IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i4p1964-d501169.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Indirect Health Effects of COVID-19: Unhealthy Lifestyle Behaviors during the Lockdown in the United Arab Emirates

Author

Listed:
  • Hadia Radwan

    (Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Research Institute of Medical & Health Sciences (RIMHS), College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

  • Mahra Al Kitbi

    (Health Promotion Department, Supreme Council for Family Affairs, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

  • Hayder Hasan

    (Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Research Institute of Medical & Health Sciences (RIMHS), College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

  • Marwa Al Hilali

    (Clinical Nutrition Department, Al Qassimi Hospital-Ministry of Health and Prevention, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

  • Nada Abbas

    (Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107, Lebanon)

  • Rena Hamadeh

    (Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107, Lebanon)

  • Eman Rashid Saif

    (Health Promotion Department, Supreme Council for Family Affairs, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates)

  • Farah Naja

    (Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Research Institute of Medical & Health Sciences (RIMHS), College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
    Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107, Lebanon)

Abstract

Background : Lockdown measures were implemented in many countries to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, such restrictions could precipitate unintended negative consequences on lifestyle behaviors. The main objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and determinants of unhealthy behavior changes during the COVID-19 lockdown among residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods : A cross-sectional web-based survey of adults residing in the UAE was carried out during lockdown (n = 2060). Using a multi-component questionnaire, the collected data included questions regarding the following lifestyle changes: Increased dietary intake, increased weight, decreased physical activity, decreased sleep, and increased smoking. An unhealthy lifestyle change score was calculated based on the number of unhealthy lifestyle changes each participant reported. In addition, sociodemographic and living conditions information was collected. Descriptive statistics as well as simple and multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the prevalence and determinants of the unhealthy lifestyle changes considered in this study. Results : Among the unhealthy lifestyle changes examined, increased food intake was the most common (31.8%), followed by decreased physical activity (30%), increased weight (29.4%), decreased sleep (20.8%), and increased smoking (21%). In addition to identifying the correlates of each of the aforementioned lifestyle changes, the results of the multiple regression linear analyses revealed the following correlates for the overall unhealthy lifestyle change score: females (β = 0.32, CI: 0.22; 0.42), living in an apartment (β = 0.12, CI: 0.003; 0.23) and being overweight/obese (β = 0.24, CI: 0.15; 0.32) had higher scores, while older adults (>40 years) had lower scores (β = −0.23, CI: −0.34; −0.12). Conclusions : The COVID-19 lockdown has resulted in a high prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and practices among UAE residents. The findings of this study provided the evidence base for officials to design interventions targeting high-risk groups and aiming to improve healthy lifestyle factors among residents during the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Hadia Radwan & Mahra Al Kitbi & Hayder Hasan & Marwa Al Hilali & Nada Abbas & Rena Hamadeh & Eman Rashid Saif & Farah Naja, 2021. "Indirect Health Effects of COVID-19: Unhealthy Lifestyle Behaviors during the Lockdown in the United Arab Emirates," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-22, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1964-:d:501169
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/1964/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/4/1964/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Frazao, Elizabeth & Stewart, Hayden & Hyman, Jeffrey & Carlson, Andrea, 2012. "Gobbling Up Snacks: Cause or Potential Cure for Childhood Obesity?," Amber Waves:The Economics of Food, Farming, Natural Resources, and Rural America, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, issue 04, pages 1-6.
    2. Candace Tannis & Araliya Senerat & Malika Garg & Dominique Peters & Sritha Rajupet & Elizabeth Garland, 2019. "Improving Physical Activity among Residents of Affordable Housing: Is Active Design Enough?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, January.
    3. Guo, Y. & Kopec, J.A. & Cibere, J. & Li, L.C. & Goldsmith, C.H., 2016. "Population survey features and response rates: A randomized experiment," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(8), pages 1422-1426.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Fadi G. Mirza & Muna A. Tahlak & Komal Hazari & Amar Hassan Khamis & William Atiomo, 2023. "Prevalence of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome amongst Females Aged between 15 and 45 Years at a Major Women’s Hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(9), pages 1-10, May.
    2. Yasir Abbasi & Marie-Claire Van Hout & Mohamed Faragalla & Lynn Itani, 2022. "Knowledge and Use of Electronic Cigarettes in Young Adults in the United Arab Emirates, Particularly during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-12, June.
    3. Chiara Ceolin & Federica Limongi & Paola Siviero & Caterina Trevisan & Marianna Noale & Filippo Catalani & Silvia Conti & Elisa Di Rosa & Elena Perdixi & Francesca Remelli & Federica Prinelli & Stefan, 2024. "Changes in Sleep Duration and Sleep Timing in the General Population from before to during the First COVID-19 Lockdown: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(5), pages 1-45, May.
    4. Célia Landmann Szwarcwald & Deborah Carvalho Malta & Marilisa Berti de Azevedo Barros & Paulo Roberto Borges de Souza Júnior & Dália Romero & Wanessa da Silva de Almeida & Giseli Nogueira Damacena & A, 2021. "Associations of Sociodemographic Factors and Health Behaviors with the Emotional Well-Being of Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-13, June.
    5. Alice Freiberg & Melanie Schubert & Karla Romero Starke & Janice Hegewald & Andreas Seidler, 2021. "A Rapid Review on the Influence of COVID-19 Lockdown and Quarantine Measures on Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors in the General Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-46, August.
    6. Haleama Al Sabbah & Zainab Taha & Radwan Qasrawi & Enas A. Assaf & Leila Cheikh Ismail & Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri & Maha Hoteit & Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh & Reema Tayyem & Hiba Bawadi & Majid AlKhalaf & Khlood B, 2022. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Physical (In)Activity Behavior in 10 Arab Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-15, August.
    7. Alena Zolotareva & Sergei Shchebetenko & Svetlana Belousova & Irina Danilova & Vadim Tseilikman & Maxim Lapshin & Lilia Sarapultseva & Svetlana Makhniova & Maria Sarapultseva & Maria Komelkova & Deshe, 2022. "Big Five Traits as Predictors of a Healthy Lifestyle during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Russian Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-8, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Barbara Ryan & Rachel King, 2020. "How ready is ready? Measuring physical preparedness for severe storms," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 104(1), pages 171-199, October.
    2. Jan Hyld Pejtersen, 2020. "The effect of monetary incentive on survey response for vulnerable children and youths: A randomized controlled trial," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(5), pages 1-12, May.
    3. Carlson, Andrea & Dong, Diansheng & Lino, Mark, 2014. "Association between Total Diet Cost and Diet Quality Is Limited," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 39(1), pages 1-22, April.
    4. Packiaraj Thangavel & Pramod Pathak & Bibhas Chandra, 2022. "Consumer Decision-making Style of Gen Z: A Generational Cohort Analysis," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 23(3), pages 710-728, June.
    5. Brian Pickering & Timea Biro & Claire Austin & Alexander Bernier & Louise Bezuidenhout & Carlos Casorrán & Francis Crawley & Romain David & Claudia Engelhardt & Geta Mitrea & Ingvill Constanze Mochman, 2021. "Radical collaboration during a global health emergency: development of the RDA COVID-19 data sharing recommendations and guidelines," Post-Print hal-03663823, HAL.
    6. Sherly Parackal & Mathew Parackal & John Harraway, 2019. "Associated Factors of Drinking Prior to Recognising Pregnancy and Risky Drinking among New Zealand Women Aged 18 to 35 Years," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-16, May.
    7. Knut Stavem & Waleed Ghanima & Magnus K. Olsen & Hanne M. Gilboe & Gunnar Einvik, 2021. "Prevalence and Determinants of Fatigue after COVID-19 in Non-Hospitalized Subjects: A Population-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-11, February.
    8. Kai Ludwigs & Richard Lucas & Ruut Veenhoven & David Richter & Lidia Arends, 2020. "Can Happiness Apps Generate Nationally Representative Datasets? - a Case Study Collecting Data on People’s Happiness Using the German Socio-Economic Panel," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(4), pages 1135-1149, September.
    9. Matthias Zedi & Bengt Kayser, 2020. "Lack of Pregraduate Teaching on the Associations between the Built Environment, Physical Activity and Health in Swiss Architecture and Urban Design Degree Programs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-10, December.
    10. Glen J. Nowak & Michael A. Cacciatore & María E. Len-Ríos, 2018. "Understanding and Increasing Influenza Vaccination Acceptance: Insights from a 2016 National Survey of U.S. Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-19, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1964-:d:501169. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.