SINCE the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan in December 2019, a significant number of studies have been conducted and published. A meta-analysis research by Sofia Pappa and her colleagues found a prevalence of depression, anxiety, and insomnia among frontliners and healthcare workers during the pandemic.
A few empirical studies have also been conducted in Malaysia. Our study was on the impact of Covid-19 on 435 Malaysians' psychological and mental wellbeing, as well as their coping strategies.
This survey involved randomly selected Malaysians in almost all states. Nearly half the respondents were middle-aged (30 to 50 years old), married people who lived in city or suburban areas. About 60 per cent of them earned RM5,000 or less per month.
They mainly worked in the public sector. Some were in private enterprises and a few were unemployed. Others were students in institutions of higher learning.
The sample was mostly from Selangor and Perak, where significant numbers of Covid-19 cases were detected.
The key result paints an intriguing picture. This research revealed that 70 per cent of the respondents agreed that their anxiety level increased during the early phase of the Covid-19 outbreak in Malaysia. They indicated symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, headache, sweating, mood swings, chest pains and intermittent shortness of breath.
During the Movement Control Order (MCO), with the limited mobility, closed borders and a chain of roadblocks and checkpoints, some respondents admitted to heightened temperament and irritability at home.
Boredom and lack of outdoor activities affected their psychological, mental, and physical wellbeing. Strains over family separation, where some were stuck in another state due to the border closing, also affected them.
While stress and anxiety among the people rose, the stringent government efforts were rationalised — they were meant to stop the transmission of the virus.
Worries were also detected among business operators, workers and students. No income for most conventional businesses during the lockdown affected their financial and psychological wellbeing despite the six-month moratorium and government financial aid.
Lay-offs, leave without pay and pay cuts badly affected individuals, especially if they were the sole breadwinners.
Nevertheless, the government's fast response in providing financial aid to those affected was appreciated by the respondents.
University and college students also reported that their stress levels went up because their institutions had closed and they had to participate in online learning. Some reported non-conducive learning environments at home. Low-speed Wi-Fi was also blamed for the interruptions.
The researchers also asked the respondents to state their coping strategies. Most calmed themselves by thinking positively.
The aura of positivity was translated into learning new things on the Internet. Some of them learnt how to sell products online.
This has created an opportunity and a paradigm shift — the "sell anything online" mindset. It reflects a gig economy of sorts, showing how people developed ways to overcome financial distress.
Another coping strategy was to start new interests or hobbies such as sewing, cooking, playing musical instruments, conducting webinars, demonstrating do-it-yourself projects and developing new apps and games.
On the positive findings, home quarantine reconnected families. Respondents agreed that spending quality time with family was re-energised during the MCO, while prayer or spiritual focus was enhanced during the lockdown even though mosques, churches and temples were closed.
The writer is a professor at the Faculty of Technical and Vocational, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris