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The Effect of Social Isolation Types on Quality of Life during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Author

Listed:
  • Aisha Alhofaian

    (Medical Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 4929, Jeddah 22246, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ruba Alharazi

    (Medical Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 4929, Jeddah 22246, Saudi Arabia)

  • Marym Alaamri

    (Medical Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 4929, Jeddah 22246, Saudi Arabia)

  • Samah Mahmoud Sofar

    (Medical Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21544, Egypt)

  • Afnan Tunsi

    (Medical Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 4929, Jeddah 22246, Saudi Arabia)

  • Mona Mohamed Elhady

    (Emergency and Critical Care Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
    Critical Care Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 4929, Jeddah 22246, Saudi Arabia)

  • Hayfa Almutary

    (Medical Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 4929, Jeddah 22246, Saudi Arabia)

  • Lujain Sallam

    (Medical Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 4929, Jeddah 22246, Saudi Arabia)

  • Shuruq Asiri

    (Critical Care Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 4929, Jeddah 22246, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

COVID-19 has caused a global pandemic that has spread rapidly to six continents, with over 2.5 million deaths from December 2019 to March 2021. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is still growing worldwide, and quarantines have been recommended to prevent the disease’s spread. However, quarantines affect people’s quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study is to assess the effect of social isolation—quarantine—on QOL during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used in the present study. We obtained data from an online survey conducted in Saudi Arabia. We included a convenience sample of 775 participants in the study. Most of the participants were female (67%), with a mean age of 46 years ranging from 18 to 75 years. Many participants were government employees (n = 308, 39.7%) and had a bachelor’s degree or greater (n = 513, 66.2%). Most of the participants (n = 629, 81%) were free from any chronic disease. Nearly 88% of participants were partially isolated socially owing to COVID-19. Concerning QOL, the means of both the Physical Health Composite Scale and the Mental Health Composite Scale SF-12 scores were 44.7 and 34.6, respectively. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that partially socially isolated participants appeared to have significantly better physical health statuses (M = 44.96, SD = 5.90) than completely socially isolated participants (M = 42.87 ± 7.26). There was no significant social isolation effect on mental health status (t (773) = 2.5, p = 0.115). Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic considerably influenced various aspects of QOL including physical and mental health. Community-based interventions such as online counseling services and wellness programs are required to reduce the pandemic’s negative impact and enhance overall health status and QOL.

Suggested Citation

  • Aisha Alhofaian & Ruba Alharazi & Marym Alaamri & Samah Mahmoud Sofar & Afnan Tunsi & Mona Mohamed Elhady & Hayfa Almutary & Lujain Sallam & Shuruq Asiri, 2022. "The Effect of Social Isolation Types on Quality of Life during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-11, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:11:p:6808-:d:830447
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fahad D. Algahtani & Sehar-un-Nisa Hassan & Bandar Alsaif & Rafat Zrieq, 2021. "Assessment of the Quality of Life during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-12, January.
    2. Debanjan Banerjee & Mayank Rai, 2020. "Social isolation in Covid-19: The impact of loneliness," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(6), pages 525-527, September.
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