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Article History

Received: 7 August 2024

Accepted: 6 May 2025

First Online: 20 May 2025

Declarations

:

: This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the Institutional Research Board and the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki (World Medical Association, 2013). Ethical approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of UCSI University, Malaysia (Approval Code: IEC-2024-FOSSLA-0012). The study respected participants’ anonymity and confidentiality throughout the data collection and analysis process.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper. This research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

: The study involved school students aged 16 to 19, and ethical considerations were paramount in the research process. In accordance with standard practices in China, informed consent was obtained from the participants’ teachers, who acted as legal guardians for the purposes of this study. This approach aligns with established guidelines for research involving minors in educational settings within the region. Additionally, assent was sought from the participants themselves. This process involved providing the students with a clear and age-appropriate explanation of the study’s aims, procedures, and their rights as participants, including the right to withdraw at any time without any adverse consequences. The dual approach of obtaining both informed consent from teachers and assent from the students ensured that the research was conducted with respect for the autonomy and well-being of the young participants, consistent with ethical standards in educational research. This approach aligns with the principles outlined by Alderson (2012), who emphasizes the importance of recognizing and respecting children’s capacity to contribute to decisions affecting them in research contexts.