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. 2021 Feb 9;18(4):1653.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18041653.

Dietary Intake and Mental Health among Saudi Adults during COVID-19 Lockdown

Hanan Alfawaz  1   2 , Sobhy M Yakout  2 , Kaiser Wani  2 , Ghadah A Aljumah  3 , Mohammed G A Ansari  2 , Malak N K Khattak  2 , Syed D Hussain  2 , Nasser M Al-Daghri  2
Affiliations

Dietary Intake and Mental Health among Saudi Adults during COVID-19 Lockdown

Hanan Alfawaz et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The study aimed to explore the influence of the COVID-19 lockdown on the mental status and dietary intake of residents in Saudi Arabia. In this cross-sectional study, an online survey was conducted from 11 May to 6 June 2020 corresponding to almost two weeks during and after Ramadan (23 April-23 May 2020). The Patient Health Questionnaire was used to assess anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and insomnia among the participants was 25.4%, 27.7%, and 19.6%, respectively. Participants aged ≥50 years with high income (≥8000 SAR) were at a lower risk of developing depression, whereas participants of the same age group with income 5000-7000 SAR were at high risk of developing anxiety. Students and master-educated participants suffer from median elevated depression and are required to take more multivitamins and vitamin D than others. Anxiety and depression were more common among married participants with low income. There is a wide range of Saudi residents who are at a higher risk of mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Policymakers and mental healthcare providers are advised to provide continuous monitoring of the psychological consequences during this pandemic and provide mental support.

Keywords: COVID-19; Saudi Arabia; anxiety; depression; pandemic.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of different mental health disorders according to income and marital status.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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