COVID-19
Pandemic Research
About us
This project will quantify the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on socio-economic, psychological well-being and resilience in the Malaysian population and will help derive solutions that improve the psychological well-being and livelihoods for vulnerable groups.
Contributes to sustainable development by
Reporting
Make recommendations
Providing guidance
COVID-19 Pandemic Research
The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic on March 12th 2020. As COVID-19 continues to spread at a community level, many face considerable psychological challenges. Many such challenges are associated closely with the health, social and economic landscape. Under Malaysia’s enforcement of the “Movement Control Order” (MCO), vulnerable groups will most likely suffer the highest rates of financial loss and degeneration of psychological well-being and resilience. For example, the low-income group ‘B40’ (defined as having an income per month of no more than RM2,848/£518) have suffered pay cuts or job losses.
Furthermore, the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) predicts that Malaysia’s real GDP growth will drop from 4.0% to -2.9%. The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) estimates that approximately 2.1 million jobs will be lost due to COVID-19, with self-employed individuals being the most as risk. In terms of the social aspect, the Women’s Aid Organisation has reported an increase (estimated at 14%) in domestic violence in Malaysia.
Research objectives
This project will quantify the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on socio-economic, psychological well-being and resilience in the Malaysian population and will help derive solutions that improve the psychological well-being and livelihoods for vulnerable groups.
Within this scope, the project directly contributes to sustainable development in Malaysia by
Generating lasting benefits by reporting the national prevalence of psychological well-being to the public and empowering citizens in sustainably managing psychological well-being.
Making recommendations to policy-makers to help resolve psychological issues and problems relating to target groups, especially senior citizens, women’s groups and the retrenched/self-employed workforce, to improve livelihoods and overall social well-being.
Contribute to the nation’s longer-term strategy for recovery, providing guidance in the form of effective practices to battles an overwhelming psychological issue.
Method
This project consists of TWO main components: First, a national survey (national population sample); and second, interviews with vulnerable groups. Based on official government reports, we have identified three key vulnerable groups in Malaysia, namely the elderly, women’s groups , and the retrenched group.
The research outcomes include,
An understanding of the national prevalence of socio-economic and psychological well-being in Malaysian population and challenges faced by vulnerable groups.
Development of a strategic concept and framework for prevention, treatment and recovery to strengthen the psychological well-being of vulnerable groups.