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. 2022 Jun;29(3):122-132.
doi: 10.21315/mjms2022.29.3.12. Epub 2022 Jun 28.

Validation of the Malay Version of the COVID-19 Anxiety Scale in Malaysia

Chin Siang Ang  1   2 , Kai Wei Lee  3   4 , Meng Chuan Ho  5 , Siok Ping Voon  6 , Siew Mooi Ching  7   8   9   10 , Chai Eng Tan  11 , Fan Kee Hoo  12 , Pei Boon Ooi  9
Affiliations

Validation of the Malay Version of the COVID-19 Anxiety Scale in Malaysia

Chin Siang Ang et al. Malays J Med Sci. 2022 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Malaysians are disillusioned with the increased number of COVID-19 infection cases and the prolonged lockdown period. As a result of COVID-19 mitigation measurements, Malaysians are experiencing emotional and psychological consequences such as anxiety. Thus, there is an urgent need to have an instrument that could serve as a tool to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 among Malaysians rapidly.

Methods: This study aimed to adapt and validate the Malay version of the COVID-19 Anxiety Scale (M-CAS) among Malaysian adults. The back-to-back translation was done to produce a M-CAS. Following face validation, M-CAS was self-administered to 225 participants from Malaysia via an online survey. The participants also completed the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7), World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale, Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Data analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and Analysis of a Moment Structures. The psychometric properties of the M-CAS were examined via Cronbach alpha and confirmatory factor analysis. M-CAS scores were compared with the other tools to provide external validity.

Results: The statistical analysis revealed that the M-CAS demonstrated adequate internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.890) and presented with a unidimensional factor structure. M-CAS scores were strongly correlated with GAD-7 (r = 0.511, P < 0.001) and FCV-19S (r = 0.652, P < 0.001). Lack of correlation between M-CAS and WHOQOL-BREF showed that M-CAS scores did not reflect perceived quality of life.

Conclusion: The M-CAS is a valid and reliable tool in the Malay language that can be self-administered among Malaysians to assess anxiety levels induced by COVID-19. The M-CAS has only 7 items and utilised little time in real-life clinical practice.

Keywords: COVID-19 Anxiety Scale; Malay; Malaysia; psychometric properties; reliability; validation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Standardised factor loading for the M-CAS
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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