Stigma, Sociodemographic Factors, and Clinical Factors Associated with Psychological Distress among COVID-19 Survivors during the Convalescence Period: A Multi-Centre Study in Malaysia

Nur Iwana Abdul Taib, Nik Ruzyanei Nik Jaafar (), Nazirah Azman, Mohammad Farris Iman Leong Bin Abdullah, Nurul Ain Mohamad Kamal, Azlin Baharudin, Muhammad Najib Bin Abdullah, Suresh Kumar Chidambaram, Alif Adlan, Loong Hui Tan, Satya Tamilselvam, Mohd Shahrir Mohamed Said, Anuar Abd Samad and Siti Nordiana Binti Dollah
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Nur Iwana Abdul Taib: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan 94300, Malaysia
Nik Ruzyanei Nik Jaafar: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
Nazirah Azman: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
Mohammad Farris Iman Leong Bin Abdullah: Department of Community Health, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas 13200, Malaysia
Nurul Ain Mohamad Kamal: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
Azlin Baharudin: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
Muhammad Najib Bin Abdullah: Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia
Suresh Kumar Chidambaram: Department of Medicine, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia
Alif Adlan: Department of Medicine, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia
Loong Hui Tan: Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia
Satya Tamilselvam: Department of Psychiatry & Mental Health, Hospital Sungai Buloh, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Sungai Buloh 47000, Malaysia
Mohd Shahrir Mohamed Said: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
Anuar Abd Samad: Health Technology Assessment Section, Medical Development Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Putrajaya 62590, Malaysia
Siti Nordiana Binti Dollah: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Angkatan Tentera Tuanku Mizan, Kuala Lumpur 53300, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-13

Abstract: High rates of psychological distress among COVID-19 survivors and stigmatisation have been reported in both early and late convalescence. This study aimed to compare the severity of psychological distress and to determine the associations among sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, stigma, and psychological distress among COVID-19 survivors across two different cohorts at two different time points. Data were collected cross-sectionally in two groups at one month and six months post-hospitalisation among COVID-19 patient from three hospitals in Malaysia. This study assessed psychological distress and the level of stigma using the Kessler Screening Scale for Psychological Distress (K6) and the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC) stigma scale, respectively. At one month after discharge, significantly lower psychological distress was found among retirees ( B = −2.207, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = −4.139 to −0.068, p = 0.034), those who received up to primary education ( B = −2.474, 95% CI = −4.500 to −0.521, p = 0.014), and those who had an income of more than RM 10,000 per month ( B = −1.576, 95% CI = −2.714 to −0.505, p = 0.006). Moreover, those with a history of psychiatric illness [one month: ( B = 6.363, 95% CI = 2.599 to 9.676, p = 0.002), six months: ( B = 2.887, CI = 0.469–6.437, p = 0.038)] and sought counselling services [one month: ( B = 1.737, 95% CI = 0.385 to 3.117, p = 0.016), six months: ( B = 1.480, CI = 0.173–2.618, p = 0.032)] had a significantly higher severity of psychological distress at one month and six months after discharge from the hospital. The perceived stigma of being infected with COVID-19 contributed to greater severity of psychological distress. ( B = 0.197, CI = 0.089–0.300, p = 0.002). Different factors may affect psychological distress at different periods of convalescence after a COVID-19 infection. A persistent stigma contributed to psychological distress later in the convalescence period.

Keywords: COVID-19 survivors; psychological distress; perceived stigma; post-hospitalisation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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