Self-system and mental health status among Malaysian youth attending higher educational institutions: a nationwide cross-sectional study
Introduction: Mental health disorders (MHDs) are a global health burden with an increasing prevalence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, depression was the commonest MHD, followed by anxiety and stress. This nationwide study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of depression, anxiety...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia
2024
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111053/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111053/1/PUBLISHED%20MFP%20Jan%202024.19.12%20%28selfsystem_MHS%29.pdf |
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| author | Mohamad, Fadzilah Azlan, Syifa' Dahlan, Rahima Ismail, Irmi Zarina Kadir, Hayati Kamaruddin, Khairatul Nainey Shibraumalisi, Nur Amirah Syed Mohamad, Sharifah Najwa Shamsuddin, Nurainul Hana |
| author_facet | Mohamad, Fadzilah Azlan, Syifa' Dahlan, Rahima Ismail, Irmi Zarina Kadir, Hayati Kamaruddin, Khairatul Nainey Shibraumalisi, Nur Amirah Syed Mohamad, Sharifah Najwa Shamsuddin, Nurainul Hana |
| author_sort | Mohamad, Fadzilah |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Introduction: Mental health disorders (MHDs) are a global health burden with an increasing prevalence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, depression was the commonest MHD, followed by anxiety and stress. This nationwide study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of depression, anxiety and stress among Malaysian students attending higher educational institutions.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to December 2021. Institutions were selected via stratified random sampling and students via convenience sampling. A self-administered questionnaire comprising questions on socio-demographic characteristics, academic background, substance abuse, childhood abuse, religiosity and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 was used. Data were analysed using SPSS version 27; descriptive, point-biserial correlation, chi-square and multiple binary logistic regression analyses were conducted.
Results: Sex and adverse childhood experiences significantly predicted all three MHDs (P<0.05). The students from public institutions (odds ratio [OR]=0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.56–0.90, P=0.004) had a lower risk of depression than those from private institutions. The smokers/vapers (OR=1.43, 95% CI=1.02–2.02, P=0.041) a higher risk of depression than the non-smokers/non-vapers. The social science students (OR=1.29, 95% CI=1.01–1.65, P=0.039) had a higher risk of anxiety than the science students. The students who highly engaged in organisational religious activity (OR=0.91, 95% CI=0.84–0.98, P=0.015) had a lower risk of anxiety than their counterparts.
Conclusion: Anxiety is the commonest MHD among Malaysian youth, followed by depression and stress. Childhood abuse is a crucial related factor requiring further attention. Screening, surveillance, preventive measures and comprehensive interventions for MHDs should be initiated among youth. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:07:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-111053 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T14:07:01Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher | Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-1110532024-04-25T09:22:59Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111053/ Self-system and mental health status among Malaysian youth attending higher educational institutions: a nationwide cross-sectional study Mohamad, Fadzilah Azlan, Syifa' Dahlan, Rahima Ismail, Irmi Zarina Kadir, Hayati Kamaruddin, Khairatul Nainey Shibraumalisi, Nur Amirah Syed Mohamad, Sharifah Najwa Shamsuddin, Nurainul Hana Introduction: Mental health disorders (MHDs) are a global health burden with an increasing prevalence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, depression was the commonest MHD, followed by anxiety and stress. This nationwide study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of depression, anxiety and stress among Malaysian students attending higher educational institutions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to December 2021. Institutions were selected via stratified random sampling and students via convenience sampling. A self-administered questionnaire comprising questions on socio-demographic characteristics, academic background, substance abuse, childhood abuse, religiosity and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 was used. Data were analysed using SPSS version 27; descriptive, point-biserial correlation, chi-square and multiple binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: Sex and adverse childhood experiences significantly predicted all three MHDs (P<0.05). The students from public institutions (odds ratio [OR]=0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.56–0.90, P=0.004) had a lower risk of depression than those from private institutions. The smokers/vapers (OR=1.43, 95% CI=1.02–2.02, P=0.041) a higher risk of depression than the non-smokers/non-vapers. The social science students (OR=1.29, 95% CI=1.01–1.65, P=0.039) had a higher risk of anxiety than the science students. The students who highly engaged in organisational religious activity (OR=0.91, 95% CI=0.84–0.98, P=0.015) had a lower risk of anxiety than their counterparts. Conclusion: Anxiety is the commonest MHD among Malaysian youth, followed by depression and stress. Childhood abuse is a crucial related factor requiring further attention. Screening, surveillance, preventive measures and comprehensive interventions for MHDs should be initiated among youth. Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia 2024-02-07 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111053/1/PUBLISHED%20MFP%20Jan%202024.19.12%20%28selfsystem_MHS%29.pdf Mohamad, Fadzilah and Azlan, Syifa' and Dahlan, Rahima and Ismail, Irmi Zarina and Kadir, Hayati and Kamaruddin, Khairatul Nainey and Shibraumalisi, Nur Amirah and Syed Mohamad, Sharifah Najwa and Shamsuddin, Nurainul Hana (2024) Self-system and mental health status among Malaysian youth attending higher educational institutions: a nationwide cross-sectional study. Malaysian Family Physician Journal, 19 (12). pp. 1-10. ISSN 1985-2274 https://e-mfp.org/article/self-system-and-mental-health-status-among-malaysian-youth-attending-higher-educational-institutions-a-nationwide-cross-sectional-study/ Teenagers - Sexual behavior - Peninsular Malaysia College students - Mental health - Malaysia 10.51866/oa.341 |
| spellingShingle | Teenagers - Sexual behavior - Peninsular Malaysia College students - Mental health - Malaysia Mohamad, Fadzilah Azlan, Syifa' Dahlan, Rahima Ismail, Irmi Zarina Kadir, Hayati Kamaruddin, Khairatul Nainey Shibraumalisi, Nur Amirah Syed Mohamad, Sharifah Najwa Shamsuddin, Nurainul Hana Self-system and mental health status among Malaysian youth attending higher educational institutions: a nationwide cross-sectional study |
| title | Self-system and mental health status among Malaysian youth attending higher educational institutions: a nationwide cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Self-system and mental health status among Malaysian youth attending higher educational institutions: a nationwide cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Self-system and mental health status among Malaysian youth attending higher educational institutions: a nationwide cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-system and mental health status among Malaysian youth attending higher educational institutions: a nationwide cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Self-system and mental health status among Malaysian youth attending higher educational institutions: a nationwide cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | self-system and mental health status among malaysian youth attending higher educational institutions: a nationwide cross-sectional study |
| topic | Teenagers - Sexual behavior - Peninsular Malaysia College students - Mental health - Malaysia |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111053/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111053/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111053/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111053/1/PUBLISHED%20MFP%20Jan%202024.19.12%20%28selfsystem_MHS%29.pdf |