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Validation of “Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales” and “Changes in Psychological Distress during COVID-19” among University Students in Malaysia

Author

Listed:
  • Ahmad Shahrul Nizam Isha

    (Department of Management & Humanities, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia)

  • Gehad Mohammed Ahmed Naji

    (Department of Management & Humanities, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia)

  • Muhammad Shoaib Saleem

    (Department of Management & Humanities, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia)

  • Paula Brough

    (School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4122, Australia)

  • Abdulsamad Alazzani

    (Department of Accounting and Information Systems, College of Business and Economics, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar)

  • Ebrahim A. A. Ghaleb

    (Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32160, Perak, Malaysia)

  • Amgad Muneer

    (Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar 32160, Perak, Malaysia)

  • Mohammed Alzoraiki

    (Department of HRM, College of Administrative and Financial Science, Gulf University, Sanad 743, Bahrain)

Abstract

Objectives: This study assessed the reliability and validity of the DASS-21 self-reported measure in the context of COVID-19 on anxiety, stress, and depression. Through this Study, the psychological effect of COVID-19 on anxiety, tension, and depression amongst samples of students enrolled in 201 Malaysian private universities was assessed. Methods: The data were collected from university students through an online survey because of Malaysian Government Movement Control Order (MCO) restrictions. Two separate intervals were used for data collection (i.e., May and September 2020), as this period was associated with the pandemic. For scale validation, convergent, discriminant, and nomological validity criteria were used. Results: The outcome of a CFA model for DASS-21 yielded factor loading that is very significant. Therefore, the measure of the root means square error approximation (RMSEA) and the comparative fit index (CFI) are acceptable values that were produced, demonstrating a good fit for the data. Conclusions: This study was conducted in the Malaysian context to validate depression, anxiety, and stress among university students using the DASS-21 scale. Our findings support the reliability of using DASS-21 in the Malaysian cultural context. Lastly, we testified to the presence of depression, anxiety, and stress among university students through descriptive statistics and provided empirical evidence in this regard. Our results suggested that there was a significant presence of DASS among university students.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:5:p:4492-:d:1086060
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Md Akhtarul Islam & Sutapa Dey Barna & Hasin Raihan & Md Nafiul Alam Khan & Md Tanvir Hossain, 2020. "Depression and anxiety among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: A web-based cross-sectional survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-12, August.
    2. 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.
    3. Gehad Mohammed Ahmed Naji & Ahmad Shahrul Nizam Isha & Abdulsamad Alazzani & Paula Brough & Muhammad Shoaib Saleem & Mysara Eissa Mohyaldinn & Mohammed Alzoraiki, 2022. "Do Leadership, Organizational Communication, and Work Environment Impact Employees’ Psychosocial Hazards in the Oil and Gas Industry?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-20, April.
    4. 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.
    5. Gehad Mohammed Ahmed Naji & Ahmad Shahrul Nizam Isha & Mysara Eissa Mohyaldinn & Stavroula Leka & Muhammad Shoaib Saleem & Syed Mohamed Nasir Bin Syed Abd Rahman & Mohammed Alzoraiki, 2021. "Impact of Safety Culture on Safety Performance; Mediating Role of Psychosocial Hazard: An Integrated Modelling Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-20, August.
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