Abstract The relationship between well-being and the personal strength of hope has been elaborated by the identification of internal (self) and external (family, peers, spiritual) locus-of-hope dimensions. Du, Bernardo, and Yeung (2015) showed that self-esteem (personal and relational) mediates the relationship between locus-of-hope and life satisfaction. Locus-of-hope's goal-related thoughts involve self-evaluation that may either enhance or diminish self-worth, which then influences life satisfaction. We tested the mediated model in three cultural groups: Malaysians, Macau Chinese, and Filipinos. Participants completed scales measuring locusof-hope, personal and relational self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Path analysis showed significant indirect effects in all cultures: (a) internal locus-of-hope on life satisfaction, mediated by personal self-esteem, and (b) external-family locus-of-hope on life satisfaction, mediated by relational self-esteem. Other significant indirect effects were found in specific cultural groups. Cross-cultural similarities and differences are discussed with reference to how distinct cultures give different meanings to forms of agency associated with the personal strength of hope, creating distinct pathways towards life satisfaction.

Introdução: A ansiedade infantil tem crescido em anos recentes. Questionários culturalmente adaptados e desenvolvidos para medir o nível de ansiedade são os melhores instrumentos de triagem para a população em geral. Este estudo descreve a tradução e adaptação científica da Escala de Ansiedade Infantil de Spence para a língua malásia.Método: O processo de tradução científica deste instrumento de autorrelato seguiu as orientações da Força-Tarefa para a Tradução e Adaptação Cultural da International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR).Resultados: A versão malásia e sua adaptação para um novo contexto cultural são descritas.Conclusão: A versão malásia atingiu os objetivos da versão original e sua equivalência conceitual e operacional. Poderá ser usada como o primeiro instrumento malásio para medir ansiedade entre crianças em contextos de pesquisa, clínicos ou comunitários.

Introduction: Anxiety among children has increased in recent years. Culturally adapted questionnaires developed to measure the level of anxiety are the best screening instruments for the general population. This study describes the scientific translation and adaptation of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) into the Malay language.Method: The process of scientific translation of this selfreport instrument followed the guidelines of the Task Force for Translation and Cultural Adaptation of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR).Results: The Malay version and its adaptation for a new cultural context are described.Conclusion: The Malay version achieved the aims of the original version and its conceptual and operational equivalence. It may be used as the first Malay instrument to measure anxiety among children in research and in clinical and community settings.