Play-Based Psychoeducation to Enhance Emotional Literacy Among Migrant Children in Malaysia

Ristina Putri Rahmayanti; Angga Wilandika; Anggriyana Tri Widianti

doi:10.56741/IISTR.jphs.001503

Authors

Ristina Putri Rahmayanti Universitas 'Aisyiyah Bandung
Angga Wilandika
wiland.angga@unisa-bandung.ac.id
Universitas 'Aisyiyah Bandung https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4163-5152
Anggriyana Tri Widianti Universitas 'Aisyiyah Bandung https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9457-4149

Keywords:

Cultural adaptation, Emotional literacy, Migrant children, Psychoeducation, Psychosocial resilience

Abstract

Emotional literacy is critical for children’s psychosocial well-being and particularly challenging among migrant children facing displacement and cultural stressors. This pre-experimental study evaluated the immediate changes of a play-based psychoeducation program on emotional literacy among 30 Indonesian migrant children aged 9–15 years in Malaysia. Using a one-group pretest–posttest design, participants completed the validated Emotional Literacy Questionnaire before and after intervention. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests showed a significant improvement in total emotional literacy scores from 11.53 ± 0.54 to 13.30 ± 0.49 (p = 0.009, r = 0.47). Children improved in recognizing emotions, applying emotional knowledge to case studies, and employing adaptive regulation strategies. The findings provide preliminary evidence suggesting that culturally congruent, play-based psychoeducation may support improvements in emotional competence among migrant children. Nursing professionals can incorporate such interventions to promote psychosocial adaptation in school and community settings.

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Author Biographies

Ristina Putri Rahmayanti, Universitas 'Aisyiyah Bandung

Ristina Putri Rahmayanti is a nursing professional from the Bachelor of Nursing Program at Aisyiyah University, Bandung. She had the opportunity to participate in research through the Independent International Partnership Community Service Program at the Muhammadiyah Aisyiyah College Independent Campus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She is passionate about nursing, community health, and contributing to the improvement of healthcare quality through compassionate and evidence-based practice (email: ristinaputri310304@gmail.com).

Angga Wilandika, Universitas 'Aisyiyah Bandung

Angga Wilandika is an Associate Professor and Doctor in nursing science at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Aisyiyah Bandung, Indonesia, where he has been a faculty member since 2011. His expertise includes nursing sciences, psychosocial nursing, and public health problems. His research interests lie in nursing and public health, from theory to design to implementation. Other research interests include HIV/AIDS, health literacy, stigmatization, and psychometric study. He has collaborated actively with researchers in several different disciplines (email: wiland.angga@unisa-bandung.ac.id).

Anggriyana Tri Widianti, Universitas 'Aisyiyah Bandung

Anggriyana Tri Widianti is a lecturer in the Department of Nursing at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas ‘Aisyiyah Bandung, Indonesia. She holds a Master of Nursing degree and a specialization in Medical-Surgical Nursing. Her academic and clinical expertise focuses on medical-surgical nursing, particularly in patient care management and the development of evidence-based nursing interventions. She actively contributes to advancing nursing education and clinical research in medical-surgical nursing
in Indonesia (email: anggriyana@unisa-bandung.ac.id).

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