Relationships between Psychopathology, Psychological Process Variables, and Sociodemographic Variables and Comparison of Quarantined and Non-Quarantined Groups of Malaysian University Students in the Covid-19 Pandemic

Bibliographic Data

ID15468633
AuthorsNicholas Tze Ping Pang (0000-0003-1659-6374, Universiti of Malaysia Sabah), Sandi James (0000-0001-6454-1533, Universiti of Malaysia Sabah), Nelbon Giloi (0000-0002-2373-6040, Universiti of Malaysia Sabah), Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim (0000-0002-9090-2563, Universiti of Malaysia Sabah), Azizan Omar (0000-0002-3369-4075, Universiti of Malaysia Sabah), Mohammad Saffree Jeffree (0000-0002-0373-4451, Universiti of Malaysia Sabah), Firdaus Hayati (0000-0002-3757-9744, Universiti of Malaysia Sabah), Mei Ching Lim (0000-0002-6263-256X, Universiti of Malaysia Sabah), Mohd Amiruddin Mohd Kassim (0000-0003-0681-2117, Universiti of Malaysia Sabah, corresponding author), Jun Rong Ng (0000-0001-8923-0344, Universiti of Malaysia Sabah)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue18
Pages9656-9656
Publication date2021-09-14
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18189656
PMID34574581
OpenAlexW3201569941
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited29

The COVID-19 pandemic has had considerable psychological health impacts across the globe. This study aimed to establish the psychological process variables underlying psychopathology in Malaysian public university students during the national Movement Control Order (MCO). The aim was to craft structured and sustainable psychological support programs with these students. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving Malaysian university students subjected to the Malaysian MCO. Structured questionnaires measuring sociodemographic factors, measures of depression, anxiety, stress, psychological mindedness, psychological flexibility and state mindfulness were employed. A total of 515 students participated in this study with 12 students (2.3%) being quarantined at the time. Many of them scored 'moderate' or above on the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) with 20.2%, 25.0% and 14.2%, respectively. Quarantined students had higher depressive symptoms, with female students scoring significantly higher for depression, anxiety, and stress. Multiple regressions suggested gender and quarantine status predicted depression scores. However, only gender significantly predicted anxiety and stress. Psychological flexibility and psychological mindedness (Insight subscale) are significantly correlated with depression, anxiety, and stress, with psychological mindedness predicting all three psychopathologies. This study demonstrates that gender, psychological flexibility, and psychological mindedness are key demographic and psychological factors impacting students. Targeting psychological flexibility and psychological mindedness may enable timely prevention and intervention programs for our students to support their mental and physical health as we move through, and out of, the pandemic

Anxiety · Depression (economics · Flexibility (engineering · Mental health · Mindfulness · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Psychopathology · Clinical Psychology · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions · Psychology · Resilience and Mental Health