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Psychological Impact of COVID-19 and Lockdown among University Students in Malaysia: Implications and Policy Recommendations

Author

Listed:
  • Sheela Sundarasen

    (Department of Accounting, Prince Sultan University, P.O. Box 66833, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia)

  • Karuthan Chinna

    (School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, No. 1, Jalan Taylors, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Kamilah Kamaludin

    (Department of Accounting, Prince Sultan University, P.O. Box 66833, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia)

  • Mohammad Nurunnabi

    (Department of Accounting, Prince Sultan University, P.O. Box 66833, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia)

  • Gul Mohammad Baloch

    (School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, No. 1, Jalan Taylors, Subang Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia)

  • Heba Bakr Khoshaim

    (Deanship of Educational Services, Prince Sultan University, P.O. Box 66833, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia)

  • Syed Far Abid Hossain

    (College of Business Administration, International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT), 4 Embankment Drive Road, Sector-10, Uttara Model Town, Dhaka 1230, Bangladesh)

  • Areej Sukayt

    (Department of Accounting, Prince Sultan University, P.O. Box 66833, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown has taken the world by storm. This study examines its impact on the anxiety level of university students in Malaysia during the peak of the crisis and the pertinent characteristics affecting their anxiety. A cross-sectional online survey, using Zung’s self-rating anxiety questionnaire was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. Out of the 983 respondents, 20.4%, 6.6%, and 2.8% experienced minimal to moderate, marked to severe, and most extreme levels of anxiety. Female gender (OR = 21.456, 95% CI = 1.061, 1.998, p = 0.020), age below 18 years (OR = 4.147, 95% CI = 1.331, 12.918, p = 0.014), age 19 to 25 (OR = 3.398, 95% CI = 1.431, 8.066, p = 0.006), pre-university level of education (OR = 2.882, 95% CI = 1.212, 6.854, p = 0.017), management studies (OR = 2.278, 95% CI = 1.526, 3.399, p < 0.001), and staying alone (OR = 2.208, 95% CI = 1.127, 4.325, p = 0.021) were significantly associated with higher levels of anxiety. The main stressors include financial constraints, remote online teaching and uncertainty about the future with regard to academics and career. Stressors are predominantly financial constraints, remote online learning, and uncertainty related to their academic performance, and future career prospects.

Suggested Citation

  • Sheela Sundarasen & Karuthan Chinna & Kamilah Kamaludin & Mohammad Nurunnabi & Gul Mohammad Baloch & Heba Bakr Khoshaim & Syed Far Abid Hossain & Areej Sukayt, 2020. "Psychological Impact of COVID-19 and Lockdown among University Students in Malaysia: Implications and Policy Recommendations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:17:p:6206-:d:404621
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nicholas Grubic & Shaylea Badovinac & Amer M Johri, 2020. "Student mental health in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic: A call for further research and immediate solutions," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(5), pages 517-518, August.
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