The Influence of Emotional Intelligence, Resilience, and Digital Social Support on Risky Drug Abuse Behaviors among TVET Students in Malaysian Higher Education Institutions

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is an essential sector in developing a skilled workforce. This study examines the influence of emotional intelligence, resilience, and digital social support on risky drug abuse behaviors among TVET students in Malaysian higher education institutions. In today’s digital era, technology-based learning environments significantly affect students’ psychological and social well-being, particularly in the prevention of risky behaviors. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, synthesising 20 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2020 and 2024. The findings indicate that emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in impulse control, stress management, and healthy decision-making, while resilience functions as a protective factor against academic and social pressures that may lead to drug misuse. Digital social support demonstrates a dual effect, strengthening psychological well-being when online interactions are positive and supportive, but increasing risk when students are exposed to content normalizing substance use or negative social pressure. Institutional factors such as anti-drug policies, digital literacy, and lecturers’ emotional competencies were also identified as contributing elements influencing TVET students’ behaviors. This study proposes an integrative conceptual framework to develop interventions grounded in emotional intelligence, resilience, and digital social support within the TVET education system, highlighting the importance of institutional policies, emotional-digital literacy programmes, and holistic psychosocial support approaches in reducing the risk of drug abuse among TVET students.

Emotional Intelligence, resilience, digital social support, risky behavior

1. AADK. (2024). Laporan statistik penyalahgunaan dadah Malaysia. Agensi Anti Dadah Kebangsaan. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Abdul Rahman, N., Hamid, S., & Yusof, R. (2022). Digital media exposure and emotional regulation among Malaysian students. Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction, 19(2), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.32890/mjli2022.19.2.6 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Amin Al-Haadi, N., Abdullah, M., & Rahman, F. (2023). Risk behaviours and early indicators of substance misuse among youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 72(4), 512–520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.01.008 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Bahaman Abu Samah, Fauziah Ibrahim, & Naresh Kumar. (2022). Self-efficacy and relapsed addiction tendency: An empirical study. The Social Sciences, 11(3), 277–282. https://doi.org/10.36478/sscience.2011.277.282 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Boyle, S. C., Baez, S., Trager, B. M., & LaBrie, J. W. (2022). Systematic bias in self-reported social media use in the age of platform swinging. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(16), 9847. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169847 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Bronfenbrenner, U. (2005). The bioecological model of human development. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10609-000 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Chong, S., & Abdullah, N. (2021). Emotional intelligence and resilience as predictors of risk behaviour among adolescents. Children and Youth Services Review, 128, 106152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106152 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2018). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781506335193 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Dusenbury, L., Brannigan, R., Falco, M., & Hansen, W. B. (2003). A review of research on fidelity of implementation: Implications for drug abuse prevention. Health Education Research, 18(2), 237–256. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198103255479 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Elkalla, I. H. R., El Gilany, A. H., Baklola, M., et al. (2023). Assessing self-stigma levels and associated factors among substance use disorder patients. BMC Psychiatry, 23, 592. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-05093-0 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Fauziah Ibrahim, Nazirah Hassan, Ezarina Zakaria, Wan Shahrazad Wan Sulaiman, Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin, & Nurulatiqah Yunos. (2023). Hubungan antara efikasi diri dan situasi berisiko tinggi relaps dalam kalangan banduan dadah. e-Bangi: Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Fergus, S., & Zimmerman, M. (2022). Resilience and youth development: A protective factors framework for substance use prevention. Youth & Society, 54(1), 20–45. https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X20973412 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Gey, S., Tan, L. M., & Halim, N. (2024). Cyberpeer pressure and psychological distress among vocational college students in Malaysia. Journal of Adolescence, 99, 45–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2024.01.004 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Gey, S., Yap, W., & Leow, J. (2025). Resilience as a mediator between emotional intelligence and perceived stress among young adults in Malaysia. Discover Mental Health, 5, 37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44192-025-00166-w [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Gialamas, V. (2022). The effects of social desirability on students’ self-reports in two social contexts: lectures vs. lectures and lab classes. Information, 13(10), 491. https://doi.org/10.3390/info13100491 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Gupta, A., Hu, J., Huang, S., et al. (2023). Implementation fidelity to a behavioral diabetes prevention intervention in two New York City safety net primary care practices. BMC Public Health, 23, 575. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15477-2 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Harris, R., & Rainey, L. (2020). TVET research in the 21st century: Trends, issues and future directions. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 72(4), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/13636820.2019.1706458 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Haslee Sharil Lim Abdullah & Salina Abdullah. (2019). Cognitive distortion and resilience among female Muslim clients at a drug treatment and rehabilitation centre in Kelantan. ‘Abqari Journal, 21(1), 56–68. https://doi.org/10.33102/abqari.vol21no1.227 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. King, B. M. (2024). Social desirability biased responding: Are researchers listening? Psychology and Behavioral Science International Journal, 21(5). https://doi.org/10.19080/PBSIJ.2024.21.556075 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Kim, H., & Park, S. (2024). Digital peer influence and online risk behaviours among students. Computers & Education, 192, 104686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2023.104686 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Lee, J., & Chen, P. (2023). Excessive digital use and mental health among tertiary students: A global review. Computers in Human Behavior, 140, 107610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.107610 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Lee, J., & Chen, M. (2023). Social media exposure and adolescent behavioural risks. Journal of Youth Studies, 26(5), 634–652. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2023.2185721 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Lim, S. K., & Tan, Y. W. (2023). Academic stress, emotional intelligence and digital learning challenges in Malaysian higher education. Education and Information Technologies, 28(5), 6211–6230. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-022-11457-3 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Maxwell, S. E., & Cole, D. A. (2007). Bias in cross-sectional analyses of longitudinal mediation. Psychological Methods, 12(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1037/1082-989X.12.1.1 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Meng, X., Tan, Y., & Wang, L. (2024). Digital learning platform reliability and student engagement: a quantitative study. Computers & Education, 192, 104820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2022.104820 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Mohd Shamsuri Md Saad, Z., Ismail Ibrahim, M., Muhd Akmal Noor Rajikon, & Helmi Mohd Kasim. (2025). Emotional intelligence and online learning readiness among students in a technical university in Malaysia. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 8(12), 2504–2510. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.8120210 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Mohd Shamsuri Md Saad, Z., Rahim, A., & Sani, M. (2025). Emotional intelligence and adaptability in digital learning environments. Malaysian Journal of Learning Sciences, 14(1), 55–72. https://doi.org/10.21315/mjls2025.14.1.4 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Norulhuda B. M. Rozei. (2022). The relationship between inclination to change, self-efficacy and resilience among drug addicts in Kajang Prison [Tesis Sarjana, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia]. USIM Research Repository. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J. Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5), 879–903. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.5.879 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Petrides, K. V., Mikolajczak, M., Mavroveli, S., & Sanchez-Ruiz, M. (2022). Trait emotional intelligence and wellbeing in academic contexts. Personality and Individual Differences, 187, 111401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.111401 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Smith, A., Roberts, B., & Patel, R. (2022). The psychological impact of social media overuse among young adults. Journal of Affective Disorders, 315, 148–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2022.02.015 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Teh, W. L., Abdin, E., Kumar, A. P. V., et al. (2023). Measuring social desirability bias in a multi ethnic cohort sample: its relationship with self-reported physical activity, dietary habits, and factor structure. BMC Public Health, 23, 415. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15309-3 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Tan, J., & Low, S. (2022). Online social support and adolescent risk behaviour: A moderating role of peer influence. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 25(8), 517–524. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2021.0288 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. World Health Organization (WHO). (2023). Global trends on substance use among youth. https://www.who.int/publications [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Assessment of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Repositioning TVET for Economic Development in Nigeria
• Teachers’ Use of Assure Model Instructional Design on Learners’ Problem Solving Efficacy in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
• “E-Booksan Ang Kaalaman”: Development, Validation, and Utilization of Electronic Book in Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Social Studies
• Analyzing EFL University Students’ Academic Speaking Skills Through Self-Recorded Video Presentation
• Major Findings of The Study on Total Quality Management in Teachers’ Education Institutions (TEIs) In Assam – An Evaluative Study