Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted EFL Teacher Stress in Saudi Higher Education: A Critical Narrative Research(Saudi Digital Library, 2026) Aloufi, Maryam; Troudi, Salah; Abdollahzadeh, EsmaeelThis study critically examines how English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers experience and respond to workplace stress in Saudi higher education. In the context of Vision 2030 reforms, research on teacher stress in Saudi higher education remains limited and predominantly quantitative, often foregrounding individual factors rather than institutional conditions. Addressing this gap, the study explores the primary workplace stressors perceived by EFL teachers, how these stressors shape personal well-being, how occupational stress influences professional practices and career trajectories, and the coping strategies teachers employ within and beyond the workplace. Using a critical narrative research design, data were collected from 15 EFL teachers (13 females, 2 males) across four Saudi state universities, with varied nationalities, qualifications (BA, MA, PhD), and academic ranks. Participants were recruited through purposive, convenience, and voluntary sampling. Semi-structured interviews and reflective journals were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, informed by the Job Demands–Resources model and the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. Findings are organised into three overarching themes and suggest that EFL teachers’ workplace stress is predominantly institutional and systemic. Workplace Stressors highlights policy instability, administrative opacity, constrained autonomy, and career barriers as dominant sources of strain. The Impact of Stress on Well-being and Professional Life illustrates emotional and physical costs, spillover into home life, and consequences for professional practice, including diminished motivation, more detached pedagogy, and uncertainty about promotion and longer-term trajectories. Coping Mechanisms shows the use of cognitive reframing, faith, and social support, alongside avoidant responses, which are often insufficient in the absence of institutional care.9 0Item Restricted Exploring Resilience, Well-being, and stress in University students: A cross-national Mixed methods analysis between the UK and Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2025) Abulfaraj, Ghalib; Zavos, Helena; Dommett, Eleanor; Upsher, RebeccaGlobally, university students are increasingly stressed, due to high academic workloads, financial, familial, and social responsibilities, which negatively impact their well-being. University support services are unable to cope with the increased demands. To better understand how to address this situation, it is important to examine the relationship between stress and well-being in university students of diverse cultural backgrounds with the view to identifying ways to mitigate their stress. It is also crucial to investigate psycho-social moderators of this relationship and better understand some existing interventions. For example, there are current gaps in the mental health literature regarding the effectiveness of resilience interventions on the well-being and stress levels of on-campus undergraduate and postgraduate university students. Additionally, limited research has explored students’ subjective perceptions of well-being and stress, and moderators of the stress-well-being relationship outside of western countries. This thesis employed three interrelated mixed methods studies to address these research gaps. Chapter 2 is a systematic review that investigated 47 quantitative research studies examining the effects of resilience interventions on the resilience, stress, depression, and anxiety of students. The eligible studies were from 19 countries and included several research designs, although no research was conducted in Saudi Arabia (SA), demonstrating the under-representation of this country in the mental health literature. Results indicate that there is limited evidence of positive effects on depression, but stress and anxiety could be reduced following interventions. Data on well-being data was inconclusive. This study included the first systematic review on the effect of resilience-based interventions on well-being and mental health, featuring several study designs and focusing on higher education students. Chapter 3 is a qualitative study utilising semi-structured interviews. These interviews were conducted with 13 SA and 13 UK students to examine their perceptions of stress, mental health, and well-being. SA and UK-based students had similar responses regarding definitions of stress, mental health, and resilience. However, there were some differences, as SA-based students reported using religious coping as a stress coping method. In addition, within the Saudi sample, some participants noted that being the eldest child in the family was a stressor related to increased responsibilities. This study was the first to compare the perceptions of resilience, mental health, and stress among Saudi and UK university students across all study levels and disciplines. Building on Chapter 3, Chapter 4 is a quantitative survey-based study between SA and UK university students. It aimed to examine whether social support, belonging, family relationships and religious coping moderate the relationship between stress and well-being. Recruited participants included: 163 UK home students, 93 Saudi students in the UK, and 55 students studying in Saudi Arabia. Increased stress among university students was significantly associated with lower well-being levels in all participants. However, there was not much evidence for moderation. However, all moderators positively affected well-being. This study was the first to examine social support, belonging, family relationships, and religious coping as moderators between undergraduate and postgraduate SA and UK students representing various disciplines of study. By addressing the gaps in the literature and highlighting the relationship between stress, resilience, and well-being in diverse cultures, these findings have implications for the development of future well-being interventions. Although this thesis makes essential contributions to the cross-cultural mental health and well-being literature, it is not without limitations. These include issues with the representation of SA national students, assumptions of homogeneity in UK student samples, and an unbalanced gender distribution, which future research should address.12 0Item Restricted Stress and Burnout in Critical Care Nurses in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Literature Review(Queen's University Belfast, 2025-03) Aljohani, Abdulelah; Rice, BilliejoanBackground: Burnout is a significant occupational health problem in critical care nurses, particularly working in intensive care units and emergency departments. The intensive work of critical care, involving long shifts, high patient acuity, and emotional stress, is a contributing factor to burnout, impacting job satisfaction, patient care quality, and nursing staff turnover. In Saudi Arabia, regional health disparities, nursing shortages, and reliance on expatriate nurses add to the issue, requiring closer examination. Aim: The aim of this systematic review seeks to synthesise current evidence on risk factors and the prevalence for stress and burnout among critical care nurses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: Systematic literature search was conducted by utilising PUBMED, CINAHL, and EMBASE databases. Inclusion was rigorous, and studies regarding the prevalence, risk factors, and Saudi Arabian critical care nurses’ exposure to burnout: a total of ten articles were included in the review. Meta-analyses were not feasible; thus, the results were synthesised narratively and categorised into two major categories: Levels of burnout and factors contributing to burnout. Results: There are high to moderate levels of burnout present in Critical care nurses, and there is regional variation between Riyadh, Makkah, and Jazan. Intensive care units’ nurses exhibited more emotional exhaustion, and emergency department nurses exhibited physical exhaustion as a result of workload intensity. There was added stress due to expatriate nurses, including uncertainty in jobs, cultural challenges, and language. Organisational factors, including shortages in staff, shift working, and rigid hospital hierarchies, also contributed to burnout. Conclusion: Burnout among Saudi Arabian critical care nurses’ is a serious workforce issue with direct effects on patient safety, healthcare efficiency, and retention. Addressing burnout requires policy changes, mental health support, and workforce reforms to improve nurse well-being and patient care. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and intervention-based strategies for sustainable solutions.30 0Item Restricted THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET, FOOD SECURITY, BEHAVIORAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS, AND MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS(University of Florida, 2025) Alshahwan, May; Mathews, AnneCollege students are particularly vulnerable to mental health issues due to various biological and psychosocial factors, with a high prevalence of food insecurity (FI) being a significant concern. Previous research suggests that adhering to a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) pattern may positively impact college students' health and mental well-being. This comprehensive research, encompassing cross-sectional, interventional, and longitudinal approaches, aims to investigate the effects of MedDiet adherence and FI on mental health symptoms (MHS) among college students. A cross-sectional study of first-year students (N=1,101) found low adherence to a MedDiet in 60.6%, and 25% experienced food insecurity. Approximately one-third reported moderate to severe depression and anxiety, with a moderate mean stress score of 25.8±9.3. There was an inverse association between MedDiet adherence and MHS (depression, anxiety, and stress) (beta = -0.08, p = 0.0007). FI was positively associated with MHS (beta = 0.12, p <.0001). No significant interaction was found between MedDiet adherence and FI on MHS. The intervention study was an 8-week Mediterranean-style diet educational intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention and education group (I & E; N=107) or an education-only group (E; N=110). At baseline, 43% had low MedDiet adherence, with mean Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and skin carotenoid status (SCS) scores of 61.9±11.6 and 345±107.8, respectively, with no significant differences between the groups. Post-intervention, the I & E group significantly improved MedDiet adherence, HEI, and SCS scores. Both groups experienced decreased depression and anxiety symptoms, with stress improving only in the I & E group. FI did not moderate the MedDiet-MHS relationship. Lastly, the longitudinal study covers four time points (2021-2024), (T1; N = 1,101), (T2; N = 493), (T3; N = 164), and (T4; N = 101). We found a cumulative high MedDiet adherence inversely correlated with MHS, while FI positively correlated with MHS over the years. The protective effects of MedDiet adherence on MHS were consistent across all food security levels. These findings highlight the critical need for early screening of MHS and FI among college students and may prompt university administrators to consider nutritional and food security interventions to promote student mental health and well-being.42 0Item Restricted Technostress among Cybersecurity Professionals; Current Knowledge and Future Directions: A Systematic Literature Review(University of Strathclyde, 2024-08) Alghamdi, Ohud; Farooq, AliAbstract: This systematic literature review (SLR) was carried out with the objective of comprehensively examining the current knowledge on technostress experienced by cybersecurity professionals and determining the gaps in literature and future research directions. Cybersecurity professionals are at an elevated risk of experiencing technostress because of the demanding nature of their work. These individuals experience several stress-inducing obstacles as they need to respond to security threats and incidents. The study examined the key technostress experienced by these professionals and how technostress affects the health and performance of these individuals. A search strategy including primary keywords “technostress” and “cybersecurity professionals” was used across different databases. After identifying studies relevant to these terms, the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to shortlist the studies that were appropriate for our research objectives. Five key drivers of technostress among cybersecurity professionals were identified. These included role ambiguity, high workload, job insecurity, lack of social support, and sleep quality. These stresses create high turnover rates among cybersecurity professionals, who quit their jobs because they are unable to cope with the role ambiguity, high workload, job insecurity, and evolving requirements of the field. Many employees also decide to change their fields and shift to another career. Technostress leads to burnout and strain, which adversely affects the job performance of employees as they are unable to remain productive in their work. The impact of technostress on cybersecurity professionals highlights the need for urgent interventions. By addressing the stressors and how they impact the cybersecurity workers, the health and well-being of these employees can increase, which would eventually lead to improvements in their performance and productivity. The study further discusses the theoretical and practical implications of the research and presents the direction for future research in this field.46 0Item Unknown “What is the impact of gardening on the psychological health of adults? A scoping review.”(Exeter University, 2024-03-06) Alomiri, Abeer; Garsid, RuthRecently, there have been concerns that the prevalence of mental disorders has increased significantly, threatening the mental health of a large segment of the population. Therefore, there has been a call to improve the psychological health of the general population using non-pharmacological interventions (e.g., gardening and green spaces). Although several scoping reviews have examined the psychological outcomes of green spaces, there is a lack of scoping reviews that examine the psychological outcomes of gardening. Scoping reviews in this research area can be valuable because they identify potential methodological limitations, informing future research. Further, they can explore the scope of evidence, which can identify unanswered research questions. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to explore the scope of evidence as well as identify the methodological limitations in this research area in order to inform future research. The scoping review was guided by a framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley (2005). Different databases were used to access relevant studies, including Scopus, Medline, and the Web of Science Core Collection (WSCC). The search yielded 26 studies. Gardening can lead to a wide range of psychological outcomes, including a reduced risk of depression, with a higher effectiveness of community gardening in decreasing depression compared to individual/home gardening, a decrease in anxiety, mental resilience and relief from stress, escape, enjoyment, and relaxation, better cognitive performance, a sense of community and social relationships, and a greater sense of meaning of life, although there is a greater effect size in individualistic than collectivist cultures and an overly simplistic approach to the association between gardening and psychological outcomes. Further, there were several methodological limitations, such as limited use of objective measures (e.g., salivary cortisol levels, fMRI), a lack of use of the Core Outcome Sets (COS), a lack of studies with long-term follow-up, a lack of studies that examined the difference between doing the gardening activity and the mere presence of being at the gardening site, and a lack of studies from different countries (Africa, Asia, and South America). Limited studies examined the impact of mediators and moderators. Further, known facts were usually not taken into account. Researchers are advised to address these methodological gaps, as this will improve the quality of evidence in this emerging research area. Moreover, policymakers are advised to provide the required financial support to urban planners to increase the presence of gardens, as they can encourage local people to engage in gardening activities. Further, initiatives that introduce community gardening in public gardens can be adopted by local governments worldwide. Keywords: gardening, green spaces, psychological health, depression, anxiety, stress22 0Item Unknown Exercise and Stress among Graduate Students(University of Central Oklahoma, 2017-05-09) Aljuaid, Hana; Dentlinger, Nancy; Arnold, Barbra; Smith, KathlynnGiven the stressful nature of graduate students’ schedules, it is necessary to explore both how stress affects their lives and how it can be mitigated. Exercise has been empirically qualified as a positive coping mechanism against stress, citing improved physiological and emotional benefits. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between how often graduate students exercise and their score on the Benefits/Barriers Scale [EBBS]. The study used a quantitative, cross-sectional design. Results were gathered using an online questionnaire, then analyzed using Pearson’s correlation method to determine whether there was a relationship between how often graduate students exercised and their score on the Benefits/Barriers Scale [EBBS]. The findings obtained in this study, through statistical calculations reveal that exercising and stress are correlated to each other. Considering the effects, it imposes on university graduate students, the results indicated that correlation between exercise and stress is inverse, which implies that with better exercising habits, the stress level among these students decreases. This in turn enhances their psychological as well as physical health outcomes over the period of time.35 0Item Unknown The relationship between Extended work hours and stress among nurses in Saudi Military Hospitals(Barry University, 2024-01-12) Aljuaid, Hana; Chlaudette, ChinAbstract Background: Nursing professionals generally experience high levels of stress due to the nature of roles and responsibilities, however, it is likely also due to extended work hours. While there is existing information on long work hours and stress among nurses working in general healthcare facilities, there is a severe lack of information on the subject matter regarding nurses working in Saudi Arabian military hospitals. Purpose: The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between extended working hours and levels of stress among nurses working in Saudi Arabian military hospitals. Theoretical Framework: Conservation of resources (COR) theory provided theoretical guidance for this study. Methods: A correlational design was used to examine the relationship between extended working hours and levels of stress amongst nurses in Saudi Arabian military hospitals. The participants completed a short demographic survey and ENSS questionnaire. Correlational followed by a regression analysis was used to establish what relationship exists between stress and experience. Results: Statistical analysis showed that hypotheses one through three were not supported. Hypothesis one, a Pearson correlation analysis, discovered that there is no statistically significant relationship between stress levels and shift length (r = 0.015, p = 0.408). Hypothesis two, a Pearson correlation analysis, discovered that there is no statistically significant relationship between stress levels and years of work experience (r = -0.005, p = 0.47). Hypothesis three, a standard multiple regression analysis, revealed that neither of the two predictors—shift length or years of work experience—were v significant predictors of stress levels F (2,230) = 0.03, p = 0.97, with a multiple correlation coefficient R2 value of 0. Conclusions: The results of this study contribute to an understanding of the relationship between extended work hours and stress among nurses in Saudi military hospitals. This area had not yet been addressed in previous studies. The main findings of this study highlighted that the positive social perspectives and strong work ethic of Filipino nurses can prevent these negative circumstances from occurring since these perspectives and ethics reduce the chances that nurses will experience higher levels of stress when working long/extended nursing shifts.42 0Item Unknown Wearable Technology for Mental Wellness Monitoring and Feedback(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-12-31) Alhejaili, Reham; Alomainy, AkramThis thesis investigates the transformative potential of wearable monitoring devices in empowering individuals to make positive lifestyle changes and enhance mental well-being. The primary objective is to assess the efficacy of these devices in addressing mental health issues, with a specific focus on stress and anxiety biomarkers. The research includes a systematic literature review that uniquely emphasizes integrating wearable technology into mental wellness, spanning diverse domains such as electronics, wearable technology, machine learning, and data analysis. This novel systematic literature review encompasses the period from 2010 to 2023, examining the profound impact of the Internet of Things (IoT) across various sectors, particularly healthcare. The thesis extensively explores wearable technologies capable of identifying a broad spectrum of human biomarkers and stress-related indicators, emphasizing their potential benefits for healthcare professionals. Challenges faced by participants and researchers in the practical implementation of wearable technology are addressed through survey analysis, providing substantial evidence for the potential of wearables in bolstering mental health within professional environments. Meticulous data analysis gathering from biosignals captured by wearables investigates the impact of stress factors and anxiety on individuals' mental well-being. The study concludes with a thorough discussion of the findings and their implications. Additionally, integrating Photoplethysmography (PPG) devices is highlighted as a significant advancement in capturing vital biomarkers associated with stress and mental well-being. Through light-based technology, PPG devices monitor blood volume changes in microvascular tissue, providing real-time information on heart rate variability (HRV). This non-invasive approach enables continuous monitoring, offering a dynamic understanding of physiological responses to stressors. The reliability of wearable devices equipped with PPG and Electroencephalography (EEG) sensors is emphasized in capturing differences in subject biomarkers. EEG devices measure brainwave patterns, providing insights into neural activity associated with stress and emotional states. The combination of PPG and EEG data enhances the precision of stress and mental well-being assessments, offering a holistic approach that captures peripheral physiological responses and central nervous system activity. In conclusion, integrating PPG devices with subjective methods and EEG sensors significantly advances stress and mental well-being assessment. This multidimensional approach improves measurement accuracy, laying the foundation for personalized interventions and innovative solutions in mental health care. The thesis also evaluates body sensors and their correlation with medically established gold references, exploring the potential of wearable devices in advancing mental health and well-being.35 0Item Unknown Palatable “comfort” food intake reduces HPA axis stress reactivity via cannabinoid receptor 1 signaling and is prevented by diet-induced obesity(2023-06-16) Almehmadi, Khulood; Ulrich-Lai, Yvonne M.Palatable food intake reduces physiological and emotional responses to stress – a phenomenon known as “comfort” feeding. However, the mechanisms by which palatable food blunts stress responses are not known and are important as overconsumption of palatable food contributes to the develop of obesity. To study these mechanisms, the Ulrich-Lai group previously developed a limited sucrose intake (LSI) feeding paradigm that reduces hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis responses to acute stress in male rats, and in female rats specifically during the proestrus/estrus (p/e) stage of the estrous cycle. This dissertation uses the LSI paradigm to test the hypotheses that HPA-dampening by LSI is impaired in the context of diet-induced obesity (DIO; chapters 2 and 3), and that cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) signaling mediates HPA-dampening by LSI (chapter 4). We examined the HPA axis response to an acute restraint stressor in LSI-fed (vs. water control) rats that were maintained on either ad libitum normal chow (thereby remaining lean) or a high-fat high-sugar Western diet (WD) (to produce diet-induced obesity, DIO) for 8 weeks prior to LSI (using 3% and 30% sucrose vs. water controls). Data from male and female rats are shown in chapters 3 and 4, respectively; the female data includes estrous cycle stage in the analysis. In both male and female rats, WD effectively increased body fat. Moreover, male chow-fed lean rats who received either 3% or 30% sucrose had a blunted plasma corticosterone response to restraint stress, but this effect was absent in male WD-fed DIO rats, indicating that WD-obesity prevents HPA-dampening by LSI. In contrast, LSI did not alter post-stress plasma corticosterone in either chow (lean) or WD-fed (DIO) female rats, regardless of estrous cycle. Notably, the positive control condition (lean females given LSI using 30% sucrose and tested during p/e) did not show HPA axis dampening as seen in prior experiments. However, the female results are difficult to interpret as there were construction disturbances in the animal facility during this experiment that may have confounded measurements of HPA axis reactivity. In chapter 4, we examined the possible neural mechanisms that mediate the stress relieving effect of palatable food intake. The endocannabinoid system is well-poised to mediate HPA-dampening effect by LSI due to its ability to promote feeding behavior and reduce stress responses. We examined the role of iii endocannabinoid system by using systemic vs. central pharmacological antagonism of the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) and tested the effect on the HPA axis stress response in LSI-fed male and female rats. The results suggest that blocking CB1R signaling impairs LSI’s HPA-dampening effect in male rats, and in female rats during p/e. Collectively, these experiments identify a novel neurobiological mechanism that contributes to the stress-dampening effects of palatable feeding and indicate that this stress-dampening is prevented during obesity. This has important implications, suggesting that obesity may impair LSI’s effects by disrupting endocannabinoid system function. Moreover, impaired stress relief during obesity may suggest that obese individuals require larger amounts of palatable foods to maintain effective stress relief in the face of escalating body weight.14 0