IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i13p7210-d589055.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Fear of COVID-19 and COVID-19 Stress and Association with Sociodemographic and Psychological Process Factors in Cases under Surveillance in a Frontline Worker Population in Borneo

Author

Listed:
  • Nicholas Tze Ping Pang

    (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia)

  • Gracyvinea Nold Imon

    (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia)

  • Elisa Johoniki

    (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia)

  • Mohd Amiruddin Mohd Kassim

    (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia)

  • Azizan Omar

    (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia)

  • Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim

    (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia)

  • Firdaus Hayati

    (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia)

  • Mohammad Saffree Jeffree

    (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia)

  • Jun Rong Ng

    (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia)

Abstract

COVID-19 stress and fear of COVID-19 is an increasingly researched construct in the general population. However, its prevalence and association with sociodemographic factors and psychological process variables has not been explored in frontline workers under surveillance in a Bornean population. This study was a cross-sectional study using a sociodemographic questionnaire incorporating two specific epidemiological risk variables, namely specific questions about COVID-19 surveillance status (persons under investigation (PUI), persons under surveillance (PUS), and positive cases) and the nature of frontline worker status. Furthermore, five other instruments were used, with three measuring psychopathology (namely depression, anxiety and stress, fear of COVID-19, and stress due to COVID-19) and two psychological process variables (namely psychological flexibility and mindfulness). Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests were performed to assess if there were significant differences in psychopathology and psychological process variables between sociodemographic and epidemiological risk variables. Hierarchical multiple regression was further performed, with depression, anxiety, and stress as dependent variables. There were significant differences in the fear of COVID-19 between positive cases, PUI, and PUS. The fear of COVID-19 scores were higher in positive cases compared to in PUS and PUI groups. Upon hierarchical multiple regression, mindfulness and psychological flexibility were significant predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress after controlling for sociodemographic and epidemiological risk factors. This study demonstrates that exposure to COVID-19 as persons under investigation or surveillance significantly increases the fear of COVID-19, and brief psychological interventions that can positively influence mindfulness and psychological flexibility should be prioritized for these at-risk groups to prevent undue psychological morbidity in the long run.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicholas Tze Ping Pang & Gracyvinea Nold Imon & Elisa Johoniki & Mohd Amiruddin Mohd Kassim & Azizan Omar & Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim & Firdaus Hayati & Mohammad Saffree Jeffree & Jun Rong Ng, 2021. "Fear of COVID-19 and COVID-19 Stress and Association with Sociodemographic and Psychological Process Factors in Cases under Surveillance in a Frontline Worker Population in Borneo," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:7210-:d:589055
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/7210/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/7210/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Luke Sy-Cherng Woon & Hatta Sidi & Nik Ruzyanei Nik Jaafar & Mohammad Farris Iman Leong Bin Abdullah, 2020. "Mental Health Status of University Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Post–Movement Lockdown Assessment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-20, December.
    2. Mohd Fadhli Mohd Fauzi & Hanizah Mohd Yusoff & Rosnawati Muhamad Robat & Nur Adibah Mat Saruan & Khairil Idham Ismail & Ahmad Firdaus Mohd Haris, 2020. "Doctors’ Mental Health in the Midst of COVID-19 Pandemic: The Roles of Work Demands and Recovery Experiences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-16, October.
    3. 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.
    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. Mohd Hanafiah Ahmad Hijazi & Mohammad Saffree Jeffree & Nicholas Tze Ping Pang & Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim & Azizan Omar & Fatimah Ahmedy & Mohd Hanafi Ahmad Hijazi & Mohd Rohaizat Hassan & Rozi, 2022. "Seroprevalence of COVID-19 and Psychological Distress among Front Liners at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah Campus during the Third Wave of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-13, June.
    2. Nurfarahin Musa & Nicholas Tze Ping Pang & Assis Kamu & Chong Mun Ho & Cerith Waters & Jennifer Berrett & Nima Moghaddam & Walton Wider, 2022. "The Development and Validation of the Comprehensive Assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Processes (CompACT)—Malay Version," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-10, August.
    3. Nicholas Tze Ping Pang & Sandi James & Nelbon Giloi & Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim & Azizan Omar & Mohammad Saffree Jeffree & Firdaus Hayati & Mei Ching Lim & Mohd Amiruddin Mohd Kassim & Jun Rong , 2021. "Relationships between Psychopathology, Psychological Process Variables, and Sociodemographic Variables and Comparison of Quarantined and Non-Quarantined Groups of Malaysian University Students in the ," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Fatin Syafiqah Wasimin & Sean Chern Choong Thum & Mathias Wen Leh Tseu & Assis Kamu & Chong Mun Ho & Nicholas Tze Ping Pang & Seockhoon Chung & Walton Wider, 2022. "Adaptation and Validation of the Malay Version of the SAVE-9 Viral Epidemic Anxiety Scale for Healthcare Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-10, August.
    5. Nicholas Tze Ping Pang & Assis Kamu & Chong Mun Ho & Walton Wider & Mathias Wen Leh Tseu, 2022. "An Analysis by State on The Effect of Movement Control Order (MCO) 3.0 Due to COVID-19 on Malaysians’ Mental Health: Evidence from Google Trends," Data, MDPI, vol. 7(11), pages 1-9, November.
    6. Tram Anh Thi Nguyen & Thuy Lan Nguyen & Quynh Trang Thi Nguyen & Kim Anh Thi Nguyen & Curtis M. Jolly, 2023. "Measuring Supply Chain Performance for Khanh Hoa Sanest Soft Drink Joint Stock Company: An Application of the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-24, November.
    7. Jessica Burrai & Alessandro Quaglieri & Umberto Aitella & Clarissa Cricenti & Ivan D’Alessio & Alessandra Pizzo & Giulia Lausi & Anna Maria Giannini & Emanuela Mari, 2022. "The Fear of COVID-19: Gender Differences among Italian Health Volunteers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-18, May.

    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. Luai Al-Labadi & Jinyoung Hur & Kyuson Lim & Nitya Srivastava, 2023. "Assessing Financial Well-being of Undergraduate University Students during COVID-19 Pandemic," Higher Education Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 13(1), pages 1-24, February.
    2. Caro Wolfner & Corilyn Ott & Kalani Upshaw & Angela Stowe & Lisa Schwiebert & Robin Gaines Lanzi, 2023. "Coping Strategies and Help-Seeking Behaviors of College Students and Postdoctoral Fellows with Disabilities or Pre-Existing Conditions during COVID-19," Disabilities, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-25, February.
    3. Bentham Liang Sen Teh & Jin Kiat Ang & Eugene Boon Yau Koh & Nicholas Tze Ping Pang, 2023. "Psychological Resilience and Coping Strategies with Anxiety among Malaysian Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-16, January.
    4. Fatime Arenliu Qosaj & Stevan Merrill Weine & Pleurat Sejdiu & Fekrije Hasani & Shukrije Statovci & Vigan Behluli & Aliriza Arenliu, 2022. "Prevalence of Perceived Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in HCW in Kosovo during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-13, December.
    5. Jesús Muyor-Rodríguez & Francisco Caravaca-Sánchez & Juan Sebastián Fernández-Prados, 2021. "COVID-19 Fear, Resilience, Social Support, Anxiety, and Suicide among College Students in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-14, August.
    6. Juan Luis Delgado-Gallegos & Rene de Jesús Montemayor-Garza & Gerardo R. Padilla-Rivas & Héctor Franco-Villareal & Jose Francisco Islas, 2020. "Prevalence of Stress in Healthcare Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northeast Mexico: A Remote, Fast Survey Evaluation, Using an Adapted COVID-19 Stress Scales," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-12, October.
    7. Hui Jin & Xinyi Qian, 2020. "How the Chinese Government Has Done with Public Health from the Perspective of the Evaluation and Comparison about Public-Health Expenditure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-16, December.
    8. Dina Di Giacomo & Alessandra Martelli & Federica Guerra & Federica Cielo & Jessica Ranieri, 2021. "Mediator Effect of Affinity for E-Learning on Mental Health: Buffering Strategy for the Resilience of University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-12, July.
    9. Eugenie Sin Sing Tan & Shaun Ashley Fung Xian Chin & Manimeyapan S. Palaniappan Sathapan & Astrid Disimond Dewi & Farahnaz Amini & Normina Ahmad Bustami & Pui Yee Tan & Yu Bin Ho & Chung Keat Tan, 2023. "Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observational Evidence from Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-14, February.
    10. Rachel Msetfi & Diana Kornbrot & Yemaya J. Halbrook & Salha Senan, 2022. "Sense of Control and Depression during Public Health Restrictions and the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-13, November.
    11. Izyan A. Wahab & Khang Wen Goh & Zainol Akbar Zainal & Najlaa Siham Mohamed Yusof & Hasniza Zaman Huri & Sabrina Anne Jacob & Muhammad Najib Mohamad Alwi & Rosnani Hashim & Shairyzah Ahmad Hisham & Nu, 2022. "Targeted Primary and Secondary Preventive Strategies for Depression among Malaysian Pharmacy Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, August.
    12. Ying Yang & Yanan Xiao & Yulu Liu & Qiong Li & Changshuo Shan & Shulin Chang & Philip H.-S. Jen, 2021. "Mental Health and Psychological Impact on Students with or without Hearing Loss during the Recurrence of the COVID-19 Pandemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-28, February.
    13. Ahmad Shahrul Nizam Isha & Gehad Mohammed Ahmed Naji & Muhammad Shoaib Saleem & Paula Brough & Abdulsamad Alazzani & Ebrahim A. A. Ghaleb & Amgad Muneer & Mohammed Alzoraiki, 2023. "Validation of “Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales” and “Changes in Psychological Distress during COVID-19” among University Students in Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-16, March.
    14. Zhao Liu, 2023. "Face-to-Face and Online Learning in Higher Education: Academic Achievements and Learners’ Experience in the Chinese SFL Context," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    15. Maryam Masoumi & Kamyar Shokraee & Somayeh Mohammadi & Soroush Moradi & Mohammad Bagherzade & Javad Balasi & Abbas Smiley, 2021. "Sleep Duration as the Main Indicator of Self-Rated Wellness and Health among Healthcare Workers Involved in the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-10, December.
    16. Krzysztof Zdziarski & Marek Landowski & Paulina Zabielska & Beata Karakiewicz, 2021. "Subjective Feelings of Polish Doctors after Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-12, June.
    17. Syazwan Nordin & Nor Azwany Yaacob & Johny Kelak & Ahmad Hazri Ilyas & Aziah Daud, 2022. "The Mental Health of Malaysia’s Northwest Healthcare Workers during the Relaxation of COVID-19 Restrictions and Its Associated Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-10, June.
    18. Hajar Mohd Salleh Sahimi & Nazirah Azman & Nik Ruzyanei Nik Jaafar & Tuti Iryani Mohd Daud & Azlin Baharudin & Ahmad Khaldun Ismail & Akramul Zikri Abdul Malek & Mohd Rohaizat Hassan & Azmawati Mohamm, 2021. "Health Anxiety and Its Correlations with Self-Perceived Risk and Attitude on COVID-19 among Malaysian Healthcare Workers during the Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-13, May.
    19. Shefali Liyanage & Kiran Saqib & Amber Fozia Khan & Tijhiana Rose Thobani & Wang-Choi Tang & Cameron B. Chiarot & Bara’ Abdallah AlShurman & Zahid Ahmad Butt, 2021. "Prevalence of Anxiety in University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
    20. Yazn Alshamaila & Ferial Mohammad Abu Awwad & Ra’ed Masa’deh & Mahmoud E. Farfoura, 2023. "Complexities, Challenges, and Opportunities of Mobile Learning: A Case Study at the University of Jordan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-24, June.

    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:18:y:2021:i:13:p:7210-:d:589055. 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.