The Perception, Stress and Psychological Distress of the Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) after the Outbreak in Malaysia

Abstract

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 or COVID-19, is a new Coronavirus which currently causing outbreaks in many countries including Malaysia. The outbreak in Malaysia has shown so much harm a newly emerging respiratory virus can cause. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious threats to people’s physical and mental health and lives. It has also triggered a wide variety of psychological problems, such as panic disorder, anxiety and depression. Therefore, this study was conducted on 692 Malaysian participants with aim to investigate the worry perception, stress and psychological distress of this virus after the outbreak. In total 370 (53.5%) of the participants who reported a high level of worry perceptions and 361 (52.2%) reported a high level of stress due to the COVID-19 after the outbreak in Malaysia. Moreover, 385 (55.6%) participants show normal depression due to the COVID- 19 after the outbreak in Malaysia. The results show worry perception of coronavirus disease was significant positive correlated with stress (r= .432, p< 0.01), anxiety (r= .311, p< 0.01) and depression (r= .278, p< 0.01) after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Malaysia. Individuals’ worry perception, stress, and psychological distress towards COVID-19 shown higher than moderate and higher worry perceptions were associated with more stress and psychological distress.