The Research and Postgraduate Centre congratulates Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahadzadeh Asharafsadat from the School of Communication on the publication of her research article in Health Communication, an SSCI Q1 journal with the latest impact factor of 2.9.
Dr. Ahadzadeh Asharafsadat is the first author and corresponding author of the paper, which was co-authored with Dr. Kam Fon Lee from SEGi University and Prof. Dr. Fon Sim Ong from Curtin University Malaysia.
The article, titled “Negotiating Mask-Wearing: Relational Dialectics Among University Students in the Post-COVID-19 Era”, explores how individuals negotiate the changing meanings of mask-wearing in the post-COVID-19 era. Drawing on Relational Dialectics Theory 2.0 (RDT 2.0) and semi-structured interviews with 14 university students, the study identifies key tensions between individual autonomy and collective responsibility as well as contextual conformity and personal continuity. The findings highlight the evolving role of mask-wearing as a social practice shaped by health concerns, personal choices, and social expectations, offering valuable insights for health communication research and practice.
This work was financially supported by Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund (Grant No. XMUMRF/2025-C16/IART/0025).
Dr. Ahadzadeh Asharafsadat is an Associate Professor at the School of Communication, Xiamen University Malaysia. She obtained her PhD in Mass Communication from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Her research expertise lies in health communication, digital health, and media psychology, with a particular interest in examining how communication processes, media technologies, and psychological factors intersect to shape individuals’ perceptions, attitudes, decision-making, and behaviours.