Psychological Well-being Levels of Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Selangor

The unprecedented COVID-19 crisis created novel stressful situations for many people worldwide. Lockdowns and restricted conditions brought about by the pandemic also affected families in many ways. It is important to understand how families coped with the pandemic-induced stress as it will have either positive or negative impacts on the overall family unit. Therefore, this quantitative study investigates the psychological well-being levels of families during the COVID-19 pandemic in Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 147 respondents from Selangor participated, with data collected through 68 open-ended and closed-ended items distributed via WhatsApp using snowball sampling methodology. The research explores various aspects of psychological well-being, including stress, anxiety, and coping mechanisms, within the familial context amidst the pandemic. Among the notable findings of the study was that the overall level of family psychological well-being was at moderate to moderately high level. There were also slight differences reported in psychological well-being according to status, occupation and location. Interestingly, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the majority of respondents reported they were satisfied with their current life. Understanding the psychological impact on families during the pandemic is crucial for informing support services and interventions. Future studies could be undertaken to investigate the role of support services provided during the pandemic and its impact on families. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on the psychological effects of COVID-19 and highlights the importance of addressing family well-being in public health responses.