The Prevalence of Emotional Distress among Athletes during COVID-19 Movement Control Order Period in Malaysia

Background. The outbreak of Coronavirus-19 or COVID-19 has detrimental effects on the sports industry. Cancellation of sports training and competitions, movement restriction, and social isolation present an emotional challenge for athletes. Objectives. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of emotional distress among athletes during the MCO of Covid-19 in Malaysia. Methods. 224 male and 264 female athletes participated in this study in May 2020. The majority of the participants were archers (20.7%), followed by athletics (12.9), netball (8.4%), and badminton (6.6%). An online survey was employed, which consists of three measures: (a) demographic information, (b) Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale -21, and (c) Kessler Psychological Distress Scale - 10. Results. The results indicated that 7.2% (N=35) of the participants reported severe to extremely severe stress, 20.5% (N=100) of participants experienced severe to extremely severe anxiety, and 10% (N=49) participants reported severe to extremely severe depression. Moreover, Chi-Square analysis revealed no significant differences between the level of stress, anxiety, and depression based on age, gender, and category of sports (individual vs. team sports), except for gender and depression (X2 (4, N=488) = 12.18, P= 0.016). More female athletes reported severe depression (20.3%) compared to male athletes (13.4%). Conclusion. This finding suggests further assessment, monitoring, and treatment plan for athletes, especially female athletes, to ensure their mental health and emotional wellbeing during this Covid19 pandemic.