From Home to Campus: How family dynamics influence anxiety in Malaysian university students

Nor Hidayah Jaris; Salmi Razali; Fatimah Sham; Saw Jo Anne; Sali Rahadi Asih; Iman Mohamed Ali

doi:10.21834/e-bpj.v10i32.6715

Authors

Nor Hidayah Jaris Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia
Salmi Razali Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia
Fatimah Sham Center of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia
Saw Jo Anne Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia
Sali Rahadi Asih Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia
Iman Mohamed Ali Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v10i32.6715

Keywords:

University Students, Anxiety, Family Dynamics , Family Factors

Abstract

Anxiety among university students may create difficulties in adjusting to the university environment and hinder academic excellence. We aim to investigate the association between family dynamic factors and anxiety among Malaysian university students. 853 students completed the online cross-sectional questionnaires on sociodemographic background, home and university living circumstances, family dynamics, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory – Y Form. The predictors of anxiety among university students were determined, which include the presence of family conflict, having friends as confidants, the need for emotional support from family, family financial status, changes in family routines and gender.

References

APA, A. P. A. (2022). Family routines and rituals may improve family relationships and health [Press release]. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2002/12/rituals

Bauer, G. R., Pyne, J., & Francino, M. (2015). Validation of Gender Identity and Its Role in Reducing Anxiety Among Non-Conforming Students. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 29(2), 153-168.

Beinomugisha, P., Bintliff, A. V., Lavine, R. S., Namanda, Z., Cheung, W. W., & Norah, N. N. (2024). The Contribution of Social and Emotional Support Towards Youth Wellbeing: Coping and Resilience Among the Youth in Kampala, Uganda. Journal of Research Innovation and Implications in Education. DOI: https://doi.org/10.59765/94hft8ag

Borgogna, N. C., McDermott, R. C., Aita, S. L., & Kridel, M. M. (2018). Anxiety and Depression Across Gender and Sexual Minorities: Implications for Transgender, Gender Nonconforming, Pansexual, Demisexual, Asexual, Queer, and Questioning Individuals. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000306 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000306

Chen, J., & Huang, L. (2023). "Loneliness and Depression among University Students: The Role of Social Support and Friendships." International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 35(1), 59-69. doi:10.1515/ijamh-2022-0034

Dabrowski, V., Atas, N., Ramsey, T., & Howarth, N. (2024). ‘Money anxiety’: Understanding HE students' experiences of the cost-of-living crisis. Social Policy & Administration, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/spol.13048 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/spol.13048

Esandi, N., Nolan, M., Canga-Armayor, N., Pardavila-Belio, M. I., & Canga-Armayor, A. (2021). Family dynamics and the Alzheimer’s disease experience. Journal of Family Nursing, 27(2), 124-135. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1074840720986611

Farrington, D. P., & Ttofi, M. M. (2021). Advancing knowledge about youth violence: Child maltreatment, bullying, dating violence, and intimate partner violence. Journal of family violence, 36(1), 109-115. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-020-00189-7

Jabbari, B., & Rouster, A. S. (2022). Family dynamics. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.

Johnson, R., & Williams, T. (2021). "The Impact of Family Dynamics on College Student Anxiety: A Longitudinal Analysis." Journal of Adolescent Health, 68(5), 873-880. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.01.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.01.004

Mathieu M., Eschleman K. J., Cheng D. (2019). Meta-analytic and multiwave comparison of emotional support and instrumental support in the workplace. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 24(3), 387–409. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000135 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000135

Mofatteh, M. (2021). Risk factors associated with stress, anxiety, and depression among university undergraduate students. AIMS public health, 8(1), 36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3934/publichealth.2021004

Mohamad, N. E., Sidik, S. M., Akhtari-Zavare, M., & Gani, N. A. (2021). The prevalence risk of anxiety and its associated factors among university students in Malaysia: a national cross-sectional study. BMC public health, 21(1), 438. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10440-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10440-5

Moore A, Nguyen A, Rivas S, Bany-Mohammed A, Majeika J, Martinez L. A qualitative examination of the impacts of financial stress on college students' well-being: Insights from a large, private institution. SAGE Open Med. 2021 May 22;9:20503121211018122. doi: 10.1177/20503121211018122. PMID: 34094560; PMCID: PMC8141976. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121211018122

Özkaynak, B., Muradian, R., Ungar, P., & Morales, D. (2023). What can methods for assessing worldviews and broad values tell us about socio-environmental conflicts? Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 64, 101316. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2023.101316

Perkins, H. W., & White, B. A. (2021). The Impact of Confidants on Coping Mechanisms and Anxiety in University Students. Journal of Educational Psychology, 113(2), 297-311.

Santomauro, D. F., Herrera, A. M. M., Shadid, J., Zheng, P., Ashbaugh, C., Pigott, D. M., Abbafati, C., Adolph, C., Amlag, J. O., & Aravkin, A. Y. (2021). Global prevalence and burden of depressive and anxiety disorders in 204 countries and territories in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lancet, 398(10312), 1700-1712. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02143-7

Tan, G. X., Soh, X. C., Hartanto, A., Goh, A. Y., & Majeed, N. M. (2023). Prevalence of anxiety in college and university students: An umbrella review. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 100658. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100658

Taylor, S., & Lewis, J. (2024). "Social Isolation and Mental Health among College Students: A Longitudinal Study." Journal of College Student Psychology, 27(1), 22-37. doi:10.1080/2150681X.2024.1985672

Thompson, H., & Roberts, A. (2024). "Emotional Support from Family and Its Influence on College Students' Psychological Well-being." Journal of College Student Development, 65(1), 15-29. doi:10.1353/csd.2024.0002

Williams, R., & Krumwiede, K. (2022). "The Role of Social Support in the Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Psychological Distress Among College Students." Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 44(2), 130-145. doi:10.17744/mehc.44.2.03 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17744/mehc.44.2.03

Woodford, M. R., Kulick, A., & Hong, M. (2013). The Impact of Social Support and Peer Networks on Anxiety Among Gender Non-Conforming Students. Journal of LGBT Youth, 10(4), 301-320.

Yahya, F. (2022). The Importance of Family Routine and its Role in Developing The Social Skills of The Child. The Importance of Family Routine and its Role in Developing The Social Skills of The Child| IUSRJ, 3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.59271/s44812.022.1250.15

Yang, Y., & Wang, C. (2023). Research on the effects of family rituals on subjective well-being of Chinese college students. Current Psychology, 42(32), 28549-28563. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03858-6