Mental Health, Sleep, and Eating Patterns Among Saudi Adults During Ramadan Fasting – A Cross-Sectional Study

Summary

This study examined mental health, sleep, and eating behavior changes among Saudi adults during Ramadan fasting, identifying women, middle-aged adults, and Eastern region residents as more vulnerable to psychological distress and lifestyle disruptions.

Abstract

Ramadan fasting involves marked shifts in sleep–wake cycles, dietary habits, and daily routines, all of which may influence psychological well-being. Although Ramadan represents a naturalistic model of structured, time-restricted fasting, limited research in Saudi Arabia has explored how sociodemographic factors shape mental health, sleep, and eating behaviors during this period. This study examined these outcomes in adults across multiple regions of the country. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in March 2025 among adults aged 18–60 years residing in Saudi Arabia who observed daytime fasting during Ramadan. A total of 464 participants were recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a validated, culturally adapted questionnaire that assessed psychological well-being, sleep patterns, and eating behaviors. Analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable logistic regression, with p < 0.05 as the significance threshold. Most respondents were female (56.5%) and aged 18–40 years (77.1%). Female sex was significantly associated with depressive feelings and reduced interest (p < 0.05) and independently predicted psychological distress (AOR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.08–1.72). Adults aged 26–39 and 40–60 years showed higher odds of sleep disturbance and altered eating behaviors (p < 0.05). Participants from the Eastern region demonstrated elevated odds of psychological distress (AOR = 1.80), sleep disturbances (AOR = 2.05), and changes in eating patterns (AOR = 1.50). Employment status was associated with daytime fatigue and non-hunger-driven eating patterns. Ramadan-related lifestyle changes are associated with measurable variations in psychological well-being, sleep quality, and eating behavior. Women, middle-aged adults, and residents of the eastern region appeared to be more vulnerable to these effects. Tailored public health strategies promoting mental health, sleep hygiene, and healthy eating during altered daily routines may help mitigate these impacts.

Introduction

Ramadan fasting is an annually recurring period of time-restricted daytime fasting accompanied by marked modifications in daily routines, sleep–wake timing, and meal patterns^1,2. These lifestyle and circadian changes represent naturalistic behavioral exposures that may influence psychological well-being, sleep quality, and eating behaviors. Alterations in sleep duration, meal timing, and daily activity schedules are known to affect mood regulation, cognitive performance, and emotional stability^3,4.

A growing body of re....

Protocol

Ethical approval was granted by the Ethical Committee of Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (Reference No. RES-2025-0032). Participants received an online information sheet detailing the study’s aims, procedures, and confidentiality measures. Electronic informed consent was obtained prior to participation in the study. All responses were anonymized, securely stored, and accessible only to the research team. This study adhered to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and applicable data protection regulations.

Study design

The study employed a multidimensional assessment a....

Results

Participant characteristics

A total of 464 individuals completed the survey. Table 1 presents a summary of the participants’ demographic profiles. Most participants were relatively young, with 77.1% aged ≤40 years. Females comprised 56.5% of respondents. Most participants were single (60.1%) and lived in urban areas (93.8%). Students accounted for 47.2% of the sample, and 40.5% were employed. Over half of the participants (54.9%) held an undergraduate degree. .......

Discussion

This study investigated the associations between Ramadan fasting and changes in mental health, sleep patterns, and eating behaviors among Saudi adults, emphasizing the influence of sociodemographic factors such as sex, age, region of residence, and employment status. Our findings indicate that female participants reported significantly higher levels of psychological distress, including depressive feelings and reduced interest in activities, consistent with the regression analysis identifying female sex as an independent .......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Google forms	Google	NA	NA
IBM SPSS Statistics	IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA	version 26	NA