Association Between Mental Health Outcomes and Changes in Lifestyle Behavior Index Among Saudi Adults 16 Weeks After COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown Release
Abstract:BackgroundThe current (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) pandemic is still uncontrolled with associated dramatic changes in daily lifestyle activities. Evidence for studying the impact of these health behavior changes on our mental health is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychological distresses and assess their influence by the change in the composite lifestyle behaviors before the COVID-19 pandemic till 16 weeks after the lockdown release in Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis cr… Show more
“…In Saudi Arabia (KSA), several studies confirm the results found in different countries in the world and indicate that the negative lifestyle behavioral changes caused by confinement were significantly associated with stress and anxiety (Alamri et al, 2020;Boughattas and Tolba, 2021;Abd El-Fatah et al, 2022). The study of show that 58% of the participants suffered from anxiety, depression, and insomnia.…”
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers and scientists in different domains have tried to study the various aspects of this virus to identify a future solution and strategy for managing similar crises. Physical activity and psychological health were the most important subjects. Our research aimed to explore the change in physical activity behavior in Saudi citizens during the COVID-19 outbreak and its relationship with psychological health in the three most affected regions of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was designed by multidisciplinary academic specialists in physical activity and psychology and shared in the Arabic language through an electronic form. The participant were 2980 voluntaries, including 1508 women and 1472 men participate in this study. Results show a significant relationship between PA groups, gender variables and psychological health. The percentage of active females increased from 40% to 50% during the COVID-19 outbreak compared to before. Active women seem less affected in psychological health by confinement than inactive women and men. We found a significant difference between active and inactive women, in depression level, Anxiety and somatic symptoms. In conclusion, this study highlighted the importance of physical activity during the COVID-19 outbreak in KSA specially for women. It also suggests that physical activity can be a solution to fight the negative effect of future similar pandemics on psychological health.
“…In Saudi Arabia (KSA), several studies confirm the results found in different countries in the world and indicate that the negative lifestyle behavioral changes caused by confinement were significantly associated with stress and anxiety (Alamri et al, 2020;Boughattas and Tolba, 2021;Abd El-Fatah et al, 2022). The study of show that 58% of the participants suffered from anxiety, depression, and insomnia.…”
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers and scientists in different domains have tried to study the various aspects of this virus to identify a future solution and strategy for managing similar crises. Physical activity and psychological health were the most important subjects. Our research aimed to explore the change in physical activity behavior in Saudi citizens during the COVID-19 outbreak and its relationship with psychological health in the three most affected regions of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was designed by multidisciplinary academic specialists in physical activity and psychology and shared in the Arabic language through an electronic form. The participant were 2980 voluntaries, including 1508 women and 1472 men participate in this study. Results show a significant relationship between PA groups, gender variables and psychological health. The percentage of active females increased from 40% to 50% during the COVID-19 outbreak compared to before. Active women seem less affected in psychological health by confinement than inactive women and men. We found a significant difference between active and inactive women, in depression level, Anxiety and somatic symptoms. In conclusion, this study highlighted the importance of physical activity during the COVID-19 outbreak in KSA specially for women. It also suggests that physical activity can be a solution to fight the negative effect of future similar pandemics on psychological health.
“…In the title and abstract screening stage, 162 records were excluded as irrelevant. After a full-text review of 47 reports, we included 19 studies [ 24 , 31 – 48 ], all published in English. Fig.…”
Background
In Saudi Arabia, stay-at-home orders to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic between March 15 and 23, 2020 and eased on May 28, 2020. We conducted a scoping review to systematically describe physical activity and sedentary behavior in Saudi Arabia associated with the timing of the lockdown.
Methods
We searched six databases on December 13, 2021 for articles published in English or Arabic from 2018 to the search date. Studies must have reported data from Saudi Arabia for any age and measured physical activity or sedentary behavior.
Results
Overall, 286 records were found; after excluding duplicates, 209 records were screened, and 19 studies were included in the review. Overall, 15 studies were cross-sectional, and 4 studies were prospective cohorts. Three studies included children and adolescents (age: 2–18 years), and 16 studies included adults (age: 15–99 years). Data collection periods were < = 5 months, with 17 studies collecting data in 2020 only, one study in 2020–2021, and one study in 2021. The median analytic sample size was 363 (interquartile range 262–640). Three studies of children/adolescents collected behaviors online at one time using parental reporting, with one also allowing self-reporting. All three studies found that physical activity was lower during and/or following the lockdown than before the lockdown. Two studies found screen time, television watching, and playing video games were higher during or following the lockdown than before the lockdown. Sixteen adult studies assessed physical activity, with 15 utilizing self-reporting and one using accelerometry. Physical activity, exercise, walking, and park visits were all lower during or following the lockdown than before the lockdown. Six adult studies assessed sedentary behavior using self-report. Sitting time (4 studies) and screen time (2 studies) were higher during or following the lockdown than before the lockdown.
Conclusions
Among children, adolescents, and adults, studies consistently indicated that in the short-term, physical activity decreased and sedentary behavior increased in conjunction with the movement restrictions. Given the widespread impact of the pandemic on other health behaviors, it would be important to continue tracking behaviors post-lockdown and identify subpopulations that may not have returned to their physical activity and sedentary behavior to pre-pandemic levels to focus on intervention efforts.
“…Five lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, sleep, sitting, smoking, Body Mass Index (BMI) in kg/m 2 , and dietary habits) were assessed based on reported risk category calculation protocols ( 47 ). Dietary habits were measured based on index values reported by the Saudi Food-based Dietary Guidelines for 14 food items ( 48 ).…”
BackgroundDisordered eating behaviors (DEBs) are complex health issues that may lead to negative physical and mental health outcomes among college students. More studies should be directed toward the screening of DEBs. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of DEBs among Saudi female university students and their association with social networking site (SNSs) usage and composite lifestyle behaviors during the unprecedented period of COVID-19.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 445 females recruited using stratified random sampling. The participants self-reported demographic, social, medical, and lifestyle data and completed the validated Arabic version of the Eating Attitudes Test-26, Social Networking Sites (SNSs) Usage Questionnaire, Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, and Body Shape Questionnaire.ResultsThe prevalence of DEBs was 27.2% among the female students at Taif University. From the pre-pandemic period until the current time, the DEBs-risk group had a significantly higher SNS navigation rate (36.4%) than the normal group (20.4%) (X2 = 30.015, p = 0.001). The regression analysis revealed that females with a significant body image concern, higher number of SNSs friends, and frequent visits to SNSs, and those seeking social-dependent information in relation to weight loss/dieting were more likely to develop DEBs (Overall Model: Chi-Square X2 = 158.071, p < 0.000**).ConclusionsSNSs usage and DEBs were associated during the COVID-pandemic. However, the composite lifestyle score did not demonstrate a significant association with DEBs among the female students at Taif University. Investigating the magnitude of DEBs and understanding the role of SNS are essential for preventing disordered eating among young females.
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