Understanding the Impacts of Lockdown during COVID-19 Pandemic on Financial Threat and Psychological Response among Sarawak Adults
The Malaysian government announced the lockdown measures following the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in mid-March 2020. This action unavoidably led to economic instability and negative psychological effects. The present study examines perceived financial threats and psychological i...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
USIM PRESS
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/36023/1/adults1.pdf http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/36023/ https://uijournal.usim.edu.my/index.php/uij/article/view/358 https://doi.org/10.33102/uij.vol33no3.358 |
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| Summary: | The Malaysian government announced the lockdown measures following the Coronavirus Disease
2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in mid-March 2020. This action unavoidably led to economic
instability and negative psychological effects. The present study examines perceived financial
threats and psychological impacts on Sarawak adults during lockdown for the COVID-19
pandemic. Data from 336 respondents were collected from all divisions in Sarawak using an online self-reported questionnaire that included sociodemographic, the Financial Threat Scale
(FTS), and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales 21 (DASS-21). Results showed that perceived
financial threat was associated with the employment sector, the number of children, and the
change in income during the lockdown period. Almost half (47.9%) of the respondents perceived
moderate-to-severe financial threat, particularly self-employed persons and those who had reduced
income during the lockdown. Negative psychological effects were found to be associated with the
employment sector, marital status, number of children, and number of liabilities. In general,
people who perceived severe financial threats were significantly associated with severe levels of
depression, anxiety, and stress. The study provided some insights into the urgent need to build on
strategic plans to mitigate the economic and psychological crisis for the affected communities. |
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