Adaptation and Validation of the Malay Version of the SAVE-9 Viral Epidemic Anxiety Scale for Healthcare Workers

Viral epidemics have surfaced frequently over the past quarter-century, with multiple manifestations of psychological distress. This study sought to establish the psychometric properties of the Malay version of SAVE-9 among healthcare workers. A total of 203 healthcare workers across Malaysia participated in the research. The Malay version of SAVE-9 was translated and back-translated using the WHO instrument validation protocols. Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Rasch analysis were used to assess the validity and reliability of the Malay version of the SAVE-9 scale. The analysis was run using IBM SPSS 26.0 and JAPS. Cronbach’s alpha was used to measure the internal consistency of SAVE-9, which was found to be satisfactory (Cronbach’s α = 0.795). The correlations between the SAVE-9 and other measured scales (GAD-7 and PHQ-9) were statistically significant. A score of 22 was defined as a cut-off point with good sensitivity (0.578) and specificity (0.165). The Malay version of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 (SAVE-9) scale is valid and reliable after testing among healthcare workers. It is psychometrically suitable to be used in assessing healthcare workers’ stress and anxiety specific to viral epidemics

An early glance into smartphone dependence in a rural LMIC and relationships with mindfulness and depressive symptoms

A rising issue in the child and adolescent global mental health pandemic is smartphone addiction. However, most evidence has come from urbanised countries in the developed world or university undergraduate students in LAMICs. This study aims to ascertain core psychometric properties of a previously unvalidated brief smartphone addiction scale for adolescents, determine gender-based prevalence of smartphone addiction in adolescents in rural areas, and assess relationships with concurrent measures of a state of mindfulness and depression. Secondary data from a health screening in a Dusun-speaking village in rural Borneo was analysed, with respondents filling in sociodemographic questionnaires and three Malay-language scales: MAAS, PHQ-9, and SAS-SV, which measure the state of mindfulness, depression, and smartphone addiction respectively. The SAS-SV-M exhibited satisfactory internal consistency and was consistent with a uni factorial model in the original paper. There were significant gender differences for smartphone addiction, but no significant difference between all 3 measured variables for age. Significant inverse correlations existed between mindfulness and depression, but not with neither and smartphone addiction, with these correlations persistent upon multiple regression. This study pioneeringly establishes prevalence by gender for smartphone addiction in a rural LAMIC setting, and concurs with extant findings that mindfulness and depression are inversely correlated

An Analysis by State on The Effect of Movement Control Order (MCO) 3.0 Due to COVID-19 on Malaysians’ Mental Health: Evidence from Google Trends

Due to significant social and economic upheavals brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a great deal of psychological pain. Google Trends data have been seen as a corollary measure to assess population-wide trends via observing trends in search results. Judicious analysis of Google Trends data can have both analytical and predictive capacities. This study aimed to compare nation-wide and inter-state trends in mental health before and after the Malaysian Movement Control Order 3.0 (MCO 3.0) commencing 12 May 2021. This was through assessment of two terms, “stress” and “sleep” in both the Malay and English language. Google Trends daily data between March 6 and 31 May in both 2019 and 2021 was obtained, and both series were re-scaled to be comparable. Searches before and after MCO 3.0 in 2021 were compared to searches before and after the same date in 2019. This was carried out using the differences in difference (DiD) method. This ensured that seasonal variations between states were not the source of our findings. We found that DiD estimates, β_3 for “sleep” and “stress” were not significantly different from zero, implying that MCO 3.0 had no effect on psychological distress in all states. Johor was the only state where the DiD estimates β_3 were significantly different from zero for the search topic ‘Tidur’. For the topic ‘Tekanan’, there were two states with significant DiD estimates, β_3, namely Penang and Sarawak. This study hence demonstrates that there are particular state-level differences in Google Trend search terms, which gives an indicator as to states to prioritise interventions and increase surveillance for mental health. In conclusion, Google Trends is a powerful tool to examine larger population-based trends especially in monitoring public health parameters such as population-level psychological distress, which can facilitate interventions

An analysis by state on the effect of Movement Control Order (MCO) 3.0 due to COVID-19 on Malaysians’ mental health: Evidence from Google Trends

Due to significant social and economic upheavals brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a great deal of psychological pain. Google Trends data have been seen as a corollary measure to assess population-wide trends via observing trends in search results. Judicious analysis of Google Trends data can have both analytical and predictive capacities. This study aimed to compare nationwide and inter-state trends in mental health before and after the Malaysian Movement Control Order 3.0 (MCO 3.0) commencing 12 May 2021. This was through assessment of two terms, “stress” and “sleep” in both the Malay and English language. Google Trends daily data between March 6 and 31 May in both 2019 and 2021 was obtained, and both series were re-scaled to be comparable. Searches before and after MCO 3.0 in 2021 were compared to searches before and after the same date in 2019. This was carried out using the differences in difference (DiD) method. This ensured that seasonal variations between states were not the source of our findings. We found that DiD estimates, _3 for “sleep” and “stress” were not significantly different from zero, implying that MCO 3.0 had no effect on psychological distress in all states. Johor was the only state where the DiD estimates _3 were significantly different from zero for the search topic ‘Tidur’. For the topic ‘Tekanan’, there were two states with significant DiD estimates, _3, namely Penang and Sarawak. This study hence demonstrates that there are particular state-level differences in Google Trend search terms, which gives an indicator as to states to prioritise interventions and increase surveillance for mental health. In conclusion, Google Trends is a powerful tool to examine larger population-based trends especially in monitoring public health parameters such as population-level psychological distress, which can facilitate interventions

Adaptation and validation of the Malay version of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-6 Items Scale among the general population

The coronavirus disease pandemic has caused untold distress owing to both its physical and psychological sequelae, and such distress is further exacerbated by multiple socioeconomic ramifications. The Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-6 Items (SAVE-6). Scale was developed to specifically assess the anxiety response of the general population to viral epidemics. This study aimed to establish the psychometric properties of the Malay version of the SAVE-6 Scale in the general population. Herein, a total of 257 individuals participated. World Health Organization instrument validation protocols were used to translate and back-translate the Malay SAVE-6 Scale. Subsequently, the classical test theory and Rasch analysis were used to ascertain the validity and reliability of the scale. Cronbach α was used to measure the internal consistency, which was found to be satisfactory (α = 0.866). The correlations between the SAVE-6 Scale and other scales, including the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Items Scale (r = 0.421, p < 0.001) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Items (r = 0.354, p < 0.001) were significant. Taken together, the Malay version of the SAVE-6 Scale is valid and reliable for use in the general population and is psychometrically suitable for assessing stress and anxiety specific to viral epidemics

Validation of Bahasa Malaysia version of psychological mindedness in a university population

INTRODUCTION: Psychological mindedness concept is widely accepted to be significantly correlated to psychological strength and mental health. There are multiple scales that attempted to measure psychological mindedness objectively, with the most recent one being Balanced Index of Psychological Mindedness (BIPM). Psychological mindedness is an area of interest in psychiatry and psychology in Malaysia. Hence, this study aims to validate the Bahasa Malaysia Version of Balanced Index of Psychological Mindedness (BIPM-M). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 14-items scale was translated according to World Health Organization guidelines. 141 participants were recruited from the university population. Participants were required to fill the basic demographic information, as well as Bahasa Malaysia version of Balanced Index of Psychological Mindedness, and two other scales, namely Mindful Awareness Attention Scale (MAAS), and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II Scale (AAQ-II). RESULTS:BIPM-M showed excellent internal consistency with Cronbach α of 0.87. As per the original BIPM, the Bahasa Malaysia version also suggested two factor structures in this scale. BIPM-M was significantly correlated with AAQ-II. CONCLUSION: BIPM-M is a psychometrically sound instrument that can be utilized to assess the psychological mindedness among Malaysians, and certainly enhance the array of psychological assessments available as Malaysia faces the mental health after-effect of COVID-19