Neuroticism, coping styles and psychological distress among frontliners during COVID-19 pandemic in Kelantan, Malaysia

The study aimed to determine the prevalence of psychological distress and explore the roles of neuroticism traits and coping styles among frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. A total of 336 frontline healthcare workers from three COVID-19 hospitals in Malaysia participated in the online survey. The measurements, including sociodemographic characteristics, presence of psychological distress, neuroticism traits, and coping styles, were assessed using the sociodemographic proforma, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Big Five Inventory, and Brief COPE scales.Descriptive analysis with SPSS-26 were performed to determine the socio-demographic attributes of the participants, level of trait neuroticism, coping styles and psychological distress. Multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the factors significantly associated with psychological distress.Results showed that out of 336 frontliners, 22.9% reported psychological distress. Higher trait neuroticism was significantly associated with an increased risk of psychological distress (p < 0.05), while religious coping was significantly associated with a decreased risk of psychological distress (p < 0.05). Other sociodemographic factors, such as age, gender, and years of experience, did not show significant associations with psychological distress.The high prevalence of psychological distress among frontliners highlights the importance of addressing their mental health needs during pandemics. Interventions aimed at enhancing psychological well-being should consider targeting neuroticism traits and promoting adaptive coping strategies, such as religious coping.