Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the depression, anxiety and stress level among undergraduate students in a university, Perak, Malaysia

Jasdeep Singh; Kenneth Ashwin A/L Jeyajulian; Mageswaran A/L Murugan; Felix Chew Chun Hung; Tricia Darshni A/P Thomas Matthew; Ng Sim Yie; Buvaneswaran A/L Muralitaran; Mohammad Fikri bin Safian; Elden Oswald A/L Joseph William; Chu Ying Tong; Tan Chin Chuan; Rosheni A/P Gunendran; Nurhanifah binti Mohammad Izani

doi:10.5281/zenodo.5976162

Jasdeep Singh No.227, Quest International University (QIU), No. 227, Plaza Teh Teng Seng, Level 2, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun 30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9798-3514
Kenneth Ashwin A/L Jeyajulian No.227, Quest International University (QIU), No. 227,Plaza Teh Teng Seng, Level 2, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun 30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9637-3351
Mageswaran A/L Murugan No.227, Quest International University (QIU), No. 227,Plaza Teh Teng Seng, Level 2, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun 30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5285-6087
Felix Chew Chun Hung No.227, Quest International University (QIU), No. 227,Plaza Teh Teng Seng, Level 2, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun 30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7333-5109
Tricia Darshni A/P Thomas Matthew No.227, Quest International University (QIU), No. 227,Plaza Teh Teng Seng, Level 2, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun 30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5067-7026
Ng Sim Yie No.227, Quest International University (QIU), No. 227,Plaza Teh Teng Seng, Level 2, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun 30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9868-2075
Buvaneswaran A/L Muralitaran Quest International University (QIU), No. 227, Plaza Teh Teng Seng (Level 2), Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun, 30250 Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1344-7525
Mohammad Fikri bin Safian No.227, Quest International University (QIU), No. 227,Plaza Teh Teng Seng, Level 2, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun 30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4165-0478
Elden Oswald A/L Joseph William No.227, Quest International University (QIU), No. 227,Plaza Teh Teng Seng, Level 2, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun 30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5943-3909
Chu Ying Tong No.227, Quest International University (QIU), No. 227,Plaza Teh Teng Seng, Level 2, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun 30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0083-9055
Tan Chin Chuan No.227, Quest International University (QIU), No. 227,Plaza Teh Teng Seng, Level 2, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun 30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8719-1943
Rosheni A/P Gunendran No.227, Quest International University (QIU), No. 227,Plaza Teh Teng Seng, Level 2, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun 30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3660-3551
Nurhanifah binti Mohammad Izani No.227, Quest International University (QIU), No. 227,Plaza Teh Teng Seng, Level 2, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun 30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6618-0564

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5976162

Keywords: Coronavirus, DASS-21, gender, SARS-CoV-2, undergraduate students

Abstract

Introduction:

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a psychological threat to people worldwide, including undergraduates in Malaysia. However, limited research has been done focused primarily on the psychological impact of this pandemic on undergraduate students, which has timeliness and needs to be addressed appropriately. Therefore, the study aims to assess the depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS) levels among undergraduate students in Quest International University (QIU) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among undergraduates in QIU. The online questionnaires were distributed via Google forms and were based on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21(DASS-21) to collect data on the psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on undergraduate students.

Results:

A total of 57.3 % of the respondents reported experiencing depression, 66.4% had anxiety and, 50.4 % experienced mild to extremely severe stress. Pearson’s Chi-square test showed no significant association between gender, nationality, and faculty of study and the development due to COVID-19. Kruskal Wali’s test showed no median difference between the year of study of the respondents and the outcomes of DAS amongst respondents.

Conclusion:

COVID-19 has resulted in a significant rise in the number of undergraduates suffering from DAS. Our study has demonstrated that gender, nationality, faculty of study, and year of study are not significant factors in developing DAS among undergraduates.

Author Biographies

Jasdeep Singh, No.227, Quest International University (QIU), No. 227, Plaza Teh Teng Seng, Level 2, Jalan Raja Permaisuri Bainun 30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia