Published
2024-08-31
Section
Research Articles
License
The journal adopts the Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0), which means that anyone can reuse and redistribute the materials for non-commercial purposes as long as you follow the license terms and the original source is properly cited.
Author(s) shall retain the copyright of their work and grant the Journal/Publisher rights for the first publication with the work concurrently licensed since 2023 Vol.8 No.2.
Under this license, author(s) will allow third parties to download, reuse, reprint, modify, distribute and/or copy the content under the condition that the authors are given credit. No permission is required from the authors or the publisher.
This broad license intends to facilitate free access, as well as the unrestricted use of original works of all types. This ensures that the published work is freely and openly available in perpetuity.
By providing open access, the following benefits are brought about:
- Higher Visibility, Availability and Citations-free and unlimited accessibility of the publication over the internet without any restrictions increases citation of the article.
- Ease of search-publications are easily searchable in search engines and indexing databases.
- Rapid Publication – accepted papers are immediately published online.
- Available for free download immediately after publication at https://esp.as-pub.com/index.php/ESP
Copyright Statement
1.The authors certify that the submitted manuscripts are original works, do not infringe the rights of others, are free from academic misconduct and confidentiality issues, and that there are no disputes over the authorship scheme of the collaborative articles. In case of infringement, academic misconduct and confidentiality issues, as well as disputes over the authorship scheme, all responsibilities will be borne by the authors.
2. The author agrees to grant the Editorial Office of Environment and Social Psychology a licence to use the reproduction right, distribution right, information network dissemination right, performance right, translation right, and compilation right of the submitted manuscript, including the work as a whole, as well as the diagrams, tables, abstracts, and any other parts that can be extracted from the work and used in accordance with the characteristics of the journal. The Editorial Board of Environment and Social Psychology has the right to use and sub-licence the above mentioned works for wide dissemination in print, electronic and online versions, and, in accordance with the characteristics of the periodical, for the period of legal protection of the property right of the copyright in the work, and for the territorial scope of the work throughout the world.
3. The authors are entitled to the copyright of their works under the relevant laws of Singapore, provided that they do not exercise their rights in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the Journal.
About Licence
Environment and Social Psychology is an open access journal and all published work is available under the Creative Commons Licence, Authors shall retain copyright of their work and grant the journal/publisher the right of first publication, and their work shall be licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Under this licence, the author grants permission to third parties to download, reuse, reprint, modify, distribute and/or copy the content with attribution to the author. No permission from the author or publisher is required.
This broad licence is intended to facilitate free access to and unrestricted use of original works of all kinds. This ensures that published works remain free and accessible in perpetuity. Submitted manuscripts, once accepted, are immediately available to the public and permanently accessible free of charge on the journal’s official website (https://esp.as-pub.com/index.php/ESP). Allowing users to read, download, copy, print, search for or link to the full text of the article, or use it for other legal purposes. However, the use of the work must retain the author's signature, be limited to non-commercial purposes, and not be interpretative.
Click to download <Agreement on the Licence for the Use of Copyright on Environmental and Social Psychology>.
How to Cite
Neuroticism, coping styles and psychological distress among frontliners during COVID-19 pandemic in Kelantan, Malaysia
Barath Chidambar Subramanian
Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, 31250 Perak, Malaysia
Raishan Shafini Bakar
Department of Public Health, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
Aisyah Che Rahimi
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
Mohd Azhar Mohd Yasin
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v9i8.2947
Keywords: coping, COVID-19, frontliners, neuroticism, personality, psychological distress, Malaysia
Abstract
The study aimed to determine the prevalence of psychological distress and explore the roles of neuroticism traits and coping styles among frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. A total of 336 frontline healthcare workers from three COVID-19 hospitals in Malaysia participated in the online survey. The measurements, including sociodemographic characteristics, presence of psychological distress, neuroticism traits, and coping styles, were assessed using the sociodemographic proforma, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Big Five Inventory, and Brief COPE scales.
Descriptive analysis with SPSS-26 were performed to determine the socio-demographic attributes of the participants, level of trait neuroticism, coping styles and psychological distress. Multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the factors significantly associated with psychological distress.
Results showed that out of 336 frontliners, 22.9% reported psychological distress. Higher trait neuroticism was significantly associated with an increased risk of psychological distress (p < 0.05), while religious coping was significantly associated with a decreased risk of psychological distress (p < 0.05). Other sociodemographic factors, such as age, gender, and years of experience, did not show significant associations with psychological distress.
The high prevalence of psychological distress among frontliners highlights the importance of addressing their mental health needs during pandemics. Interventions aimed at enhancing psychological well-being should consider targeting neuroticism traits and promoting adaptive coping strategies, such as religious coping.
References
[1]. Zheng W. Mental health and a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China. J Affect Disord. 2020; 269(January):201-202. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.03.041
[2]. Strong P. Epidemic psychology: a model. Sociology of Health & Illness. 1990; 12(3), 249–259. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.ep11347150
[3]. Tiwari GK, Rai PK, Dwivedi A, et al. A narrative thematic analysis of the perceived psychological distress and health outcomes in Indian adults during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychology. 2023; 28(1), 213–229. https://doi.org/10.12681/psy_hps.28062
[4]. Lai J, Ma S, Wang Y, et al. Factors associated with mental health outcomes among health care workers exposed to coronavirus disease 2019. JAMA Netw Open. 2020; 3(3):1-12. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.3976
[5]. Pappa S, Ntella V, Giannakas T, et al. Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and insomnia among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain Behav Immun. 2020; 88(May):901-907. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.026
[6]. Saragih ID, Tonapa SI, Saragih IS, et al. Global prevalence of mental health problems among healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2021; 121:104002. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104002
[7]. Muller AE, Hafstad EV, Himmels JPW, et al. The mental health impact of the covid-19 pandemic on healthcare workers, and interventions to help them: A rapid systematic review. Psychiatry Res. 2020; 293(September):113441. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113441
[8]. Shaukat N, Mansoor A, Razzak J. Physical and mental health impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare workers: A scoping review. Int J Emerg Med. 2020; 13(1):1-8.
[9]. McCrae RR, John OP. An Introduction to the Five-Factor Model and Its Applications. J Pers. 1992; 60(2):175-215. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.1992.tb00970.x
[10]. Barlow DH, Ellard KK, Sauer-Zavala S, et al. (2014). The origins of neuroticism. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2014; 9(5): 481–496. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691614544528
[11]. Nikčević A V., Marino C, Kolubinski DC, et al. Modelling the contribution of the Big Five personality traits, health anxiety, and COVID-19 psychological distress to generalised anxiety and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Affect Disord. 2021; 279(October 2020):578-584. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.10.053
[12]. Árbol JR, Ruiz-Osta A, Aguilar CIM. Personality traits, cognitive styles, coping strategies, and psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on healthy youngsters. Behav Sci (Basel). 2022; 12(1). doi:10.3390/bs12010005
[13]. Osimo SA, Aiello M, Gentili C, et al. The Influence of Personality, Resilience, and Alexithymia on Mental Health during COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Psychol. 2021; 12:630751. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.630751
[14]. Kang L, Ma S, Chen M, et al. Impact on mental health and perceptions of psychological care among medical and nursing staff in Wuhan during the 2019 novel coronavirus disease outbreak: A cross-sectional study. Brain Behav Immun. 2020; 87(March):11-17. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2020.03.028
[15]. Li H, Gan X, Li X, Zhou T, Jin X, and Zhu C. Diathesis stress or differential susceptibility? testing the relationship between stressful life events, neuroticism, and internet gaming disorder among Chinese adolescents. PLoS ONE. 2022: 17(1 January). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263079
[16]. Man MA, Toma C, Motoc NS, et al. Disease perception and coping with emotional distress during covid-19 pandemic: A survey among medical staff. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020; 17(13):1-13. doi:10.3390/ijerph17134899
[17]. Sun N, Wei L, Shi S, et al. A qualitative study on the psychological experience of caregivers of COVID-19 patients. Am J Infect Control. 2020; 48(6):592-598. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2020.03.018
[18]. Pilch I, Wardawy P, Probierz E. The predictors of adaptive and maladaptive coping behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: The Protection Motivation Theory and the Big Five personality traits. PLoS One. 2021;16(October). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0258606
[19]. Afshar H, Roohafza HR, Keshteli AH, et al. The association of personality traits and coping styles according to stress level. J Res Med Sci. 2015; 20(4):353-358.
[20]. Yusoff N, Low WY, Yip CH. Reliability and Validity of The Malay Version of Brief Cope Scale: A Study on Malaysian Women Treated With Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer. MPJ Online Early. Published online 2009:1-9. doi:10.15583/jpchrom.2017.003
[21]. Patel V, Pereira J, Mann AH. Somatic and psychological models of common mental disorder in primary care in India. Psychol Med. 1998; 28(1):135-143. doi:10.1017/S0033291797005941
[22]. Goldberg DP, Blackwell B. Psychiatric Illness in General Practice: A Detailed Study Using a New Method of Case Identification. Br Med J. 1970; 2(5707):439-443. doi:10.1136/bmj.2.5707.439
[23]. Yusoff MSB, Abdul Rahim AF, Yaacob MJ. The Sensitivity, Specificity and Reliability of the Malay Version 12-Items General Health (GHQ-12) in Questionnaire Detecting Distressed Medical Students. ASEAN J Psychiatry. 2009; 11(1).
[24]. Lai J, Ma S, Wang Y, et al. Factors associated with mental health outcomes among health care workers exposed to coronavirus disease 2019. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(3):1-12. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.3976
[25]. Sirois FM, Owens J. Factors Associated With Psychological Distress in Health-Care Workers during an Infectious Disease Outbreak: A Rapid Systematic Review of the Evidence. Front Psychiatry. 2021; 11. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.589545
[26]. Hajure M, Dibaba B, Shemsu S, et al. Psychological Distress Among Health Care Workers in Health Facilities of Mettu Town During COVID-19 Outbreak, South West Ethiopia, 2020. Front Psychiatry. 2021; 12(June):1-8. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.574671
[27]. Pink J, Gray NS, O’Connor C, et al. Psychological distress and resilience in first responders and health care workers during the COVID‐19 pandemic. J Occup Organ Psychol. 2021; 94(4):789-807. doi:10.1111/joop.12364
[28]. Xiong J, Lipsitz O, Nasri F, et al. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the general population: A systematic review. J Affect Disord. 2020; 277(July):55-64. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.001
[29]. Caillet A, Coste C, Sanchez R, et al. Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on ICU Caregivers. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. 2020; 39(6):717-722. doi:10.1016/j.accpm.2020.08.006
[30]. Sun D, Yang D, Li Y, et al. Psychological impact of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in health workers in China. Epidemiol Infect. Published online 2020. doi:10.1017/S0950268820001090
[31]. Saricam M. COVID-19-Related anxiety in nurses working on front lines in Turkey. Nurs Midwifery Stud. 2020; 9(3):178-181. doi:10.4103/nms.nms_40_20
[32]. Han L, Wong FKY, She DLM, et al. Anxiety and Depression of Nurses in a North West Province in China During the Period of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Outbreak. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2020; 52(5):564-573. doi:10.1111/jnu.12590
[33]. Holton S, Wynter K, Trueman M, et al. Psychological well-being of Australian hospital clinical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aust Heal Rev. 2021; 45(3):297-305. doi:10.1071/AH20203
[34]. Liu Y, Chen H, Zhang N, et al. Anxiety and depression symptoms of medical staff under COVID-19 epidemic in China. J Affect Disord. 2021; 278(September 2020):144-148. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.09.004
[35]. Jain A, Singariya G, Kamal M, et al. COVID-19 pandemic: Psychological impact on anaesthesiologists. Indian J Anaesth. 2020; 64(9):774. doi:10.4103/ija.IJA_697_20
[36]. Hu D, Kong Y, Li W, et al. Frontline nurses’ burnout, anxiety, depression, and fear statuses and their associated factors during the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China: A large-scale cross-sectional study. EClinicalMedicine. 2020; 24. doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100424
[37]. Marton G, Vergani L, Mazzocco K, et al. 2020s Heroes Are Not Fearless: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Wellbeing and Emotions of Italian Health Care Workers during Italy Phase 1. Front Psychol. 2020; 11(October). doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.588762
[38]. Paulus DJ, Vanwoerden S, Norton PJ, et al. From neuroticism to anxiety: Examining unique contributions of three transdiagnostic vulnerability factors. Pers Individ Dif. 2016; 94:38-43. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.01.012
[39]. Lu YC, Shu BC, Chang YY, et al. The mental health of hospital workers dealing with severe acute respiratory syndrome. Psychother Psychosom. 2006; 75(6):370-375. doi:10.1159/000095443
[40]. Caci B, Miceli S, Scrima F, et al. Neuroticism and fear of COVID-19. The interplay between boredom, fantasy engagement, and perceived control over time. Front Psychol. 2020; 11(October):1-10. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.574393
[41]. Sebri V, Cincidda C, Savioni L, et al. Worry during the initial height of the COVID-19 crisis in an Italian sample. J Gen Psychol. 2021; 148(3):327-359. doi:10.1080/00221309.2021.1878485
[42]. Liu S, Lithopoulos A, Zhang CQ, et al. Personality and perceived stress during COVID-19 pandemic: Testing the mediating role of perceived threat and efficacy. Pers Individ Dif. 2021; 168(June 2020):110351. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2020.110351
[43]. Fernández RS, Crivelli L, Guimet NM, et al. Psychological distress associated with COVID-19 quarantine: Latent profile analysis, outcome prediction and mediation analysis. J Affect Disord. 2020; 277(June):75-84. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.07.133
[44]. Grigutytė N, Engesser K, Petraškaitė K. Associations between COVID-19 Difficulties, Well-Being, and Personality Traits. Psichologija (Vilniaus Univ). 2021; 64:69-76. doi:10.15388/psichol.2021.42
[45]. Sehsah R, Gaballah MH, El-Gilany AH, et al. Psychological distress among Egyptian physicians during COVID-19 pandemic. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2021; 94(4):731-740. doi:10.1007/s00420-020-01624-4
[46]. Fekih-Romdhane F, Cheour M. Psychological Distress among a Tunisian Community Sample During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Correlations with Religious Coping. J Relig Health. 2021; 60(3):1446-1461. doi:10.1007/s10943-021-01230-9
[47]. Che Rahimi A, Bakar RS, Mohd Yasin MA. Psychological well-being of Malaysian university students during covid-19 pandemic: Do religiosity and religious coping matter? Health. 2021; 9(11). doi:10.3390/healthcare9111535
[48]. Chow, S.K.; Francis, B.; Ng, Y.H.; Naim, N.; Beh, H.C.; Ariffin, M.A.A.; Yusuf, M.H.M.; Lee, J.W.; Sulaiman, A.H. Religious Coping, Depression and Anxiety among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Malaysian Perspective. Healthcare 2021, 9, 79. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9010079