Effect Of COVID-19 On Sleeping Patterns and Its Correlation on Body Weight Gain, Screen Time and Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Adolescents in Riyadh
Scientific Reports International – Fourth Issue – October 2, 2022
Abstract
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a rise in unhealthy food consumption occurred because of decreased physical activity and changes in sleeping patterns.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia on Saudi parents of children aged 12-18. An online questionnaire assessed physical activity, body weight changes, screen time, sleep patterns, and mental health effects during the lockdown. Participants’ mental health status, was assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4).
Results: the mean age of participants was 14.98 ± 2.03 years, 27.3%, and 18.2% were overweight and obese during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of them, 53.1% observed weight gain during the lockdown. Only 20.5% were involved in physical activities, 42.3% used smart devices for more than 3 hours daily, 83.8% had increased screen time and 50.6% noticed an increase in sleeping hours. Almost 25% had mild mental health effects, 16.5% had moderate effects and 8.5% had severe mental health effects, 41.8% had anxiety and 21.6% had depression. A non-significant relationship was found between differences in sleeping hours during lockdown and BMI, dietary habits, physical activity, screen time, school performance, psychological states, the prevalence of mental health disorders, anxiety, or depression. Participants with improvement in school performance during lockdown had a significantly higher mean BMI before and during the pandemic, and a higher percentage of those who noticed an increase in the average time screen use during lockdown compared to before.
Conclusions: evaluating the pandemic’s long-term consequences on adolescents’ behaviors and psychological health is needed.
Keywords: COVID-19, sleeping, weight, screen, mental, Riyadh
Prepared by the researcher:
Banan Sabri Al-Hijji , Enas K. Hirsh
Resident, Family Medicine Department, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia
Lecturer, Department of Occupational Therapy, Palestine Polytechnic University, Palestine.
Email: banan.s.h@hotmail.com
Email: Enashirsh@ppu.edu
Corresponding authors information:
Dr. Banan Sabri Al-Hijji
Email: banan.s.h@hotmail.com
Affiliation: 1 Resident, Family Medicine Department, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia