Asia Pacific Social Science Review - Scopus

06/05/2025

As part of the Multi-Journal Special Issue (MJSI) Project, the Asia-Pacific Social Science Review published a special issue on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Access it here: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/apssr/vol24/iss3/

This collaborative effort includes leading journals across the region:

Asian Journal of Social Psychology

International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation

Journal of Pacific-Rim Psychology

Jurnal Psikologi Sosial (Indonesia)

Political Psychology

Psicologia USP

The Journal of Behavioral Science

Vietnamese Journal of Psychology

Want to see what the other journals have published as part of this initiative? Check them out here:

https://asiansocialpsych.org/mjsi/

This multi-journal special issue project is one of the many legacies of our late colleague and friend, Professor James H. Liu. Deeply concerned about a world threatened by issues such as poverty, inequality, injustice, human rights violations, political instability, pandemics, water and food shortag...

18/04/2025

Political and business leaders in South Korea are often the focus of attention these days because of their relation to shamanism. These activities are labeled superstitious and are widely condemned, though they are not new. Despite the overall condemnation, shamanistic practices among leaders, similarly to the wider population, persisted in the long run. There are two distinct parts to the criticism: everyday practice and high political positions given to mudangs. Practice is condemned because shamanism is not considered a religion as it has no proper institutions, that is, church, ideology, clergy, official history, and so forth. On the contrary, practice is continuous because its efficiency is widely believed. Presently given political positions somewhat reflect their historical situation. Mudangs were religious and spiritual experts throughout the centuries, and they often held high-ranking positions. Historically, this kind of cronyism was not only compensation for personal support but also shared responsibilities and duties with the worthy. Today, this is condemned because of the general consideration of shamanism as superstition and because politics is expected to work in a bureaucratic manner with elected tasks and responsibilities based on rational operation and institutional legitimacy, where politicians are bureaucrats who cannot share the delegated power arbitrarily. The situation is very similar in business, although less apparent. In this study, we focus on the institutionalization process first. Although the historical development of shamanism did not happen to form an established Church, the preservation of the practices and the ancient roles of religious experts, the present market processes, the increasing scientific research, and the partial governmental acceptance inspired by UNESCO contributed to a secondary institutionalization. Although public acceptance follows the primary structures of society built on formal institutions, personal considerations and decisions are influenced by this secondary layer. Whether this contradiction is a psychological constraint and causes stress among the related population is a question. Secondly, Korean society’s postmodern transformation supports different religiosity and spirituality, which gives another way for shamanism to flourish. Postmodern lifestyle with increased fragmentation and media use can incorporate shamanism with ease and fit properly into its disintegrated character. The highly industrialized and urbanized Korean society and the prevalent advanced IT and communication technology serve as fertile ground to absorb new-old religiosity. The psychological compulsion for spiritual experiences and healing and the social need for building identity on history support shamanism both as a new spirituality and heritage at the same time.

Access it here: https://doi.org/10.59588/2350-8329.1564

16/04/2025

The beginning of the 21st century was marked by the intensification of the Sino-American confrontation due to armed conflicts, competition for resources, and spheres of influence. South Korea, as one of the main strategic partners of both countries, needs to choose a clear foreign policy strategy to maintain the balance of power in the region. The purpose of the study is to identify the main factors and key trends in shaping the role and influence of South Korea on China-United States of America relations by studying it as one of the most important geopolitical regions in the rivalry between the two countries. The following methods were used: system analysis, scenario modeling, comparison, generalization, the statistical method, and the historical-systemic method. The prehistory, basic features, and characteristic features of Sino-American relations have been studied. The main spheres shaping the relationship between the two states in the 21st century have been identified. The most acute problems and the most important sectors in the field of international relations that create contradictions in the cooperation between China and the United States of America are summarized. The role and place of South Korea in the strategic confrontation between Beijing and Washington are outlined. The level of Seoul’s influence on some areas of interaction between the two states is emphasized. The Korean aspect in Sino-American relations, as a determining factor in balancing the confrontation between the countries, is analyzed; the main areas of interaction between the Chinese and American sides with representatives of the Korean political elite are considered and studied. The result of the study was an emphasis on the predominant role of Washington in choosing the modern vector of development of the South Korean state, as well as on the gradual cooling of cooperation between Seoul and Beijing, especially in the spheres of trade, economics, and financial relations. It is also found that South Korea is the main element in solving the North Korean problem in the context of preserving peace on the peninsula and strengthening the influence of one of the opposing countries in the region. The results and conclusions of the work can be used as a basis for further research on the topic – in the context of the development and implementation of state strategies and plans for the conduct of foreign policy.

Access it here: https://doi.org/10.59588/2350-8329.1562

14/04/2025

This study aims to identify the roles of cross-border cooperation in managing the mobility of people at the disputed border area between Indonesia and Malaysia. The two countries disputed exclusive economic zones in the Sulawesi Sea, which led to political and armed tensions. Nevertheless, local people keep practicing cross-border mobility in the disputed area due to family, cultural, and economic ties. Therefore, Indonesia and Malaysia have initiated cross-border cooperation to manage the mobility of people at the border. Using a qualitative method with a case study approach, this study involves document reviews, interviews, and observation to collect the data. The results show that cross-border cooperation has played hypothetical roles in reducing physical and psychological barriers, enhancing socio-economic well-being, and securing border crossers from transnational crime acts, as well as two novel roles in reducing the criminalization of cross-border fishermen from complex legal procedures and creating a proper condition for the conflict resolution process.

Access it here: https://doi.org/10.59588/2350-8329.1561

11/04/2025

The success of the BRICS agenda is influenced by a set of external and internal factors related mainly to its competition with US-led multilateral formats (such as QUAD, I2U2, the new Indo-Pacific Economic Structure, and the Blue Dot Network investment platform), as well as political and economic controversies within BRICS, primarily the ongoing tensions between India and China as well. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the factors affecting the multilateral cooperation of the BRICS countries. India’s strategic priorities are crucial for the BRICS’s effectiveness, as the country participates simultaneously in BRICS and a set of U.S.-led exclusive integration initiatives and aims to balance different groups of contradicting interests. The authors conclude that the economic agenda of all platforms (including BRICS) has several overlaps: “clean” energy, food security, transportation, and infrastructural development. Priority areas of cooperation within the BRICS are as follows: (a) financial cooperation and movement towards de-dollarization, (b) the development of alternative energy sources, and (c) cooperation in ensuring food security with enhanced involvement of the United Arab Emirates. The expansion of BRICS and the inclusion of the United Arab Emirates significantly strengthens the multilateral format and gives it additional competitive advantages over the I2U2 and other U.S.-led initiatives.

Access it here: https://doi.org/10.59588/2350-8329.1560

09/04/2025

This study examines the formation of Nishi-Kawaguchi Chinatown, a new, socially accepted neighborhood in the suburbs of a greater metropolitan area in Japan, with a growing settlement of foreign residents. The study highlights factors leading to the formation of ethnic towns in Japan’s regional communities and their social and economic impact by addressing three research questions: What factors led to Chinese immigrants settling in Nishi-Kawaguchi? Why are there so many Chinese restaurants in Nishi-Kawaguchi? How did the formation of Nishi-Kawaguchi Chinatown impact the local economy? An interview survey of restaurant owners in Nishi-Kawaguchi Chinatown was conducted, and the resultant data were analyzed. The study found that Chinese people settled in Nishi-Kawaguchi because (a) the rentals and land prices were low and (b) the area offered easy access to the city center. These factors led to the concentration of Chinese restaurants in Nishi-Kawaguchi. The results suggest that the formation of Nishi-Kawaguchi Chinatown by Chinese ethnopreneurs has revitalized the local economy by attracting Japanese tourists, as the multi-ethnicity found in Nishi-Kawaguchi Chinatown is rare in Japan.

Access it here: https://doi.org/10.59588/2350-8329.1559

07/04/2025

Global phenomena show that the quality of human development plays an important role in various aspects of the economy, including the stability of the banking sector. In the ASEAN region, developing countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand are undergoing rapid economic transformation, which can affect the dynamics of banking stability. The study aims to analyze the relationship between the Human Development Index (HDI) and banking stability in these countries, assuming that improving the quality of human development can strengthen the stability of the emerging banking sector. The study used panel data from 2000 to 2021 obtained from Our World in Data and the International Monetary Fund. The analysis technique in this study uses panel data regression, namely the fixed effect model, to capture the specific influence of HDI on banking stability in each country. The results show that the increase in HDI contributes positively to banking stability in ASEAN, which shows the importance of improving the quality of life that supports economic stability. The main contribution of this research is to provide empirical evidence on the role of HDI as an important factor in strengthening the stability of the banking sector, as well as to enrich the literature on the relationship between human development and financial stability in developing countries.

Access it here: https://doi.org/10.59588/2350-8329.1558

04/04/2025

Society has a collective responsibility to preserve the natural environment, which is practiced in different ways, including paying taxes. However, little is known about factors contributing to people’s willingness to pay taxes for the environment. This exploratory study examined the demographic (age, gender, education, income, type of community) and psychological predictors (perceived socioeconomic status, environmental concern, environmental self-efficacy, environmental skepticism, governmental trust) of willingness to pay higher taxes for the environment by conducting a secondary analysis of two nationally representative datasets collected one decade apart, the Philippine datasets from International Social Survey Programme 2010 and 2020 Environment Modules. Based on the 2010 sample (N=1200), the results of hierarchical regression revealed that younger adults and those living in big cities are more willing to pay taxes for the environment. However, no psychological predictors were associated with willingness to pay taxes. Results from the 2020 sample (N=1500) showed that males and people living in big cities are more willing to pay taxes for the environment. Psychological predictors, including subjective perception of socioeconomic status (but not objective socioeconomic status), lower environmental self-efficacy, and greater governmental trust, significantly predicted a greater willingness to pay taxes for environmental causes. Limitations, future directions, and policy implications were discussed.

Access it here: https://doi.org/10.59588/2350-8329.1557

02/04/2025

Little is understood about what and how health blogs communicate about the benefits of pineapples and whether they make known scientific findings, such as the anti-cancer potential of pineapples, to the public. This study investigated the benefits of pineapples promoted in health blogs and as perceived by Malaysians. The objectives of the study are to (a) examine claims on the benefits of pineapples in blog articles and (b) describe the benefits of pineapples as perceived by Malaysians. A total of 30 blog articles with a total word count of 39,496 were analyzed to determine the types of claims on the benefits of pineapples. The analysis showed eight types of claims: 31.9% performance claims, 14% food/nutrient claims, 14% risk reduction claims, 11.3% nutrient function claims, 9.6% enhancement claims, 8.3% symptom relief claims, and 1.7% diet claims. In addition, 152 online questionnaire responses from Malaysian participants were obtained. The results on the pineapple consumption patterns showed a preference for fresh pineapples rather than pineapple juice or other food made from pineapples. The participants were convinced about vitamin C contents and the general health benefits of pineapples, but 38.8% were not aware of the anti-cancer properties. After learning about the bromelain enzyme and the anti-cancer potential of pineapples, 44.4% of the participants intend to eat fresh pineapples, and 9.9% intend to take vitamin supplements with pineapple extract. Parents exerted a stronger influence than the newspaper, friends, and doctors on pineapple consumption. The acidic taste may be a barrier to pineapple intake, but not the cost of pineapple. The study showed that the translation of scientific findings in health blogs focussed on easy-to-understand concepts but may neglect the latest anti-cancer properties of pineapples.

Access it here: https://doi.org/10.59588/2350-8329.1556

31/03/2025

The Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals have sparked interest in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing in the energy sector, but there is uncertainty about its ability to yield maximum profits. This study aims to mitigate risks associated with ESG investing and promote sustainable business practices by examining the impact of ESG scores on corporate financial performance (CFP) in emerging, developed, and frontier markets. The study selected a subset of firms from 2,407 listed companies in the energy sector on the Bloomberg Terminal, focusing on companies that regularly report ESG data and financial performance data from 2015 to 2022. The dependent variables included profitability, liquidity, leverage, efficiency, growth, and valuation. The analysis found a positive relationship between environmental score and profitability and efficiency, whereas governance score positively influences firm valuation. Social score affects growth and valuation. ESG performance generally leads to better CFP in developed economies, particularly in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and American regions.

Access it here: https://doi.org/10.59588/2350-8329.1555

12/02/2025

‼️ SPECIAL ISSUE CALL FOR PAPERS ‼️

Asia’s Aging Populations, Healthcare and Caregiving Needs:
Realities in Asia’s Growing Aging Populations

This special issue welcomes academic articles (research articles and review articles) from all Asian nations. The submitted articles must focus on the aging (older adult) population in Asia and must be proven to have solid methodologies and scientific rigor. Papers with an interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary focus are most welcome.

Special Issue Editor: Dr. Mark Stephan Felix, Mahidol University, Thailand

Proposal Deadline: April 25, 2025

For more information, see this page:

https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/apssr/special_issue_asia_aging_populations.pdf

20/01/2025

The increasing rate of cybervictimization has been documented in various countries, including Malaysia. However, there is a dearth of measurement tools with sound psychometric properties suitable for the Malaysian context. To address this methodological gap, the Malaysia Cybervictimization Scale for Adolescents (MyCVS-A) was developed based on qualitative inputs from adolescents in Malaysia. It was subsequently translated into Malay (MyCVS-A-M) and Chinese (MyCVS-A-C). Two studies were conducted to examine the psychometric properties of these two translated versions. In Study 1, 281 secondary school students completed the MyCVS-A-M, the Malay version of the cybervictimization subscale of the European Cyberbullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (CV-ECIPQ), and the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results supported the MyCVS-A-M as a unidimensional scale, whereas coefficients of Cronbach alpha and McDonald omega and composite reliability supported its internal consistency. Moreover, in support of the convergent and concurrent validity, there was a positive correlation between the MyCVS-A-M scores and the scores of the CV-ECIPQ and SMFQ, respectively. In Study 2, 203 secondary school students answered the Chinese version of the MyCVS-A-C and the Chinese version of the CV-ECIPQ and SMFQ, and the findings replicated those of Study 1. The consistency supports the fact that the MyCVS-A is a useful self-report tool for assessing adolescents’ experiences of cybervictimization in the Malaysian context.

Access it here: https://doi.org/10.59588/2350-8329.1553