Determining Predictors of Depression and Anxiety for Prevention of Common Mental Illness among Staff of an Academic Institution in Malaysia

Main Article Content

Salmi Razali
Chua Yung-An
Mohd Izwan Mat Nazali
Hapizah M Nawawi

Abstract

Information on depression, anxiety and predictors for these mental illnesses among the staff of the academic institution is sparse. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of these mental illnesses and investigate possible predictors. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21-item and pro forma questionnaires were used to assess the presence of depression, anxiety, sociodemographic, personal and job-related factors. Of 278 participants, 27.7% had depression, and 26.7% had anxiety. Predictors for depression include inadequate workplace facilities, low-tier job category, working in urban campus and low income. Predictors for clinical anxiety were high workplace responsibility and low-tier job category.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Article Details

How to Cite
[1]
Razali, S., Yung-An, C., Mat Nazali, M.I. and M Nawawi, H. 2020. Determining Predictors of Depression and Anxiety for Prevention of Common Mental Illness among Staff of an Academic Institution in Malaysia. Asian Journal of Quality of Life. 4, 17 (Jan. 2020), 1–13. DOI:https://doi.org/10.21834/ajqol.v4i17.197.

References

Ahsan, N., Abdullah, Z., Fie, D. Y. G. & Alam, S. S. (2009). A study of job stress on job satisfaction among university staff in Malaysia: Empirical study. European journal of social sciences, 8(1), 121-131.

American Psychiatric Association (APA)(2019). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm

Berry, B. J., & Okulicz-Kozaryn, A. (2009). Dissatisfaction with city life: A new look at some old questions. Cities, 26(3), 117-124. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2009.01.005

Bonde, J. P. E. (2008). Psychosocial factors at work and risk of depression: a systematic review of the epidemiological evidence. Occupational and environmental medicine, 65(7), 438-445. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2007.038430

Fasoro, A. (2018). Prevalence and Associated Factors of Current Depressive Symptoms among Staff of a Public University in Malaysia. Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences, 16(4).

French, D., & Vigne, S. (2019). The causes and consequences of household financial strain: A systematic review. International Review of Financial Analysis, 62, 150-156. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2018.09.008

Grant, B. F., Goldstein, R. B., Chou, S. P., Huang, B., Stinson, F. S., Dawson, D. A., . . . Pickering, R. P. (2009). Sociodemographic and psychopathologic predictors of first incidence of DSM-IV substance use, mood and anxiety disorders: results from the Wave 2 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Molecular psychiatry, 14(11), 1051. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2008.41

Heinz, A. J., Meffert, B. N., Halvorson, M. A., Blonigen, D., Timko, C., & Cronkite, R. (2018). Employment characteristics, work environment, and the course of depression over 23 years: Does employment help foster resilience? Depression and anxiety, 35(9), 861-867. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22782

Ismail, A., Yao, A., & Yunus, N. K. Y. (2009). Relationship Between Occupational Stress and Job Satisfaction: An Empirical Study in Malaysia. Romanian Economic Journal, 12(34).

January, J., Madhombiro, M., Chipamaunga, S., Ray, S., Chingono, A., & Abas, M. (2018). Prevalence of depression and anxiety among undergraduate university students in low-and middle-income countries: a systematic review protocol. Systematic reviews, 7(1), 57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-018-0723-8

Karasek Jr, R. A. (1979). Job demands, job decision latitude, and mental strain: Implications for job redesign. Administrative science quarterly, 285-308. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2392498

Lammerts, L., Schaafsma, F. G., Eikelenboom, M., Vermeulen, S. J., van Mechelen, W., Anema, J. R., & Penninx, B. W. (2016). Longitudinal associations between biopsychosocial factors and sustainable return to work of sicklisted workers with a depressive or anxiety disorder. Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 26(1), 70-79. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-015-9588-z

Lerner, D., & Henke, R. M. (2008). What does research tell us about depression, job performance, and work productivity? Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 50(4), 401-410. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e31816bae50

Letellier, M.-C., Duchaine, C., Aubé, K., Talbot, D., Mantha-Bélisle, M.-M., Sultan-Taïeb, H., Brisson, C. (2018).

Evaluation of the Quebec Healthy Enterprise Standard: effect on adverse psychosocial work factors and psychological distress. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(3), 426. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030426

Lorant, V., Deliège, D., Eaton, W., Robert, A., Philippot, P., & Ansseau, M. (2003). Socioeconomic inequalities in depression: a meta-analysis. American journal of epidemiology, 157(2), 98-112. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwf182

Lunau, T., Wahrendorf, M., Müller, A., Wright, B., & Dragano, N. (2018). Do resources buffer the prospective association of psychosocial work stress with depression? Longitudinal evidence from ageing workers. Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health, 44(2), 183-191. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3694

Manaf, M. R. A., Qureshi, A. M., Lotfizadeh, M., Ganasegeran, K., Yadav, H., & Al-Dubai, S. (2016). Factors associated with anxiety and depression among outpatients in Malaysia: A cross-sectional study. Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 16(3), 181-187.

Mead, D. E. (2002). Marital distress, co‐occurring depression, and marital therapy: A review. Journal of marital and family therapy, 28(3), 299-314. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2002.tb01188.x

Milner, A., Witt, K., LaMontagne, A. D., & Niedhammer, I. (2018). Psychosocial job stressors and suicidality: a metaanalysis and systematic review. Occupational and environmental medicine, 75(4), 245-253. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2017-104531

Ministry of Health Malaysia. (2019). Management of Depressive Disorder ( Second Edition). Retrieved 26 September 2019 from http://www.moh.gov.my/moh/resources/Penerbitan/CPG/1)_CPG_Management_Major_Depressive_Disorder_(Second_Edition).pdf.

Mukhtar, F., & Oei, T. P. (2011). A review of assessment and treatment for depression in Malaysia. Depression research and treatment, 2011. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/123642

Musa, R., Fadzil, M. A., & Zain, Z. (2007). Translation, validation and psychometric properties of Bahasa Malaysia version of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS). ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, 8(2), 82-89.

Mustapha, N. (2013). The influence of financial reward on job satisfaction among academic staffs at public universities in Kelantan, Malaysia. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 4(3).

Noor, A., & Ismail, N. H. (2016). Occupational stress and its associated factors among academician in a research university, Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 16(1), 81-91.

Noordin, F., & Jusoff, K. (2009). Levels of job satisfaction amongst Malaysian academic staff. Asian social science, 5(5), 122-128. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v5n5p122

Okulicz-Kozaryn, A., & Mazelis, J. M. (2018). Urbanism and happiness: A test of Wirth’s theory of urban life. Urban Studies, 55(2), 349-364. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098016645470

Remes, O., Brayne, C., Van Der Linde, R., & Lafortune, L. (2016). A systematic review of reviews on the prevalence of anxiety disorders in adult populations. Brain and behaviour, 6(7), e00497. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.497

Sinclair, R. R., & Cheung, J. H. (2016). Money matters: Recommendations for financial stress research in occupational health psychology. Stress and Health, 32(3), 181-193. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.2688

Van der Doef, M., & Maes, S. (1999). The job demand-control (-support) model and psychological well-being: a review of 20 years of empirical research. Work & Stress, 13(2), 87-114. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/026783799296084

World Health Organization (WHO) (2019). Mental Health; Depression, Let's talk. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/mental_health/management/depression/en/

Yeoh, S. H., Tan, C. L., Wong, C. P., & Bonn, G. (2017). Examining depressive symptoms and their predictors in Malaysia: Stress, locus of control, and occupation. Frontiers in psychology, 8, 1411. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01411