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Escalating progression of mental health disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from a nationwide survey

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  • 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 Hwa Poon
  • Vimala Ramoo
  • Chong Chin Che
  • Kyaimon Myint
  • Suria Zainuddin
  • Ivy Chung

Abstract

Since the first nationwide movement control order was implemented on 18 March 2020 in Malaysia to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, to what extent the uncertainty and continuous containment measures have imposed psychological burdens on the population is unknown. This study aimed to measure the level of mental health of the Malaysian public approximately 2 months after the pandemic’s onset. Between 12 May and 5 September 2020, an anonymous online survey was conducted. The target group included all members of the Malaysian population aged 18 years and above. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) was used to assess mental health. There were increased depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms throughout the study period, with the depression rates showing the greatest increase. During the end of the data collection period (4 August–5 September 2020), there were high percentages of reported depressive (59.2%) and anxiety (55.1%) symptoms compared with stress (30.6%) symptoms. Perceived health status was the strongest significant predictor for depressive and anxiety symptoms. Individuals with a poorer health perception had higher odds of developing depression (odds ratio [OR] = 5.68; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.81–8.47) and anxiety (OR = 3.50; 95%CI 2.37–5.17) compared with those with a higher health perception. By demographics, young people–particularly students, females and people with poor financial conditions–were more vulnerable to mental health symptoms. These findings provide an urgent call for increased attention to detect and provide intervention strategies to combat the increasing rate of mental health problems in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0248916
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248916
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Li, Zhuoyang & Page, Andrew & Martin, Graham & Taylor, Richard, 2011. "Attributable risk of psychiatric and socio-economic factors for suicide from individual-level, population-based studies: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(4), pages 608-616, February.
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    1. 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.
    2. Mohd Radzniwan Abdul Rashid & Sharifah Najwa Syed Mohamad & Ahmad Izzat Ahmad Tajjudin & Nuruliza Roslan & Aida Jaffar & Fathima Begum Syed Mohideen & Faizul Helmi Addnan & Nizam Baharom & Muslimah It, 2023. "COVID-19 Pandemic Fatigue and Its Sociodemographic, Mental Health Status, and Perceived Causes: A Cross-Sectional Study Nearing the Transition to an Endemic Phase in Malaysia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Ashley B. LeBaron-Black & Jeremy B. Yorgason & Melissa A. Curran & Matthew T. Saxey & Rachel M. Okamoto, 2022. "The ABC-X’s of Stress among U.S. Emerging Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Relationship Quality, Financial Distress, and Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-16, October.
    4. Arulmani Thiyagarajan & Tyler G. James & Roy Rillera Marzo, 2022. "Psychometric properties of the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) among Malaysians during COVID-19: a methodological study," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    5. Maria Di Blasi & Gaia Albano & Giulia Bassi & Elisa Mancinelli & Cecilia Giordano & Claudia Mazzeschi & Chiara Pazzagli & Silvia Salcuni & Gianluca Lo Coco & Omar Carlo Gioacchino Gelo & Gloria Lagett, 2021. "Factors Related to Women’s Psychological Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from a Two-Wave Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-12, November.
    6. 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.
    7. Wandeep Kaur & Vimala Balakrishnan & Yoke Yong Chen & Jeyarani Periasamy, 2022. "Mental Health Risk Factors and Coping Strategies among Students in Asia Pacific during COVID-19 Pandemic—A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, July.

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