IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i5p3795-d1075324.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Stigma, Sociodemographic Factors, and Clinical Factors Associated with Psychological Distress among COVID-19 Survivors during the Convalescence Period: A Multi-Centre Study in Malaysia

Author

Listed:
  • Nur Iwana Abdul Taib

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan 94300, Malaysia)

  • Nik Ruzyanei Nik Jaafar

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Nazirah Azman

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Mohammad Farris Iman Leong Bin Abdullah

    (Department of Community Health, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas 13200, Malaysia)

  • Nurul Ain Mohamad Kamal

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Azlin Baharudin

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Muhammad Najib Bin Abdullah

    (Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia)

  • Suresh Kumar Chidambaram

    (Department of Medicine, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia)

  • Alif Adlan

    (Department of Medicine, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia)

  • Loong Hui Tan

    (Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia)

  • Satya Tamilselvam

    (Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia)

  • Mohd Shahrir Mohamed Said

    (Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Anuar Abd Samad

    (Health Technology Assessment Section, Medical Development Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Putrajaya 62590, Malaysia)

  • Siti Nordiana Binti Dollah

    (Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Angkatan Tentera Tuanku Mizan, Kuala Lumpur 53300, Malaysia)

Abstract

High rates of psychological distress among COVID-19 survivors and stigmatisation have been reported in both early and late convalescence. This study aimed to compare the severity of psychological distress and to determine the associations among sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, stigma, and psychological distress among COVID-19 survivors across two different cohorts at two different time points. Data were collected cross-sectionally in two groups at one month and six months post-hospitalisation among COVID-19 patient from three hospitals in Malaysia. This study assessed psychological distress and the level of stigma using the Kessler Screening Scale for Psychological Distress (K6) and the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC) stigma scale, respectively. At one month after discharge, significantly lower psychological distress was found among retirees ( B = −2.207, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = −4.139 to −0.068, p = 0.034), those who received up to primary education ( B = −2.474, 95% CI = −4.500 to −0.521, p = 0.014), and those who had an income of more than RM 10,000 per month ( B = −1.576, 95% CI = −2.714 to −0.505, p = 0.006). Moreover, those with a history of psychiatric illness [one month: ( B = 6.363, 95% CI = 2.599 to 9.676, p = 0.002), six months: ( B = 2.887, CI = 0.469–6.437, p = 0.038)] and sought counselling services [one month: ( B = 1.737, 95% CI = 0.385 to 3.117, p = 0.016), six months: ( B = 1.480, CI = 0.173–2.618, p = 0.032)] had a significantly higher severity of psychological distress at one month and six months after discharge from the hospital. The perceived stigma of being infected with COVID-19 contributed to greater severity of psychological distress. ( B = 0.197, CI = 0.089–0.300, p = 0.002). Different factors may affect psychological distress at different periods of convalescence after a COVID-19 infection. A persistent stigma contributed to psychological distress later in the convalescence period.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:3795-:d:1075324
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/3795/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/3795/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ahmed Suparno Bahar Moni & Shalimar Abdullah & Mohammad Farris Iman Leong Bin Abdullah & Mohammed Shahjahan Kabir & Sheikh M Alif & Farhana Sultana & Masudus Salehin & Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam &, 2021. "Psychological distress, fear and coping among Malaysians during the COVID-19 pandemic," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-21, September.
    2. 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.
    3. Selçuk Özdin & Şükriye Bayrak Özdin, 2020. "Levels and predictors of anxiety, depression and health anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkish society: The importance of gender," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(5), pages 504-511, August.
    4. Lamia A. Al-Zamel & Shatha F. Al-Thunayan & Afnan A. Al-Rasheed & Munirah A. Alkathiri & Faisal Alamri & Faleh Alqahtani & Amer S. Alali & Omar A. Almohammed & Yousif A. Asiri & Adel S. Bashatah & Yaz, 2021. "Validation and Cultural Adaptation of Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC) in Assessing Stigma among Recovered Patients with COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-13, August.
    5. 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.
    6. Ke Ran Tee & Abdul Samat Ismail & Yong Heng Ang & Hidayah Husna Hishamuddin & Vinneeshah Jacob Paul & Azimatun Noor Aizuddin & Ida Zarina Zaini, 2022. "Prevalence of Anxiety and Burnout, and Coping Mechanisms among Clinical Year Medical Undergraduate Students in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    7. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Yi Ding & Jie Yang & Tingting Ji & Yongyu Guo, 2021. "Women Suffered More Emotional and Life Distress than Men during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Pathogen Disgust Sensitivity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-9, August.
    2. 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.
    3. Anna Maria Cybulska & Katarzyna Głębicka & Marzanna Stanisławska & Aneta Cymbaluk-Płoska & Elżbieta Grochans & Kamila Rachubińska, 2023. "The Relationship between Social Support and Mental Health Problems of Peri- and Postmenopausal Women during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-14, January.
    4. Manuel Maciel-Saldierna & Emmanuel Elizondo-Hernández & Gabino Cervantes-Guevara & Enrique Cervantes-Pérez & Guillermo Alonso Cervantes-Cardona & Bertha Georgina Guzmán-Ramírez & Irma Valeria Brancacc, 2022. "Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Junior High School Students in Guadalajara, Mexico: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-10, November.
    5. Natalia Martinelli & Sandrine Gil & Johann Chevalère & Clément Belletier & Guillaume Dezecache & Pascal Huguet & Sylvie Droit-Volet, 2021. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Vulnerable People Suffering from Depression: Two Studies on Adults in France," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-12, March.
    6. Anna Idzik(199) & Anna Leńczuk-Gruba & Ewa Kobos & Mariola Pietrzak & Beata Dziedzic, 2021. "Loneliness and Depression among Women in Poland during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-16, October.
    7. Kuan-Ying Hsieh & Dian-Jeng Li & Frank Huang-Chih Chou & Su-Ting Hsu & Hui-Ching Wu & Li-Shiu Chou & Pei-Jhen Wu & Guei-Ging Lin & Wei-Jen Chen & Chin-Lien Liu & Joh-Jong Huang, 2022. "Relationship of Societal Adaptation with Vaccine Worries among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Effects of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-12, August.
    8. Deepika Pandita & Vartika Agarwal & Seema Singh, 2023. "The Drivers of Stress in Women Employees Caused by the Pandemic COVID-2019," Management and Labour Studies, XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business Management & Human Resources, vol. 48(2), pages 280-296, May.
    9. 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.
    10. 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.
    11. Agnieszka Markiewicz-Gospodarek & Aleksandra Górska & Renata Markiewicz & Zuzanna Chilimoniuk & Marcin Czeczelewski & Jacek Baj & Ryszard Maciejewski & Jolanta Masiak, 2022. "The Relationship between Mental Disorders and the COVID-19 Pandemic—Course, Risk Factors, and Potential Consequences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-18, August.
    12. Medard Kofi Adu & Lauren J. Wallace & Kwabena F. Lartey & Joshua Arthur & Kenneth Fosu Oteng & Samuel Dwomoh & Ruth Owusu-Antwi & Rita Larsen-Reindorf & Vincent I. O. Agyapong, 2021. "Prevalence and Correlates of Likely Major Depressive Disorder among the Adult Population in Ghana during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-19, July.
    13. 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.
    14. Michael Owusu Budu & Emily J. Rugel & Rochelle Nocos & Koon Teo & Sumathy Rangarajan & Scott A. Lear, 2021. "Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on People with Pre-Existing Chronic Disease," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-9, June.
    15. María Elena Gutiérrez-Hernández & Luisa Fernanda Fanjul & Alicia Díaz-Megolla & Pablo Reyes-Hurtado & Jonay Francisco Herrera-Rodríguez & María del Pilar Enjuto-Castellanos & Wenceslao Peñate, 2021. "COVID-19 Lockdown and Mental Health in a Sample Population in Spain: The Role of Self-Compassion," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-14, February.
    16. 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.
    17. Fumiya Tanji & Yuki Kodama, 2021. "Prevalence of Psychological Distress and Associated Factors in Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-10, October.
    18. Tiberiu Constantin Ionescu & Bogdana Ioana Fetecau & Stefan Zaharia & Elma-Maria Mînecan & Catalina Tudose, 2023. "Sleepless Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Insomnia Symptoms among Professionally Active Romanians during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, January.
    19. Ankica Kosic & Tamara Džamonja Ignjatović & Nebojša Petrović, 2021. "A Cross-Cultural Study of Distress during COVID-19 Pandemic: Some Protective and Risk Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-15, July.
    20. Yubin Ding & Junling Xu & Sisi Huang & Peipei Li & Cuizhen Lu & Shenghua Xie, 2020. "Risk Perception and Depression in Public Health Crises: Evidence from the COVID-19 Crisis in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-17, August.

    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:20:y:2023:i:5:p:3795-:d:1075324. 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.