Determinants and predictors of mental health during and after COVID-19 lockdown among university students in Malaysia

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 18; no. 1; p. e0280562
• Main Authors: Mir, Imtiyaz Ali, Ng, Shang Kuan, Mohd Jamali, Muhammad Noh Zulfikri, Jabbar, Mohammed AbdulRazzaq, Humayra, Syeda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 20.01.2023; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Analysis; Anxiety; Anxiety - epidemiology; Anxiety - psychology; Anxiety disorders; Biology and Life Sciences; Brain research; Chi-square test; College students; Communicable Disease Control; Consent; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - psychology; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Digital signatures; Distance learning; Drug abuse; Epidemics; Exercise; Female; Gender; Glutamate decarboxylase; Health aspects; Health risks; Humans; Income; Infections; Malaysia - epidemiology; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental Health; Online instruction; Pandemics; Physical activity; Post traumatic stress disorder; Psychological aspects; Psychological stress; Quarantine; Questionnaires; Sample size; SARS-CoV-2; Shelter in place; Social aspects; Social distancing; Social Sciences; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Students; Students - psychology; Universities; University students; Young Adult; Young adults; Malaysia
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280562

Young adults, particularly university students might be at greater risk of developing psychological distress, and exhibiting symptoms of anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary objective of this study was to explore and compare the determinants and predictors of mental health (anxiety and depression) during and after the COVID-19 lockdown among university students. This was an observational, cross-sectional study with a sample size of 417 students. An online survey utilizing International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was distributed to Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman students via Google forms. During lockdown, family income [χ2 (1, n = 124) = 5.155, p = 0.023], and physical activity (PA) [χ2 (1, n = 134) = 6.366, p = 0.012] were associated with anxiety, while depression was associated with gender [χ2 (1, n = 75) = 4.655, p = 0.031]. After lockdown, family income was associated with both anxiety [χ2 (1, n = 111) = 8.089, p = 0.004], and depression [χ2 (1, n = 115) = 9.305, p = 0.002]. During lockdown, family income (OR = 1.60, p = 0.018), and PA (OR = 0.59, p = 0.011) were predictors for anxiety, while gender (OR = 0.65, p = 0.046) was a predictor for depression. After lockdown, family income was a predictor for both anxiety (OR = 1.67, p = 0.011), and depression (OR = 1.70, p = 0.009). Significant negative effects attributed to the COVID-19 lockdown, and certain factors predisposed to the worsening of mental health status in university students. Low family income, PA, and female gender were the major determinants and predictors linked to anxiety and depression.