Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Sep 21, 2020
Date Accepted: Oct 28, 2020
Date Submitted to PubMed: Dec 9, 2020
Anxiety and suicidal thoughts during COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-country comparison among Indonesian, Taiwanese, and Thai university students
ABSTRACT
Background:
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has negatively impacted the mental health of university students.
Objective:
The present study examined the psychological responses toward COVID-19 among university students in three countries (Indonesia, Taiwan, and Thailand).
Methods:
Using a cross-sectional online survey, university students from five public universities (two in Indonesia, two in Thailand, one in Taiwan) were recruited via popular social media sites, including Facebook, LINE, broadcast WhatsApp. All the students (938 in Indonesia, 734 in Thailand, 313 in Taiwan) completed questions concerning their anxiety, suicidal thoughts, confidence in COVID-19 pandemic control, risk perception in susceptibility to COVID-19, perceived support, resources for fighting COVID-19, and sources of COVID-19 information.
Results:
Thai students had the highest levels of anxiety and suicidal thoughts but the lowest levels of confidence in pandemic control and available resources of fighting COVID-19 among the four student groups. Factors associated with higher anxiety and suicidal thoughts differed across countries. Less perceived satisfactory support was associated with more suicidal thoughts among Indonesian and Thai students. Taiwanese students were more negatively affected by information gathered from the internet and from medical staff.
Conclusions:
Healthcare providers in Thailand may need to pay special attention to Thai university students given their high levels of anxiety and suicidal thoughts. In addition, healthcare providers should establish a good supporting system for university students as the results of this study indicate a negative association between support and suicidal thoughts.
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