The COVID Stress Scales (CSS) were used to assess distress related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). In line with Malaysia's epidemic prevention and control policies during the pandemic, a Malay version of the CSS was developed. This study validated the psychometric properties and factorial structure of the CSS in a Malaysian sample of 686 adults (431 females, 255 males; aged 18–65 years), addressing the lack of culturally specific tools to measure pandemic-related distress in Malaysia. Using rigorous translation and confirmatory factor analysis, the CSS demonstrated strong internal consistency. The results showed that a six-factor model encompassing danger, socioeconomic impact, xenophobia, contamination, traumatic stress, and compulsive checking for the Malay adaptation of the CSS was a good fit with the data. Concurrent validity was confirmed through significant correlations with established measures of COVID-19 fear, PTSD symptoms, and depression. The novelty of this research lies in providing the first comprehensive validation of the Malay CSS, ensuring its cultural relevance and accuracy for assessing COVID-19 stress within the Malaysian sociocultural context. These findings position the CSS as a reliable, multidimensional instrument with practical applications for mental health research and targeted public health interventions to address pandemic-related psychological distress in Malaysia.

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