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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

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  • 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
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    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. 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.
    3. 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.
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    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.

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