Yousef M. Aljawarneh

Physical activity is an important determinant of sleep health; however, its relationship with sleep quality may differ depending on the domain in which it occurs. This study examined the differential associations of occupational physical activity (OPA) and total physical activity (TPA) with sleep quality among adults in the United Arab Emirates. Data were collected from 1310 adults (February–April 2024) using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire, and the Sleep Quality Scale, in an analytical cross-sectional design. Higher TPA was associated with better sleep quality at the bivariate level (r = −0.104, p < 0.001) but not independently after adjustment (β = −0.042, p = 0.246); this null adjusted finding was sensitive to how skewness in the activity data was handled. Occupational sitting was associated with poorer sleep quality only at the bivariate level, whereas occupational heavy labor remained independently associated with better sleep quality after adjustment (β = −0.080, p = 0.022). Standing, walking, and the TPA × sitting interaction were not significant. These findings indicate that the physical activity–sleep quality association depends on domain and support promoting overall activity alongside attention to occupational demands; however, given the small effect sizes, cross-sectional design, and unmeasured confounders, these implications should be regarded as preliminary rather than a basis for policy recommendations.

Excessive social media engagement has been linked to cognitive strain and sleep disruption among university students. This cross-sectional study examined associations between social media use, mental fatigue, and sleep quality among 762 undergraduate students in the United Arab Emirates (76.5% female; mean age = 22.07 years). Participants completed validated measures of social media use, mental fatigue, and sleep quality. Most participants reported moderate to high mental fatigue (82.5%), while 62.7% reported poor sleep quality. Higher social media use was associated with greater mental fatigue, and greater mental fatigue was associated with poorer sleep quality. Social media use was not directly associated with sleep quality after accounting for mental fatigue, although an indirect association was observed. Female students reported poorer sleep quality and higher mental fatigue, while older students reported greater fatigue and higher social media use. Findings are discussed in relation to stress processes, self-regulation, and sleep health.

Background: Irisin, an exercise-induced myokine, has emerged as a potent neuroprotective factor, though a systematic synthesis of its role across neurological disorders is lacking. This review systematically evaluates clinical and preclinical evidence on irisin’s association with neurological diseases and its underlying mechanisms. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library was conducted. The review protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO. Twenty-one studies were included, comprising predominantly preclinical evidence (n = 14), alongside clinical observational studies (n = 6), and a single randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating irisin in cerebrovascular diseases, Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and other neurological conditions. Eligible studies were original English-language research on irisin or FNDC5 and their neuroprotective effects, excluding reviews and studies without direct neuronal outcomes. Risk of bias was independently assessed using SYRCLE, the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale, and RoB 2, where disagreements between reviewers were resolved through discussion and consensus. Results were synthesized narratively, integrating mechanistic, pre-clinical, and clinical evidence to highlight consistent neuroprotective patterns of irisin across disease categories. Results: Clinical studies consistently demonstrated that reduced circulating irisin levels predict poorer outcomes. Lower serum irisin was associated with worse functional recovery and post-stroke depression after ischemic stroke, while decreased plasma irisin in PD correlated with greater motor severity, higher α-synuclein, and reduced dopamine uptake. In AD, cerebrospinal fluid irisin levels were significantly correlated with global cognitive efficiency and specific domain performance, and correlation analyses within studies suggested a closer association with amyloid-β pathology than with markers of general neurodegeneration. However, diagnostic accuracy metrics (e.g., AUC, sensitivity, specificity) for irisin as a standalone biomarker are not yet established. Preclinical findings revealed that irisin exerts neuroprotection through multiple mechanisms: modulating microglial polarization from pro-inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype, suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation, enhancing autophagy, activating integrin αVβ5/AMPK/SIRT1 signaling, improving mitochondrial function, and reducing neuronal apoptosis. Irisin administration improved outcomes across models of stroke, PD, AD, postoperative cognitive dysfunction, and epilepsy. Conclusions: Irisin represents a critical mediator linking exercise to brain health, with consistent neuroprotective effects across diverse neurological conditions. Its dual ability to combat neuroinflammation and directly protect neurons, demonstrated in preclinical models, positions it as a promising therapeutic candidate for future investigation. Future research must prioritize the resolution of fundamental methodological challenges in irisin measurement, alongside investigating pharmacokinetics and sex-specific effects, to advance irisin toward rigorous clinical evaluation.

Background Clinical training demands integration of theoretical knowledge with practical skills, but high cognitive load may impair decision-making in health science students. Despite its significance, limited research from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has examined this relationship. This study assessed how cognitive load impacts clinical decision-making among undergraduate health science students. Methods This cross-sectional study examined 743 undergraduate health science students in United Arab Emirates during February–March 2025. Cognitive load was assessed using the Cognitive Load Scale (CLS), while clinical decision-making skills were measured using the Clinical Decision-Making in Nursing Scale–Patient Version (CDMNS-PT). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 29). Bivariate analyses included Pearson’s correlations, independent samples t-tests, and Kruskal-Wallis tests with post-hoc analyses were performed. Regression analysis using generalized linear model (GLM) was employed. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant in all the analyses. Results Participants reported moderate cognitive load (Intrensic cognitive load: M = 11.50; extraneous cognitive load: M = 11.68) and decision-making skills (M = 124.35), with 90.6% showing low confidence. Females had higher cognitive load (p < .001), but no gender differences in decision-making. Higher extraneous cognitive load (ECL) predicted poorer decision-making (β=−0.19, p < .001), especially in “Search for Alternatives” (r = − .261). Top academically performing students (GPA = 3.1–4.0) scored 3.81 points higher in decision-making (p = .002) with 12–15% lower cognitive load (p < .001). Year 3 students excelled in decision-making (p = .007) and had the lowest cognitive load (p < .001). Pharmacy students outperformed peers (p = .014). Regression analysis confirmed ECL and academic performance as key predictors for clinical decision making (p < .001). Conclusion Extraneous cognitive load and academic performance critically influence clinical decision-making skills. Reducing unnecessary cognitive demands and supporting academic performance may enhance competence. Interventions should target at-risk groups (e.g., females, early-year students) to optimize training outcomes.

Background: Healthcare Workers (HCWs) frequently face high levels of occupational stress, job dissatisfaction, and burnout due to the demanding nature of their work. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), these challenges are further intensified by the rapid growth of the healthcare sector and increasing workloads, making it particularly critical to study these variables. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the influence of occupational stress and job satisfaction on burnout and to identify the key predictors of burnout among HCWs in the UAE. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 498 HCWs from hospitals and primary healthcare centers under Emirates Health Services/ Ministry of Health and Prevention. Data was collected using the Work Stress Questionnaire (WSQ), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ). Results: The mean level of occupational stress was moderate, with a mean of 34.68 (SD = 10.15). The most affected subscales were “work-to-leisure time interference” and “influence at work.” The level of job satisfaction was also moderate, with a mean of 3.13 (SD = 0.75), and the highest satisfaction was related to extrinsic factors. The levels of burnout were notably high for emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, whereas “personal accomplishment” was less affected. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed significant predictors of emotional exhaustion (R ² = 0.530), including individual demands, work-to-leisure conflict, job satisfaction, income, and marital status. Depersonalization was predicted by indistinct organization, income, and employment type (R ² = 0.254). The least affected personal accomplishment subscale was predicted by occupational stress, age, education, nationality, and working hours, accounting for 6.9% of the variance (R ² = 0.069). Conclusion: The present study has highlighted the urgent need for targeted interventions to reduce occupational stress and improve job satisfaction to combat burnout among HCWs in the UAE. Organizational strategies should focus on workload management, promoting a healthy work-life balance, and clearly defining roles. These findings offer a foundation for informed policy actions to safeguard HCW well-being and elevate healthcare quality.

Introduction: The pandemic crisis created a psychosocial and public health crisis that affected the lives of millions globally. This cross-sectional study aims to examine the stress burden during the pandemic crisis and positive coping among the general population in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: This study employed a crosssectional design to examine the stress burden of the pandemic crisis and positive coping among the general population in the UAE. The study questionnaires were sent to potential participants as an online survey. A total of 465 UAE residents were enrolled between October and December 2021. The stress burden and positive coping were measured using the Coronavirus Disease of 2019 Pandemic Mental Health Questionnaire (CoPaQ). Results: Regarding stress burdens related to the pandemic crisis, only 20.9% (n = 97) of the participants reported no stress burden, while most of the participants had mild to moderate stress burden (124 (26.7%) and 188 (40.4%), respectively). In contrast, 56 participants (12.0%) had severe stress burden related to the pandemic crisis. Positive coping with daytime structure was reported as 102 participants (21.9%) reported highly effective coping, 123 participants (26.5%) reported moderately effective coping, 137 participants (29.5%) reported slightly effective coping, and 103 participants (22.2%) reported ineffective coping. Positive coping with inner resources was reported where most of the participants reported either highly or moderately effective coping (110 (23.7%) and 155 (33.3%), respectively), while only 62 participants (13.3%) reported ineffective coping. Being symptomatic quarantined was significantly associated with positive coping categories of daytime structure but not inner resources, while being infected was significantly associated with both positive coping categories of daytime structure and inner resources. Stress burden was significantly associated with demographic variables (marital status, gender, and age) pandemic-specific variables (quarantined, infected, and symptomatic), and psychological variables (pre-existing conditions and undergoing psychotherapy). Conclusion: The pandemic crisis has significantly affected the stress burden of the UAE population. The individual differences identified in this study underscore the importance of anticipating the impact of future crises and implementing personalized interventions that address the needs of vulnerable groups.

Objective: The objective is to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and well-being of university students in the United ArabEmirates (UAE) and to identify the factors influencing their QoL.Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire to collect data from asample of 417 university students at Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) in the UAE between March and May 2021.Statistical analyses, including correlation and regression, were conducted to explore relationships between these factors and QoL outcomes.Results: A total of 417 students participated in this study. The mean score of the students’ overall perception was 3.76(SD, 0.937), and the mean score of the students self-rated satisfaction with their current health and well-being was3.65 (SD, 1.07). All QoL domains demonstrated approximate means with the environmental domain as the highest(37.53 [SD, 21.507]). There was a statistically significant mean difference in physical, psychological, and environmental health domains between male and female students. The 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test showed a statistically significant mean difference in psychological domain (F5,416=2.996; P=.011), social relationships domain(F5,416=2.913; P=.013) and environmental domain (F5,416=4.167; P=.001) between academic divisions. Regressionanalyses showed that age, gender, marital status and academic division were independent predictors of QoL domains.Conclusion: Enhancing supportive social environments and promoting positive academic and health behaviors arevital for improving QoL among university students. Implementing targeted institutional policies can significantlyenhance student welfare and academic success.Cite this article as: Aljawarneh YM, Rajab LM, Alrayssi AM, et al. Quality of life and its associated predictors among university students in the united arab emirates:A cross-sectional study. Arch Health Sci Res. 2025, 12, 0199, doi: 10.5152/ArcHealthSciRes.2025.24199.