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. 2023 May 15:14:1165023.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1165023. eCollection 2023.

COVID-19 responses and coping in young Malaysians from low-income families

Li Ping Wong  1   2 , Nik Daliana Nik Farid  3 , Haridah Alias  1 , Sofia Md Yusop  4 , Zuhrah Musa  4 , Zhijian Hu  2 , Yulan Lin  2
Affiliations

COVID-19 responses and coping in young Malaysians from low-income families

Li Ping Wong et al. Front Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to shed light on how young people from low-income families were responding to COVID-19.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited young people aged between 18 and 24 years from the low-income-group communities. A convenience sampling approach was used. Google Surveys were used to gather data from the survey. The questionnaire consisted of an assessment of demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, parent-youth conflict (Parental Environment Questionnaire, PEQ), resilient coping (Brief Resilient Coping Scale, BRCS), and psychological distress (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-short form, DASS-21).

Results: A total of 561 complete responses were received. The results showed a low level of parent-child conflict in the overall study population, with a median PEQ of 48.0 [interquartile range (IQR) 36-48]. Higher parent-child conflicts were found in females than in males (OR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.19-2.57) and in youth from households with an income below MYR 2000 than those earning MYR 3,001-5,000 (OR = 4.39, 95% CI 2.40-8.03). A low prevalence of depression (12.5%), anxiety (15.2%), and stress (6.4%) was found. Parent-child conflict remains the strongest significant predictor for higher levels of depression (OR = 10.90, 95% CI 4.31-27.57), anxiety (OR = 11.92, 95% CI 5.05-28.14), and stress (OR = 4.79, 95% CI 1.41-16.33) symptoms. Poor resilient coping was the second strongest predictor for depression and anxiety symptoms. Regarding lifestyle factors, a lower level of physical exercise was associated with higher symptoms of depression. By demographics, females reported more severe symptoms of depression and anxiety than males. Young people from low-income households reported greater severity in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress than those from high-income households. Young people who are employed also reported greater severity of anxiety symptoms than those who are unemployed.

Discussion: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have an unpredictable impact on the lives of vulnerable youth in low-income families that warrants attention in future advocacy efforts.

Keywords: BRCS; DASS-21; PEQ; pandemic; parent-youth conflict.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Responses for items in Parental Environment Questionnaire (PEQ).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Responses for items in Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Responses for items in DASS-21.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Severity rating of DASS-21.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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