Saudi Females Research Articles

The Use of Hedging Devices by Female Saudi EFL Learners

The Use of Hedging Devices by Female Saudi EFL Learners

Female Saudi ESL Learners’ Attitudes Toward Communication In Mixed Gender Classes In The USA

Female Saudi ESL Learners’ Attitudes Toward Communication In Mixed Gender Classes In The USA

Sleep patterns and predictors of poor sleep quality among Saudi commission residents in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia before and during covid-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACTBackground:Sleep is an essential part of human physiology. Being a basic need for human well-being, adequate sleep is associated with good health and life quality for all individuals. Disorders of sleep may result in significant derangement in human functionality. Sleepiness among physicians affects not only their personal lives but also negatively impacts the lives of their patients.Method:This is an analytic cross-sectional study design conducted among 268 male and female Saudi commission residents working in public healthcare facilities in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. The study aimed to assess sleep patterns and determine predictors of poor sleep quality among Saudi commission residents of the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia.Result:The study reported that before COVID 19 pandemic, 85.1% of Saudi commission residents had poor sleep quality; however, during the pandemic, the percentage increased to 92.5% who showed poor sleep quality. Also, we found there was a significant association between different self-reported morbidities among Saudi commission residents and sleep disturbance (p < 0.05).Conclusion:The study revealed that the percentage of the Saudi commission residents had poor sleep quality during pandemic higher than before with significant difference, which indicates the relation between COVID 19 pandemic and sleeps quality among Saudi commission residents.

Language Awareness and English Spelling Difficulties of Saudi EFL Students

Spelling errors constitute the biggest challenge for Arab students during the process of their acquisition of the four English language skills, especially during their learning of the writing skill. The aim of the study was to assess language awareness and English spelling difficulties faced by Saudi EFL students. Major emphasis was given to the mistakes commonly committed by English learners. It also aimed to explore the opinions of students on English as a foreign language, establishing the different causes of spelling errors, and assessing the interference that exists between English and Arabic Saudi EFL students. The study used a quantitative research approach based on the descriptive research design. An online questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 150 male and female Saudi university students who were in the first year of their English language program at King Saud University. The study revealed that a variety of factors contribute to students’ spelling mistakes, cutting across the educational system and university curriculum, students’ learning attitudes, and English-Arabic linguistic interference. The study participants imparted their observations and experiences, and their responses assisted the researcher in categorizing their errors and in discovering reasons and solutions for their mistakes and errors. This helped a great deal in learning the plausible reasons for the spelling errors and in suggesting successful corrective strategies. The outcomes of this study are supposed to aid policymakers in taking the required steps to improve the learning experiences of Arab English learners and help teachers to aid and empower the language earners in avoiding common errors in spelling. This study advocates for a change in the way English is taught in Saudi schools, emphasizing the importance of spelling as a basis for English fluency. The study also proposes a few pedagogical strategies for the rectification of the spelling errors.

تقدير طول الجسم للفرد باستخدام قياسات القدم ومخططات وبصمات الأقدام في البالغين السعوديين

Identification of an individual is considered one of the fundamental challenges for forensic scientists, especially from dismembered and mutilated body parts. To limit the pool of conceivable suspects in the forensic investigation process, footprints and foot outlines found at the crime scene are used to ease estimation of stature. The current study aimed to estimate individual stature using foot, foot outline and footprint measurements in a Saudi Arabian population. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on two hundred healthy medical students from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Stature measurements and eight foot, foot outline and footprint measurements were taken from both sides. Saudi adult males were significantly taller than Saudi females. All measurement values were significantly higher in adult males than in adult females. Most measurements were considered to be positively correlated with stature in both sexes. Regression equations and multiple regression equations for stature determination from all measurements in both male and females on both sides were created. This study has demonstrated the reliability and utility of foot, foot outline and footprint measurements in stature estimation in a Saudi Arabian population that comparable standards developed from foot bones.

Correlation Studies between Leptin, Glucose and Insulin in Pre and Postmenopausal Saudi

Leptin act as a regulator of cellular energy metabolism but its role in lipid metabolism in humans is still unclear. Relation between leptin and plasma lipids in Saudi females was evaluated in this study. 126 females with age ranging from 18 to 75 years were recruited and grouped into premenopausal and postmenopausal females and then in lean, normal weight, overweight, and obese on the basis of their BMI values. The serum samples were assessed for Leptin, Cholesterol, triglycerides, High-density lipoproteins (HDL-C), Low-density lipoproteins (LDL-C), insulin and glucose. Significant increase in glucose, triglycerides and leptin was associated with increase weight. Insulin level was found to be significantly highest in overweight group. Cholesterol, LDL-C was found to increase with increase weight while HDL-C was decreased with increased weight. Leptin, triglycerides and glucose were significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) in the postmenopausal females as compared to the premenopausal group. Remarkable increase of cholesterol and glucose was found in postmenopausal female while HDL-C, LDL-C and insulin were slightly decreased in postmenopausal females. High serum leptin levels can act as the risk factor for diabetes in obese and postmenopausal female. Regular monitoring of total leptin at pre-menopause stage could help in managing some life-threatening condition related to obesity in old age.

The Effects of Learning Stations on Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Students’ Achievement and Self-Regulated Learning

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of learning station strategies on developing academic achievement and self-regulated learning among middle school students of low socioeconomic status. The sample group consisted of 68 female Saudi students. We applied a quasi-experimental design with an experimental and control group and a pretest and posttest. We examined the correlation between academic achievement and self-regulated learning. The data collection instruments included an academic achievement test and self-regulated learning questionnaire. The results revealed a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of both instruments in favor of the experimental group. Additionally, there was a positive relationship between development of academic achievement and self-regulated learning among the students for the experimental group. The study’s findings suggest that the learning stations created a dynamic classroom, which prompted students to engage in self-regulatory behaviors and develop their knowledge and understanding.

Association of diet quality with serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level and the adherence to the Saudi dietary guidelines among female college students

ObjectiveAssess adherence to the Saudi Dietary Guidelines and identify the diet quality using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015), and measure levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), an indicator of the risk of chronic diseases, among female Saudi college students. MethodsA cross-sectional study of 401 randomly selected female students aged 19–35 years at [removed for blind peer review]. Data from an interview-based Saudi Food Frequency Questionnaire, health history, anthropometric measurements, and hs-CRP were collected. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to examine the associations between HEI-2015 score and hs-CRP. ResultsThere was an overall low adherence (43%) to the Saudi Dietary Guidelines, higher intake of cereal, bread, meat and sodium, and lower intake of dairy products compared to recommended levels. The mean HEI-2015 score was (62.7 ± 10.2), indicating poor diet quality, and the mean hs-CRP level was high (2.62 ± 3.31 mg/l). The HEI-2015 score was inversely correlated with the hs-CRP level (r = −0.43) and body mass index (BMI, r = −0.23). A higher HEI-2015 score per 1 SD (10 points) was associated with −0.2 (95% CI: −0.4, −0.1 mg/l) lower hs-CRP, independent of lifestyle factors and BMI. ConclusionPoor quality diet was associated with higher hs-CRP levels, an indicator of adverse health conditions. Further research and intervention studies to develop potential strategies to enhance positive dietary behavior changes are needed.

Knowledge and Attitude towards Vitamin D among Saudi Female university students at Princess Nourah University

Aims: The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude towards vitamin D and sunlight exposure among female university students.&#x0D; Study Design: Cross Sectional study design.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted among 500 female Saudi students in Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University (PNU).&#x0D; Methodology: A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge about vitamin D sources, health benefits and effects of vitamin D deficiency and assessing the attitude towards vitamin D and sunlight exposure.&#x0D; Results: The present study recognized that health college students (52.7%) had better knowledge than non-health college students (47.3%). Although PNU students had good knowledge about vitamin D, only 6.0% of them knew the current recommended daily dose. Female students showed good behavior and attitude in terms of high frequency of sunlight exposure daily (34.8%). Educational institutions were the main sources of information about vitamin D (43%). Hot weather (54.8%) and fear of pigmentation (51.2) were the main reasons for limited sunlight exposure among students.&#x0D; Conclusion: There was a good level of knowledge (52.2%) about vitamin D sources, benefits and effects of vitamin D deficiency among female students. In fact, health college students had better knowledge about vitamin D than non-health college students. Hot weather (54.8%) and fear of pigmentation (51.2%) were the main barriers to sunlight exposure.

Prevalence of Over-the-Counter Cosmeceutical Usage and the Impact of a Health Education Intervention in Female Saudi University Students.

Background‎The reckless use of over-‎the-‎counter (OTC) cosmeceuticals among females is alarming due to possible health hazards, ranging from allergy to fatal anaphylaxis and toxicity.Methods‎In the current study, we investigated the prevalence of cosmeceutical use among female students at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) and tested the effect of a pilot health education program in improving their knowledge. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was performed with 515 participants.Results‎A significantly higher percent (81%) of participants used OTC cosmeceuticals than did not use them. The selection of OTC ‎‎cosmeceuticals was not affected by socioeconomic ‎status, chronic illness, cosmeceutical cost, or possible cosmeceutical side effects. Students from non-health colleges demonstrated poorer knowledge scores for the hazards of cosmeceuticals, which directed our attention to the importance of health education in this field. Therefore, a pilot interventional health education program was conducted with 54 participants to compare their ‎‎knowledge before and after the‎ intervention. At the end of the program, a higher‎ percentage of participants had improved their knowledge and realized the need to ‎consult a physician before using ‎OTC ‎‎cosmeceuticals.ConclusionThe health education program had a significant impact on knowledge ‎concerning the use of cosmeceuticals, and it is recommended that such programs be included in ‎undergraduate extracurricular activity, especially for female students.‎.

The Association between Obesity and Chronic Conditions: Results from a Large Electronic Health Records System in Saudi Arabia.

This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of obesity and its association with diabetes and hypertension among beneficiaries in the National Guard Health Affairs system of Saudi Arabia. We included individuals aged 17 years and older, and patients were classified as diabetic or hypertensive if they had any visit during the 4 years where the primary diagnosis was one of those conditions or they were taking diabetes or hypertension medications. The association between obesity (body mass index ≥30) and diabetes and hypertension were evaluated using a multiple logistic regression model, adjusting for age, gender, nationality, and region. A total of 616,092 individuals were included. The majority were Saudi nationals (93.1%). Approximately 68% of the population were either obese (38.9%) or overweight (29.30%). Obesity was more prevalent among Saudi nationals (39.8% vs. 26.7%, p < 0.01) and females (45.3% vs. 31.2%, p < 0.01). Obesity was independently associated with diabetes mellitus (OR = 2.24, p < 0.01) and hypertension (OR = 2.15, p < 0.01). The prevalence of obesity in the study population was alarming and more pronounced among women. Our findings call for efforts to intensify preventive measures to reduce obesity and associated conditions. Using electronic records to examine the impact of interventions to reduce obesity and chronic conditions may help monitor and improve population health.

The Association Between Psychological Disorders and Physical Activity Among Saudi Women at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University

IntroductionPsychological disorders are one of the leading causes of disability globally. Evidence suggests the positive role of physical activity on physical and mental health in various countries. However, a limited number of studies have been done in Saudi Arabia to investigate the association between physical activity and psychological health, especially among women.ObjectivesThe objective of the study was to identify the prevalence of depression, stress, anxiety, and physical activity as well as examine the association between depression, anxiety, stress, and social support in relation to physical activity among Saudi women at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University (PNU).MethodsA total of 712 Saudi students and staff from PNU, with a mean (SD) age of 20.59(5.30), voluntarily completed an electronic-based questionnaire, which included three validated scales in the Arabic language: The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21), Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), and Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) social support.ResultsThe results of this cross-sectional study showed that the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress were 24%, 31%, and 22.1%, respectively. Levels of physical activity were not associated with psychological disorders while sedentary time was strongly correlated with depression, anxiety, and stress (p<0.001). Emotional support, affectionate support, and positive social interaction were negatively correlated with depression (p<0.05).ConclusionThe findings indicate that stress, depression, and anxiety were relatively common among Saudi females, especially among young ages, and that social support was a significant protective factor of depression. Community-based psychological health prevention programs and social support groups are needed to address these issues. The second major finding was that 51% of the participants were insufficiently active and 61% were having a sedentary lifestyle. Depression, anxiety, and stress scores are strongly correlated with sedentary time, which highlights the need for establishing a national policy that encourages active living and discourages sedentary behavior.

Second Language Listening Comprehension Gain From Aural vs. Audio-Visual Inputs: The Case of EFL Arab Learners

This study aims at finding out which medium is best for the acquisition of L2 listening skills, aural or audio-visual listening comprehension. Sixty EFL Arab learners were asked to sit for pre- and post-tests. The post-test proved a significant improvement in the performance of the students of the experimental group who were exposed to audio-visual medium. This outperformance of the experimental group appeared in their ability to distinguish the meanings of several words in the pre- and post-tests. They were able to identify most of the L2 vocabulary, grammar and syntax because of using the audio-visual materials. The experimental group managed to understand the linguistic information and they were also able to answer the questions in both given tests correctly. On the contrary, the performance of the control group was clearly poor in terms of the L2 vocabulary, grammar and syntax and the reason is referring to the use of the traditional material which is the aural one. The subjects of the experimental group were interested in learning listening by using audio-visual materials because it helps them to develop the listening skills faster, unlike the subjects of the control group. Therefore, the results show that multimedia is effective in enhancing the skills of listening comprehension of female Saudi EFL learners.

Factors Associated with Not Continuing Initiated Breastfeeding among Saudi Females in Abha

Background: Despite the health, social and economic benefits of breastfeeding (BF) for both mother and child are well established and accepted throughout the world, the prevalence of breast feeding worldwide has not met the optimal target of WHO recommendation. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of breastfeeding and determinants of not continuing initiated breast feeding among Saudi females. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the primary healthcare centers` clinics and outpatient pediatric clinics of Abha maternity and children hospital, Saudi Arabia. It included a random sample of Saudi mothers with children aged up to two years of life. A validated questionnaire was utilized for data collection. It included three main parts: socio demographic data, the medical and health condition for the mother and current child and the attitudes of mother toward BF, BF pattern for the last child, and reasons for discontinuity of BF. Results: The study included 276 mothers. The majority of them (88.1%) were aged between 20 and 39 years and were Saudi nationals (90.2%). History of receiving any health education about breast feeding was observed among the majority of the participants (91.7%). The most frequently reported source of health education was self-education through reading (39.1%), followed by doctors (30.4%), nurses (29.6%) and relatives/friends (27.7%). Overall, slightly more than half of them (51.1%) expressed a positive attitude towards breast feeding; particularly non-Saudi mothers (adjusted odds ratio “aOR”:0.44, and those whose main source of information was nurses or self-education (aOR: 0.27 and 0.12, respectively). The majority of the participating women (86.2%) initiated breastfeeding for their newborns. Among them, 80.7% discontinued BF; particularly Saudi mothers (aOR: 0.08), mothers with higher education (aOR: 5.05-10.21), governmental employees (aOR: 3.51), those living in a separate house (aOR: 2.21), delivered by cesarean section (aOR: 11.14), reported NICU admission of their newborns (aOR: 9.13) and those who expressed a negative attitude towards BF (aOR: 0.25). The commonest reported causes of discontinuation of BF among the participants were thinking that breast milk is not enough (39.9%), going back to work (38.5%) and thinking that baby will be demanding on breastfeeding (13.3%). Conclusion: Initiation of breastfeeding was very highly practiced by mothers in Abha city, Saudi Arabia. However, its discontinuation before the recommended time is also a highly reported practice. Key words: Breastfeeding, initiation, discontinuation, Saudi Arabia.

Benefits or Risks: What Influences Novice Drivers Regarding Adopting Smart Cars?

Level 4 autonomous vehicles (AVs) are smart vehicles that can move between two different points without any human interference. In 2018, the Saudi Arabian ban on female drivers was finally lifted, resulting in a large number of novice women drivers of different ages. The Kingdom might therefore be considered a risky place to drive, but AVs would help novices to reduce their fear of driving and reduce accidents. Previous studies focused narrowly on those who already had sufficient driving experience and held a valid driving license, but there were no studies on the adoption of smart cars by novice drivers. Based on a literature search, no studies had used a net valence model (NVM) for the adoption of AVs to understand their benefits/risks. Therefore, this study proposed an adoption model for AVs using an NVM to identify the benefit and risk factors that have an impact on beginner drivers’ adoption of autonomous vehicles. A survey method was applied using the purposive sampling technique. Data were collected from 1400 female Saudi novice drivers who had experience with driving AVs. Data analysis was performed using Smart PLS Version 3. The results showed that individuals tended to ignore potential risks and focus instead on the potential benefits of using AVs. Performance expectancy, enjoyment, and effort expectancy were found to be positively related to the perceived advantages. On the other hand, the perceived risk as a construct did not have an impact on beginner drivers’ adoption of autonomous vehicles. Therefore, the major theoretical contribution of this study was the formation of a new NVM model by incorporating three more constructs, which were social influence, personal innovativeness, and alternatives. Finally, the enhanced NVM model could assist AV developers in identifying the expected benefits and drawbacks of AV adoption.

Attitudes of Saudi EFL Female Students Towards Current Teacher Feedback Practices

This study aimed to investigate the attitudes of female Saudi English as a foreign language (EFL) learners towards the current practices and the challenges of teacher feedback. Utilizing a quantitative approach, 87 female Saudi EFL students completed a questionnaire about their experience with teacher feedback and the problems they encountered with this during the semester. The study aimed to explore two main aspects, including the students&amp;rsquo; attitudes towards the current practices of teacher feedback and the challenges encountered, and the students&amp;rsquo; suggestions for improving teacher feedback practices. The study outcomes revealed that the students receive direct and positive feedback. Additionally, the students perceived the teachers&amp;rsquo; feedback to be useful and of good quality. The findings also indicated that students expect and prefer detailed feedback on their written tasks. However, the participants reported some concerns regarding the punctuality of teacher feedback and provided suggestions to improve such practices. The study also presents the limitations and recommendations for future research.

Oral Versus Written Feedback: Attitudes of Female Saudi University Students

Oral and written feedback have been found to be useful in learning English as a Second Language (L2). Yet it is not clear what form of feedback L2 learners prefer. This study therefore investigated 47 Saudi female university students&amp;rsquo; attitudes to both oral and written feedback. The data was collected by an online questionnaire consisting of three constructs: a) attitudes to written feedback; b) attitudes to oral feedback; and c) attitudes to written versus oral feedback. In terms of the first, the results showed that most participants expressed positive attitudes to written feedback, which they would be happy to receive on all the mistakes they make in their writing. Most participants were also positive about oral feedback and wanted their teacher to correct all their speaking errors, including errors of grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary. However, participants did not want to be corrected in front of other students as this could make them nervous. Overall, most participants agreed that oral feedback helped them improve their English skills more than written feedback. But despite such a positive attitude, most participants still found oral feedback embarrassing. Knowing students&amp;rsquo; perceptions of corrective feedback (CF) is vital, because negative attitudes to feedback could harm the language learning process.

Association SOD2 and PON1 Gene Polymorphisms with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Saudi Women

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a considered one of the most common female disorders associated with reproductive, metabolic, and psychological problems. The etiology of PCOS is still not yet disclosed; however, evidence for a genetic basis has been reported. In this study, we investigate the associations between superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) (rs4880) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) (rs705379) polymorphisms in PCOS in Saudi women. The study included 99 females with PCOS and 98 healthy women as a control. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of promoter regions were determined using TaqMan genotyping assays. Regarding the polymorphism at SOD2 (rs4880), the CC, CT, and TT genotypes were present at rates of 32, 61, and 7% in PCOS patients, and 47, 43, and 10% in controls, respectively. The frequency of the CT genotype in PCOS patients (0.61) was significantly higher than in controls (0.43) (OR = 2.05, CI: 1.16–3.61; p = 0.015). The wild homozygous genotype (CC) with the phenotype alanine appears to confer protection against the disease compared to molecules sharing at least one valine (genotypes, CT + TT). Regarding the polymorphism at PON1 (rs705379), the rates of CC, CT, and TT genotypes were 34, 50, and 16% in PCOS patients and 33, 63, and 2% in controls, respectively. The rate of the TT genotype in PCOS patients was significantly higher than that in controls (p = 0.0058). SOD2 and PON1 polymorphisms may be genetic factors that affect the occurrence of PCOS in Saudi females.

Association of menstrual and reproductive factors with thyroid cancer in Saudi female patients

Introduction: Thyroid cancer ranks the second highest cause of cancer among women in Saudi Arabia. Several risk factors have been reported as determinants of the onset of thyroid cancer. However, an association of menstrual and reproductive factors with thyroid cancer has not been completely explored in Saudi female patients with thyroid carcinoma. Objective: This study was designed to investigate an association of menstrual and reproductive factors with thyroid cancer in Saudi female patients. Methods: This is a case control study performed in Qassim University affiliated hospitals. The 90 Saudi females with thyroid cancer and 178 normal human controls of the same age groups were included. All participants were requested to complete a questionnaire based on their menstrual and reproductive history. Results: The analysis showed no statistically significant association between variables of mean age of menarche, current status of menopause, pattern of menstrual cycles, mean duration of menstrual cycle, mean age at first pregnancy, mean number of pregnancies, mean number of deliveries, mean number of live births, family planning methods used (intrauterine devices, used injectable and used oral contraceptives) and thyroid cancer. Conclusions: This is the first comprehensive study, to the best for our knowledge, from Qassim region of Saudi Arabia that demonstrates that menstrual and reproductive factors, have no significant association with the onset of thyroid cancer in Saudi females.

‘To get or not to get vaccinated against COVID-19’: Saudi women, vaccine hesitancy, and framing effects

The use of language and images in the media may have a strong effect on people’s political cognition. In this regard, conspiracy theories and misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine can lead to reluctant uptake of the vaccine even among medical staff. In two experiments, this article tests the hypothesis that the public’s willingness to get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus depends on the framings they are presented with. Two hundred thirty-two female Saudi students are exposed to either pro- or anti-vaccination messages. In Experiment 1, they are asked to read semi-artificial news stories, and in Experiment 2 political cartoons. The results show that readers of the news articles, but not of the cartoons, are susceptible to framing effects. We consider the implications of how issues are framed for journalists and health professionals.