IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i8p4590-d791196.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Psychological Distress and COVID-19 Related Anxiety among Malaysian Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Nurul Ilani Abdul Latif

    (Obstetrics & Gynaecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Nor Azlin Mohamed Ismail

    (Obstetrics & Gynaecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Sweet Yi Esther Loh

    (Obstetrics & Gynaecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Abdul Ghani Nur Azurah

    (Obstetrics & Gynaecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Marhani Midin

    (Psychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Shamsul Azhar Shah

    (Community Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Aida Kalok

    (Obstetrics & Gynaecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

Abstract

The combination of COVID-19 outbreaks and nationwide lockdown led to an increased prevalence of psychological distress among the population, especially women, as they have to cope with greater family and work demands. We aimed to identify the factors contributing to psychological distress among Malaysian women during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2020 and April 2021, in a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among women, which consisted of (1) Participant’s demographics, (2) COVID-19 knowledge and awareness, (3) Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and (4) COVID-19-related anxiety. Chi-square test and univariate analysis were performed to determine the significant factors associated with psychological distress. The mean scores for knowledge, COVID-19 anxiety, and DASS-21 subcomponents were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test. A total of three hundred and thirty-eight women completed the survey. The majority of respondents demonstrated adequate knowledge (95.6%) on COVID-19. The proportion of our women who reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were 17.2%, 25.1%, and 0.9%, respectively, resulting in a prevalence of psychological distress of 27.8%. Low education level ( p = 0.017), unemployment ( p = 0.028), loss of income ( p = 0.033), and hospital admission for surgical procedures ( p = 0.021) were significantly associated with a higher psychological burden. A greater level of COVID-19 anxiety was found among Malays ( p = 0.027), pregnant women ( p = 0.013), and those who suffered a loss of income ( p = 0.038) during this pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on women’s psychological wellbeing, especially those from the lower socio-economic background. Therefore, adequate information, as well as support, must be provided to the vulnerable groups during the ongoing pandemic, to lessen their psychological burden.

Suggested Citation

  • Nurul Ilani Abdul Latif & Nor Azlin Mohamed Ismail & Sweet Yi Esther Loh & Abdul Ghani Nur Azurah & Marhani Midin & Shamsul Azhar Shah & Aida Kalok, 2022. "Psychological Distress and COVID-19 Related Anxiety among Malaysian Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:8:p:4590-:d:791196
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/8/4590/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/8/4590/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    2. Li Ping Wong & Haridah Alias & Afiqah Alyaa Md Fuzi & Intan Sofia Omar & Azmawaty Mohamad Nor & Maw Pin Tan & Diana Lea Baranovich & Che Zarrina Saari & Sareena Hanim Hamzah & Ku Wing Cheong & Chiew H, 2021. "Escalating progression of mental health disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from a nationwide survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-14, March.
    3. Carlos Ruiz-Frutos & Mónica Ortega-Moreno & Adriano Dias & João Marcos Bernardes & Juan Jesús García-Iglesias & Juan Gómez-Salgado, 2020. "Information on COVID-19 and Psychological Distress in a Sample of Non-Health Workers during the Pandemic Period," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Cristina Mazza & Eleonora Ricci & Silvia Biondi & Marco Colasanti & Stefano Ferracuti & Christian Napoli & Paolo Roma, 2020. "A Nationwide Survey of Psychological Distress among Italian People during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-14, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Karolina Hoffmann & Dorota Kopciuch & Aleksandra Bońka & Michał Michalak & Wiesław Bryl & Krzysztof Kus & Elżbieta Nowakowska & Tomasz Zaprutko & Piotr Ratajczak & Anna Paczkowska, 2023. "The Mental Health of Poles during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-16, January.
    2. Jasmine Adela Mutang & Bee Seok Chua & Kai Yee Hon & Ching Sin Siau & Walton Wider & Rosnah Ismail, 2022. "Stressors, Psychological States, and Relationship Quality among East Malaysian Adults with Partners Amid the COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-10, September.
    3. Nur Iwana Abdul Taib & Nik Ruzyanei Nik Jaafar & Nazirah Azman & Mohammad Farris Iman Leong Bin Abdullah & Nurul Ain Mohamad Kamal & Azlin Baharudin & Muhammad Najib Bin Abdullah & Suresh Kumar Chidam, 2023. "Stigma, Sociodemographic Factors, and Clinical Factors Associated with Psychological Distress among COVID-19 Survivors during the Convalescence Period: A Multi-Centre Study in Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-13, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Paula Rodríguez-Fernández & Josefa González-Santos & Mirian Santamaría-Peláez & Raúl Soto-Cámara & Esteban Sánchez-González & Jerónimo J. González-Bernal, 2021. "Psychological Effects of Home Confinement and Social Distancing Derived from COVID-19 in the General Population—A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-18, June.
    2. J. Pierre Zila-Velasque & Pamela Grados-Espinoza & Naomi Coba-Villan & Jocelyn Quispe-Chamorro & Yesenia F. Taipe-Guillén & Estefany Pacheco & Laura Ccasa-Valero & Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas & Cristian , 2022. "Mental Disorders and Level of Resilience in Eight High-Altitude Cities of Peru during the Second Pandemic Wave: A Multicenter Population-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Mateusz Ciski & Krzysztof Rząsa, 2023. "Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression in the Investigation of Local COVID-19 Anomalies Based on Population Age Structure in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-23, May.
    4. José Pais-Ribeiro & Alexandra Ferreira-Valente & Margarida Jarego & Elisabet Sánchez-Rodríguez & Jordi Miró, 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic in Portugal: Psychosocial and Health-Related Factors Associated with Psychological Discomfort," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-13, March.
    5. Mohammad Farhan Al. Qudah & Ismael Salamah Albursan & Heba Ibraheem Hammad & Ahmad Mohammad Alzoubi & Salaheldin Farah Bakhiet & Abdullah M. Almanie & Soltan S. Alenizi & Suliman S. Aljomaa & Mohammed, 2021. "Anxiety about COVID-19 Infection, and Its Relation to Smartphone Addiction and Demographic Variables in Middle Eastern Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-14, October.
    6. Eriona Thartori & Concetta Pastorelli & Flavia Cirimele & Chiara Remondi & Maria Gerbino & Emanuele Basili & Ainzara Favini & Carolina Lunetti & Irene Fiasconaro & Gian Vittorio Caprara, 2021. "Exploring the Protective Function of Positivity and Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy in Time of Pandemic COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-19, December.
    7. Agnes Y. K. Lai & George O. C. Cheung & Asa C. M. Choi & Man-Ping Wang & Polly S. L. Chan & Angie H. Y. Lam & Esther W. S. Lo & Chia-Chin Lin & Tai-Hing Lam, 2022. "Mental Health, Support System, and Perceived Usefulness of Support in University Students in Hong Kong Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Method Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-18, October.
    8. Whitney M. Herge & Emily B. Gale & Emily J. Stapleton & Ashley Ofori & Kiley F. Poppino & Shelby P. Cerza & Daniel J. Sucato, 2024. "Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Coping in the Time of COVID-19: A Longitudinal Assessment," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(1), pages 21582440231, January.
    9. Maheen M. Adamson & Angela Phillips & Srija Seenivasan & Julian Martinez & Harlene Grewal & Xiaojian Kang & John Coetzee & Ines Luttenbacher & Ashley Jester & Odette A. Harris & David Spiegel, 2020. "International Prevalence and Correlates of Psychological Stress during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-16, December.
    10. María del Carmen Olmos-Gómez, 2020. "Sex and Careers of University Students in Educational Practices as Factors of Individual Differences in Learning Environment and Psychological Factors during COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-19, July.
    11. Isidora Vujčić & Teodora Safiye & Bojana Milikić & Emina Popović & Draško Dubljanin & Eleonora Dubljanin & Jakša Dubljanin & Milanko Čabarkapa, 2021. "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Epidemic and Mental Health Status in the General Adult Population of Serbia: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-15, February.
    12. Alessio Matiz & Franco Fabbro & Andrea Paschetto & Damiano Cantone & Anselmo Roberto Paolone & Cristiano Crescentini, 2020. "Positive Impact of Mindfulness Meditation on Mental Health of Female Teachers during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-22, September.
    13. Thomas Probst & Peter Stippl & Christoph Pieh, 2020. "Changes in Provision of Psychotherapy in the Early Weeks of the COVID-19 Lockdown in Austria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-10, May.
    14. Md Altab Hossin & Lie Chen & Md Sajjad Hosain & Isaac Owusu Asante, 2022. "Does COVID-19 Fear Induce Employee Innovation Performance Deficiency? Examining the Mediating Role of Psychological Stress and Moderating Role of Organizational Career Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-22, August.
    15. Alejandro Salazar & Jenifer Palomo-Osuna & Helena de Sola & Jose A. Moral-Munoz & María Dueñas & Inmaculada Failde, 2021. "Psychological Impact of the Lockdown Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic in University Workers: Factors Related to Stress, Anxiety, and Depression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-16, April.
    16. Daniel Deimel & Christine Firk & Heino Stöver & Nicolas Hees & Norbert Scherbaum & Simon Fleißner, 2022. "Substance Use and Mental Health during the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Germany: Results of a Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-15, October.
    17. Yolanda Marcén-Román & Angel Gasch-Gallen & Irene Isabel Vela Martín de la Mota & Estela Calatayud & Isabel Gómez-Soria & Beatriz Rodríguez-Roca, 2021. "Stress Perceived by University Health Sciences Students, 1 Year after COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-10, May.
    18. Anelise Sonza & Danúbia da Cunha de Sá-Caputo & Alessandro Sartorio & Sofia Tamini & Adérito Seixas & Borja Sanudo & Jessica Süßenbach & Marcello Montillo Provenza & Vinicius Layter Xavier & Redha Tai, 2021. "COVID-19 Lockdown and the Behavior Change on Physical Exercise, Pain and Psychological Well-Being: An International Multicentric Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-20, April.
    19. Tamara D. Klikovac & Nikola Petrović & Đerđi Šarić, 2023. "Assessment of Cancer Patients’ Mental Health during the Coronavirus Pandemic in Serbia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-16, January.
    20. Carlos Ruiz-Frutos & Mónica Ortega-Moreno & Adriano Dias & João Marcos Bernardes & Juan Jesús García-Iglesias & Juan Gómez-Salgado, 2020. "Information on COVID-19 and Psychological Distress in a Sample of Non-Health Workers during the Pandemic Period," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-18, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; psychology; women;
    All these keywords.

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:8:p:4590-:d:791196. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.