Prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression among Indonesian immigrant workers in Malaysia

Abstract

Introduction: Being apart from family to work in a new environment requires sacrifice and endeavor to adapt to the foreign surroundings and, therefore, may cause perturbation and tension. The present study aimed to assess mental health problems among Indonesian women migrant workers in Peninsular Malaysia and their associated factors. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in three representatives of the Indonesian Government in Peninsular Malaysia: Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and the Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Baharu and Penang. The target population was every Indonesian women worker who fulfils the inclusion criteria: reproductive age (18-45 years), legal workers, and stay in Malaysia for 12 months. A validated Indonesian Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS21) questionnaire used has Cronbach’s alpha of 0.95. Result: A total of 589 respondents participated with granted consent. The measurement of the prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression among workers was reported to be 151 (25.6%), 308 (52.3%) and 139 (23.6%), respectively. The multivariate logistic regression analysis found that younger age, longer working hours a day, and having reproductive health problems were significant predictors of negative emotional states. Conclusion: Early screening to identify risk groups at works helps reduction of mental health incidence.