Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on health and well-being in the United Arab Emirates
Background: Restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic are thought to have impacted both the physical health and well-being of individuals where lockdown was applied. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was one of the leading countries in implementing the international guidelines to limit the intensely co...
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2023
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/11073/32537 |
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| _version_ | 1864513438434197504 |
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| author | Dalibalta, Sarah |
| author2 | Ghader, Nariman Layal, Rabah Shaban, Sami Al Mheiri, Noor |
| author2_role | author author author author |
| author_facet | Dalibalta, Sarah Ghader, Nariman Layal, Rabah Shaban, Sami Al Mheiri, Noor |
| author_role | author |
| dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv | Dalibalta, Sarah Ghader, Nariman Layal, Rabah Shaban, Sami Al Mheiri, Noor |
| dc.date.none.fl_str_mv | 2023-11-03 2025-12-08T10:12:43Z 2025-12-08T10:12:43Z |
| dc.format.none.fl_str_mv | application/pdf |
| dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv | Dalibalta, S., Ghader, N., Rabah, L., Shaban, S., & Al Mheiri, N. (2023). Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on health and well-being in the United Arab Emirates. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1259974 1664-1078 https://hdl.handle.net/11073/32537 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1259974 |
| dc.language.none.fl_str_mv | en |
| dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv | Frontiers |
| dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1259974 |
| dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv | Attribution 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv | COVID-19 Social Distancing Physical Health Well-Being United Arab Emirates |
| dc.title.none.fl_str_mv | Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on health and well-being in the United Arab Emirates |
| dc.type.none.fl_str_mv | Published version Peer-Reviewed info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
| description | Background: Restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic are thought to have impacted both the physical health and well-being of individuals where lockdown was applied. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was one of the leading countries in implementing the international guidelines to limit the intensely contagious nature of the outbreak. Aim: To identify the impact of COVID-19 on changes to exercise and general physical activity habits, changes to the consumption of various foods and potential weight gain, as well as any differences in smoking habits among individuals residing in the UAE during the COVID-19 quarantine. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analytical study that used a quantitative electronic questionnaire sent by the Ministry of Health and Prevention to individuals on its platform in order to collect data on the physical health and well-being of a UAE sample population. A total of 2,362 responses were received to specific questions on physical activity, eating habits, and tobacco use for the period before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdown. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to display the sample’s demographic data and the changes in physical health and well-being. Paired t-test was used to show the changes in dietary habits. Results: This study reveals concerning changes in health risk behaviors during the COVID-19 lockdown in the UAE. Physical activity levels declined across mild, moderate and vigorous ranges in most participants. Alarmingly, sedentary behavior dramatically increased with 71% of participants spending an average of 4–8 h per day sitting and over 54% of participants spending more than 4 h watching TV on an average day during lockdown. Fast-food consumption and snacking rose, hence weight gain was observed in over 53% of participants. Smoking habits, especially among cigarette smokers, may have worsened, with 45.2% reporting an increase in cigarette smoking, 16.8% declaring an increase in shisha smoking and 35.3% reporting an increase in smoking other tobacco products. These unfavorable behaviors during confinement could have serious long-term health consequences. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that long periods of home quarantine may have led to unhealthy consequences that increase the risk of developing disease. This study therefore aims to highlight these health impacts, and recommend strategies and policies that can encourage healthy habits. |
| format | article |
| id | aus_9b32a23f03e78d945c34fb91f9da7e4f |
| identifier_str_mv | Dalibalta, S., Ghader, N., Rabah, L., Shaban, S., & Al Mheiri, N. (2023). Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on health and well-being in the United Arab Emirates. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1259974 1664-1078 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1259974 |
| language_invalid_str_mv | en |
| network_acronym_str | aus |
| network_name_str | aus |
| oai_identifier_str | oai:repository.aus.edu:11073/32537 |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publisher.none.fl_str_mv | Frontiers |
| repository.mail.fl_str_mv | |
| repository.name.fl_str_mv | |
| repository_id_str | |
| rights_invalid_str_mv | Attribution 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| spelling | Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on health and well-being in the United Arab EmiratesDalibalta, SarahGhader, NarimanLayal, RabahShaban, SamiAl Mheiri, NoorCOVID-19Social DistancingPhysical HealthWell-BeingUnited Arab EmiratesBackground: Restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic are thought to have impacted both the physical health and well-being of individuals where lockdown was applied. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was one of the leading countries in implementing the international guidelines to limit the intensely contagious nature of the outbreak. Aim: To identify the impact of COVID-19 on changes to exercise and general physical activity habits, changes to the consumption of various foods and potential weight gain, as well as any differences in smoking habits among individuals residing in the UAE during the COVID-19 quarantine. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analytical study that used a quantitative electronic questionnaire sent by the Ministry of Health and Prevention to individuals on its platform in order to collect data on the physical health and well-being of a UAE sample population. A total of 2,362 responses were received to specific questions on physical activity, eating habits, and tobacco use for the period before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdown. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to display the sample’s demographic data and the changes in physical health and well-being. Paired t-test was used to show the changes in dietary habits. Results: This study reveals concerning changes in health risk behaviors during the COVID-19 lockdown in the UAE. Physical activity levels declined across mild, moderate and vigorous ranges in most participants. Alarmingly, sedentary behavior dramatically increased with 71% of participants spending an average of 4–8 h per day sitting and over 54% of participants spending more than 4 h watching TV on an average day during lockdown. Fast-food consumption and snacking rose, hence weight gain was observed in over 53% of participants. Smoking habits, especially among cigarette smokers, may have worsened, with 45.2% reporting an increase in cigarette smoking, 16.8% declaring an increase in shisha smoking and 35.3% reporting an increase in smoking other tobacco products. These unfavorable behaviors during confinement could have serious long-term health consequences. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that long periods of home quarantine may have led to unhealthy consequences that increase the risk of developing disease. This study therefore aims to highlight these health impacts, and recommend strategies and policies that can encourage healthy habits.Emirates Health ServicesFrontiers2025-12-08T10:12:43Z2025-12-08T10:12:43Z2023-11-03Published versionPeer-Reviewedinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfDalibalta, S., Ghader, N., Rabah, L., Shaban, S., & Al Mheiri, N. (2023). Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on health and well-being in the United Arab Emirates. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.12599741664-1078https://hdl.handle.net/11073/3253710.3389/fpsyg.2023.1259974enhttps://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1259974Attribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/oai:repository.aus.edu:11073/325372025-12-08T11:43:49Z |
| spellingShingle | Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on health and well-being in the United Arab Emirates Dalibalta, Sarah COVID-19 Social Distancing Physical Health Well-Being United Arab Emirates |
| status_str | publishedVersion |
| title | Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on health and well-being in the United Arab Emirates |
| title_full | Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on health and well-being in the United Arab Emirates |
| title_fullStr | Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on health and well-being in the United Arab Emirates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on health and well-being in the United Arab Emirates |
| title_short | Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on health and well-being in the United Arab Emirates |
| title_sort | Impact of COVID-19 restrictions on health and well-being in the United Arab Emirates |
| topic | COVID-19 Social Distancing Physical Health Well-Being United Arab Emirates |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/11073/32537 |