide, a critical review
BMC PSYCHIATRY 2022
a
Anonymous reporting of student’s unprofessional behavior: An ethical approach to manage moral distress in academia
MEDICAL TEACHER 2022
a
Predictors of psychological distress and mental health resource utilization among employees in Malaysia
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021
Other Publications
a
Family Resilience and Adolescent Mental Health in Malaysian Families: A Mixed Methods Study.
American Psychological Association (APA) Virtual International Conference 2020 | 04 Sep 2020
a
Understanding the relationship between family resilience factors and adolescent mental health among Malaysian families.
13th International Conference for Child & Adolescent Psychopathology (ICCAP 2018) | 06 Aug 2018
Medias
a
Losing Your Loved Ones: Dealing with the Different Stages of Grief
HealthWorks Malaysia | 23 Feb 2023
Supervisions
a
Gan Siew Li | Master (Coursework) | 01 Mar 2024
Thesis: A Qualitative Method: Barriers encountered in accessing mental health services by the LGBT community in Malaysia
a
Priscilla Edna Moreira | Master (Coursework) | 01 Mar 2024
Thesis: A Qualitative Study: Understanding the experience and coping strategies in reintegration for people who were formerly incarcerated
a
Ng Shu Lin | Master (Coursework) | 15 Feb 2024
Thesis: Exploring the marital strengths of long-term marriage among Chinese couples in Malaysia
a
Alicia Wong Shu Pei | Master (Coursework) | 23 Nov 2023
Thesis: Perspectives of Malaysian Mental Health Professionals on the usage of Non-erotic Touch in Therapy
a
Hannah Marsha | Undergraduate | 01 Mar 2023
Thesis: The Experience of Older Persons on Hypertension Treatment in Malaysia.
a
W Siti Norzuraihan | Master (Research) | 01 Dec 2022 - 19 Sep 2023
Thesis: Use of Behaviour Change Theory to Improve Home-Based Toothbrushing Practice in Children: A Scoping Review
a
Wilson Wong Chun Moon | Master (Coursework) | 01 Oct 2022
Thesis: Understanding the role of spousal support in managing midlife career crisis transition among middle adulthoods in Klang Valley
a
Kenneth Ong Min Sern | Undergraduate | 26 Sep 2022
Thesis: Exploring the Hookup culture in Malaysia: A Phenomenological Study on Undergraduate Students
a
Poon Celine | Undergraduate | 26 Sep 2022
Thesis: An Exploratory Qualitative Study: Emerging Adults’ (EAs) Perspective on Situationships in Malaysia
a
Derrick Ching Wei Chean | Master (Coursework) | 01 Sep 2022
Thesis: A qualitative research: Understanding dual-earner married couples’ lived experience for opting to be childless.
a
Erica Tan Ying Xuan | Master (Coursework) | 01 Sep 2022
Thesis: Formal and Informal Mental Health Help-Seeking among Transition-Aged Youth in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: A Qualitative Study
a
Puteri Jasmine Tan | Master (Coursework) | 01 Sep 2022
Thesis: Understanding the Experience of Malaysian Muslim Malay Women in Post-Divorce Adjustment
a
Shareena S. Shaari | Undergraduate | 01 Jun 2022 - 12 Sep 2022
Thesis: Earliest Experience of Hair Pulling and Discovery of its Name Among Malaysian Individuals with Trichotillomania Symptoms
a
Kaushalya A/P Arumugam | Undergraduate | 01 Dec 2021 - 12 Sep 2022
Thesis: The Relationship between Photo Manipulation, Self-esteem and Need to Belong Among Malaysian Young Adults who use Instagram
a
Haziqah Packirgani | Undergraduate | 01 Oct 2021 - 12 Sep 2022
Thesis: The Experiences of Couples Dating Outside of Their Faith
a
AFRA NAZIHA BINTI MOHAMAD MUZAMMIL | Master (Research) | 26 Apr 2021 - 14 Mar 2022
Thesis: COVID-19 AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG GOVERNMENT HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN PENANG – A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
a
MEGANA A/P RAMASAMY | Master (Research) | 05 Mar 2021 - 21 Sep 2022
Thesis: FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH STRESS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG EMPLOYED POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE KLANG VALLEY