Effect on Prolonged Movement Control Order (MCO) on Depression, Anxiety and Stress among University Students

Abstract

The whole world is confronted with difficulties during Covid-19 pandemic. Malaysian government has taken proactive measures by conducting nationwide Movement Control Orders (MCO) under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease Act 1988 and the Police Act 1967 for 14 days starting 18 March 2020. By the end of 2021, many people faced stressful, upsetting, and depressing due to prolonged movement control order (MCO). The objective of this paper is to analysed the ability of university students on grasping their emotional wellbeing throughout the prolonged MCO. 107 university students were asked to complete a survey consist of demographics and itemized factors on depression, anxiety and stress using Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) questionnaire between June,18 to July 23, 2021. DASS-21 score was characterized by 3 levels, (a) normal to mild, (b) moderate, and (c) severe to extremely severe. In each factor (depression, anxiety, and stress), more than 50 percent of the respondents was in normal to mild level. Nonetheless, about 30 percent of the respondents had severe to extremely severe level for anxiety which are higher than other factors (depression and stress). Based on the independent T-test, results showed that anxiety score between male and female were statistically significant (Mean: Male=4.68, Female=6.29, p<0.05). Chi-square results show that only community (neighbourhood) had association with stress level. Meanwhile, gender was the sole association with anxiety factor. From the finding, most female tend to have score as severe to extremely severe in anxiety. Our study highlighted the significantly value related to their demographic background such as gender and neighbourhood.

Coping Strategies with COVID-19 and Prolonged Movement Control Order (MCO) among Malaysian University Students

“…The scores were categorized into three different levels of severity. According to Omar et al (2022), the outcomes indicated that over 50% of the participants exhibited normal to mild depression, anxiety, and stress, as illustrated in Table 4. However, 29.9% of individuals experienced severe anxiety.…”