Depression and anxiety in the Malaysian urban population and their association with demographic characteristics, quality of life, and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic

Abdullah, Mohammad Farris Iman Leong Bin; Yusof, Hazwani Ahmad; Shariff, Noorsuzana Mohd; Hami, Rohayu; Nisman, Noor Farahiya; Law, Kim Sooi

doi:10.1007/s12144-021-01492-2

Cited by 37 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…This is consistent with past studies, which showed that the risk for depression is generally higher in cities than in rural areas [14,15]. Various factors, including higher stress exposure [16], increased pollution [14], reduced time spent with family [17], lack of physical activity [17], higher violence, and crime rates [15], may contribute to the development of depression among university students in cities. For example, students who live in the city may have less access to nature, reduced social support, higher noise levels, and air pollution.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Studies conducted among universities in urban areas such as Klang Valley (between 27.5% to 29.3%) [8,9] and Melacca (30.7%) [12] had higher prevalence rates of depression compared with studies conducted in a rural area like Sarawak (14.0%) [13]. This is consistent with past studies, which showed that the risk for depression is generally higher in cities than in rural areas [14,15]. Various factors, including higher stress exposure [16], increased pollution [14], reduced time spent with family [17], lack of physical activity [17], higher violence, and crime rates [15], may contribute to the development of depression among university students in cities.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 80%

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Traditional Chinese Medicine Body Constitutions and Psychological Determinants of Depression among University Students in Malaysia: A Pilot Study

Yap

Foo

Lim

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Depression is commonly observed in university students, who are a high risk group for developing psychiatric disorders during adulthood. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and its traditional Chinese medicine body constitutions and psychological determinants among university students in Malaysia. A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted between 9 and 28 September 2020 among 80 university students in Malaysia. Participants completed online survey questionnaires, including the validated Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CMCQ), Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) stress subscale, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), which assess depression, body constitution, dysfunctional attitude, stress, perceived stress, and self-esteem. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the associated risk factors for depression. The overall prevalence of depression among university students was 33.8%. The multiple regression analysis showed a significant relationship between depression and qi-stagnation constitution (B = 0.089, p = 0.011), balanced constitution (B = −0.077, p = 0.049), and self-esteem (B = −0.325, p = 0.001). Our findings suggest that some traditional Chinese medicine body constitutions and self-esteem are significant risk factors affecting depression among university students. Identifying risk factors of depression is vital to aid in the early detection of depression among university students.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Traditional Chinese Medicine Body Constitutions and Psychological Determinants of Depression among University Students in Malaysia: A Pilot Study

Yap

Foo

Lim

et al. 2021

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…External factors also played a protective role, such that social and environmental support was negatively predictive of anxiety and positively predictive of QOL [91]. Interestingly, higher levels of pre-COVID QOL acted as a protective factor against anxiety during the pandemic in non-clinical populations [92][93][94]. It should be noted that the majority of thisresearch utilized concurrent, incentivized, online data collection, andlongitudinal data will lend further strength to these findings.…”

Section: Qol and Anxiety During Covid-19mentioning

confidence: 71%

Correlates of Quality of Life in Anxiety Disorders: Review of Recent Research

Wilmer

Anderson

Reynolds

2021

Curr Psychiatry Rep

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Purpose of Review Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent conditions that have a detrimental impact on quality of life (QOL), particularly when left untreated. In the present review, we summarize recent literature, published within the last 3 years, on QOL in anxiety disorders, with a focus on factors that may play a role in the relationship between anxiety and QOL. Recent Findings We organize our findings into four categories: (1) subjective distress, (2) behavioral responses, (3) functional impairment, and (4) clinical factors. Results indicate that greater anxiety symptom severity is linked with poorer QOL, and cognitive behavioral therapies for anxiety yield positive effects on QOL. Additional transdiagnostic mechanisms are highlighted, including anxiety sensitivity, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and avoidant coping. We examine the role of functional impairment, and we discuss factors related to treatment, including comorbidity and longitudinal effects. We also consider early research from the COVID-19 pandemic. Summary Understanding the underlying factors that contribute to QOL detriments provides important insight into the impact of anxiety disorders and identifies targets for enhancing QOL through treatment.

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“…The DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale -21 items) questionnaire has been proven to be reliable and valid in the context of Malaysians, and was used to assess the mental health of the participants in this study (Musa et al, 2007;Oei et al, 2013;Ramli et al, 2009). The current COVID-19 lockdown has led to a substantial increase in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among the general population (Farris et al, 2020;Patel et al, 2020). Income loss, social isolation, and poor physical health were shown to be factors which exacerbated mental ill-health (Pfefferbaum & North, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between depression, anxiety, stress and perceived quality of life in a Malaysian B40 urban community during the COVID-19 lockdown: A cross-sectional study

et al. 2021

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Background: In Malaysia, B40 communities are those with a median monthly household earning of under RM 3166. With the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown, the livelihoods of those in these areas has been severely impacted. This has increased their vulnerability to psychological afflictions and has led to a poorer perception of their quality of life (QoL) in comparison to the rest of the population. We investigated the association between perceived levels of depression, anxiety and stress and their impact on quality of life (QoL) among B40 residents in a low-cost urban housing area in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2020 and February 2021 in the Seri Pantai housing settlement. The validated Malay versions of the depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21 (DASS-21) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life, brief (WHOQOL-BREF) were distributed to the participants using Google forms. The statistical significance of the association between subscales of depression, anxiety, stress and QoL domains were assessed using the Pearson’s correlation test. Results: Of the 180 participants, the majority were Malays (87.2%) and females (82.2%). The average scores were the highest for stress (5.66 ± 4.59) and the score in the environment domain of QoL (59.27 ± 17.23) was the lowest. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between the subscales of DASS-21 and the four domains of the QoL, with the social relationships and psychological domains showing a highly significant association (p < 0.001). The strongest correlation was observed between the psychological domain and depression (r= -.520) followed by psychological domain and stress (r= -.496). Conclusion: The strongest correlation was observed between psychological domain and depression. This suggests a need to address potential devastating mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the QoL of residents in B40 communities.

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Depression and anxiety in the Malaysian urban population and their association with demographic characteristics, quality of life, and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic

Cited by 37 publications

References 37 publications

Traditional Chinese Medicine Body Constitutions and Psychological Determinants of Depression among University Students in Malaysia: A Pilot Study

Traditional Chinese Medicine Body Constitutions and Psychological Determinants of Depression among University Students in Malaysia: A Pilot Study

Correlates of Quality of Life in Anxiety Disorders: Review of Recent Research

Association between depression, anxiety, stress and perceived quality of life in a Malaysian B40 urban community during the COVID-19 lockdown: A cross-sectional study

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