Validation of the Malay Version of the COVID-19 Anxiety Scale in Malaysia
Authors:   School of Psychology, TMC Academy, Singapore, Ang Chin Siang ,   Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Lee Kai Wei ,   Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Selangor, Malaysia,   Centre for Research on Communicable Diseases, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Selangor, Malaysia, Ho Meng Chuan ,   Department of General Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Voon Siok Ping ,   Programme of Psychology, Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Sarawak, Malaysia, Ching Siew Mooi ,   Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia,   Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia,   Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Selangor, Malaysia,   Centre for Research, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Tamil Nadu, India, Tan Chai Eng ,   Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Hoo Fan Kee ,   Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia, Ooi Pei Boon ,   Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Selangor, Malaysia
Published: June 2022

Background: Malaysians are disillusioned with the increased number of COVID-19 infection cases and the prolonged lockdown period. As a result of COVID-19 mitigation measurements, Malaysians are experiencing emotional and psychological consequences such as anxiety. Thus, there is an urgent need to have an instrument that could serve as a tool to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 among Malaysians rapidly. Methods: This study aimed to adapt and validate the Malay version of the COVID-19 Anxiety Scale (M-CAS) among Malaysian adults. The back-to-back translation was done to produce a M-CAS. Following face validation, M-CAS was self-administered to 225 participants from Malaysia via an online survey. The participants also completed the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7), World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale, Abbreviated Version (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Data analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and Analysis of a Moment Structures. The psychometric properties of the M-CAS were examined via Cronbach alpha and confirmatory factor analysis. M-CAS scores were compared with the other tools to provide external validity. Results: The statistical analysis revealed that the M-CAS demonstrated adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.890) and presented with a unidimensional factor structure. M-CAS scores were strongly correlated with GAD-7 (r = 0.511, P < 0.001) and FCV-19S (r = 0.652, P < 0.001). Lack of correlation between M-CAS and WHOQOL-BREF showed that M-CAS scores did not reflect perceived quality of life. Conclusion: The M-CAS is a valid and reliable tool in the Malay language that can be self- administered among Malaysians to assess anxiety levels induced by COVID-19. The M-CAS has only 7 items and utilised little time in real-life clinical practice.