# Exploring the challenges of social participation during COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia through an occupational therapy lens

## TL;DR

This study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic affected social participation in Saudi Arabia, using an occupational therapy perspective.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into social participation challenges in Saudi Arabia during the pandemic through a cross-sectional survey.

## Key findings

- Most participants reported severe restrictions in social participation during the pandemic.
- 72.7% of participants had been diagnosed with COVID-19.
- 68.2% of participants were quarantined at facilities.

## Abstract

To measure the social participation of people in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among people in Saudi Arabia to measure their participation in social activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. A validated questionnaire of Social Participation Scale was used to collect data from five main regions in Saudi Arabia through social media platforms. Means, frequencies, and percentages were calculated through descriptive analysis. Mean scores and standard deviation of social participation of participants were also presented.

The total number of participants was 1,560 including Saudi (87.3%) and non-Saudi (12.7%) nationals. Most participants (60.2%) were female. The age of participants ranged between 16 and 24 years old. Around 62.1% of participants were married, 63.2% were educated, 48.4 were employed and 82% were from the Eastern region. Around 72% of participants earned <10,000 riyals per month compared to those (27.3%) who earned <5,000 riyals per month. A total 72.7% of the participants have been diagnosed by COVID-19. The mean score of social participation was 47.81 (SD = 0.27). Most participants (62.7%) reported that social participation was severely restricted. Around 68.2% of the participants were quarantined at the facilities.

The social participation of people in Saudi Arabia had been severely restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic. An early assessment of people’s social participation would help to identify their problems and needs, to help them improve their participation in social activities and thus increase their overall quality of life.