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Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) Lockdown on Mental Health and Well-Being in the United Arab Emirates

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Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) Lockdown on Mental Health and Well-Being in the United Arab Emirates ORIGINAL RESEARCH published: 16 March 2021 doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.633230 Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) Lockdown on Mental Health and Well-Being in the United Arab Emirates Leila Cheikh Ismail 1,2,3, Maysm N. Mohamad 4, Mo’ath F. Bataineh 5, Abir Ajab 1,3, Amina M. Al-Marzouqi 3,6, Amjad H. Jarrar 4, Dima O. Abu Jamous 3, Habiba I. Ali 4, Haleama Al Sabbah 7, Hayder Hasan 1,3, Lily Stojanovska 4,8, Mona Hashim 1,3, Reyad R. Shaker Obaid 1,3, Sheima T. Saleh 1,3, Tareq M. Osaili 1,3,9 and Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri 4* 1 Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, 2 Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, 3 Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, 4 Department of Edited by: Nutrition and Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Daniel Bressington, Emirates, 5 Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, The Hashemite University, Charles Darwin University, Australia Zarqa, Jordan, 6 Department of Health Services Administration, College of Health Sciences, Research Institute for Medical 7 Reviewed by: and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 8 Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, Gianluca Serafini, 9 Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, San Martino Hospital (IRCCS), Italy Irbid, Jordan Andrea Aguglia, University of Genoa, Italy Andrea Amerio, United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken unprecedented precautionary measures including University of Genoa, Italy complete lockdowns against COVID-19 to control its spread and ensure the well-being *Correspondence: Ayesha S. Al Dhaheri of individuals. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 and societal lockdown [email protected] measures on the mental health of adults in the UAE. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an English and Arabic online questionnaire between May and June Specialty section: This article was submitted to 2020. The psychological impact was assessed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised Public Mental Health, (IES-R), and the social and family support impact was evaluated using questions from the a section of the journal Perceived Support Scale (PSS). A total of 4,426 participants (3,325 females and 1,101 Frontiers in Psychiatry males) completed the questionnaire. The mean IES-R score was 28.0 ± 14.6, reflecting Received: 24 November 2020 Accepted: 16 February 2021 a mild stressful impact with 27.3% reporting severe psychological impact. Over 36% Published: 16 March 2021 reported increased stress from work, home and financial matters. Also, 43–63% of the Citation: participants felt horrified, apprehensive or helpless due to COVID-19. Females, younger Cheikh Ismail L, Mohamad MN, Bataineh MF, Ajab A, Al-Marzouqi AM, participants, part-timers, and college or University graduates were more likely to have Jarrar AH, Abu Jamous DO, Ali HI, Al a high IES-R score (p < 0.05). The majority of participants reported receiving increased Sabbah H, Hasan H, Stojanovska L, support from family members, paying more attention to their mental health, and spending Hashim M, Shaker Obaid RR, Saleh ST, Osaili TM and Al Dhaheri AS more time to rest and relax. The results of this study demonstrate the impact of the (2021) Impact of the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among the UAE residents and highlight the need Pandemic (COVID-19) Lockdown on Mental Health and Well-Being in the to adopt culturally appropriate interventions for the general population and vulnerable United Arab Emirates. groups, such as females and younger adults. Front. Psychiatry 12:633230. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.633230 Keywords: psychological impact, mental health, COVID-19, United Arab Emirates, well-being Frontiers in Psychiatry | www.frontiersin.org 1 March 2021 | Volume 12 | Article 633230 Cheikh Ismail et al. Psychological Impact of COVID-19 INTRODUCTION There is limited research examining mental health in the UAE. However, available studies indicated high prevalence of The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has brought about depression and anxiety among primary health care attenders extraordinary challenges in various aspects of life. It is highly (18, 19) and social stigma was the main challenge associated expected that outbreaks lead to increase in unemployment and with seeking and utilizing psychological services in the UAE (20). impaired financial status as well as compromised physical and Considering the prevalence of mental health disorders in the UAE mental health (1, 2). The novel coronavirus emerged initially in and in light of the current pandemic, the Ministry of Health Wuhan, China in late December 2019 and surged exponentially and Prevention in the UAE launched a Hayat (life) program across the world leading to the declaration of a global pandemic from mental health support during the COVID-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020 and a dedicated telephone counseling hotline to help those with (3, 4). More than 105.4 million confirmed cases and over 2.3 psychological concerns or anxiety (10). However, the impact of million deaths were recorded globally as of 7 February 2021 (5). COVID-19 on mental health status of UAE population has not In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the first cases of positive been investigated to-date. coronavirus were diagnosed on January 23, 2020; a Chinese The lockdown and quarantine during COVID-19 have family of four visiting the UAE on holiday (6). To date, there have resulted major social and psycho-logical impact on the whole been over 323 thousand confirmed cases and a total of 914 deaths population (21). The pandemic has caused changes on societal in the UAE (5). level as some families experienced conflicts, and instability due The alarming spread of the disease and its inevitable health to the restriction measures implemented during the outbreak and socioeconomic impact has led to the implementation of (22). However, many have considered this as an opportunity serious measures across the world. This was manifested by to establish better support and bonds between family members borders closure, suspension of flights, complete and partial (23). In countries like the UAE, extended family is considered lockdowns, quarantine, physical distancing, and mandating a pillar of the society and to no doubt have the ability to lessen public respiratory hygiene measures (7). During the UAE the negative impacts of such health crisis. Nonetheless, limited countrywide lockdown, imposed between mid-March and July research is available on how people are affected by the pandemic 31, 2020, people were instructed to stay at home other and the impact it has on their mental health and living conditions than for important individual movement (8). Moreover, the in the UAE. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the government closed non-essential business (e.g., cafes, gyms, COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown measures on mental health theme parks, salons, and spas), initiated telework and distance and well-being among residents of the UAE. The pandemic is learning, improved delivery services like delivering drugs not over yet and restriction measures, teleworking, and home- to chronically ill patients and sanitized cities during the schooling of children still apply in the UAE. Therefore, it was night as part of the national disinfection program (9). By hypothesized that specific factors related to the implementation the end of the lockdown on early July 2020, reopening of restrictive measures may be associated with the inevitable of businesses and economic activities was initiated, but increase in psychological distress among the general population. with strict preventative and restriction measures including overnight curfews, movement restrictions at the local level, physical distancing and wearing of face covering in public MATERIALS AND METHODS spaces (10). Quarantine has been historically implemented to control the Study Design, and Participants spread of infectious diseases outbreaks; however, it represents A cross-sectional web-based research study was conducted from an unfavorable experience for the general population (11). May 11, 2020 to June 15, 2020 in the UAE. A total of 4,426 Literature shows that multiple stressors including movement participants were recruited from all the seven emirates in the restriction, separation from family and friends, uncertain future, UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Um Al Quwain, Ras fear of infection, distress, loneliness, boredom, and financial Al-Khaimah, and Fujairah). The study inclusion criteria were, loss are all factors that may exacerbate negative psychological living in the UAE and age ≥18 years. Participants were invited impact and play a role in aggravating poor mental health electronically to participate in the study using convenience and (12, 13). Several studies have explored mental health problems snowball sampling methods. These methods guarantee large- (emotional disturbance, depression, fear of infection, stress, scale dissemination and recruitment of participants. post-traumatic stress symptoms, and irritability) during
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