The Effect of Intermittent Fasting on Psychological Wellbeing among Disabled Individuals versus Able-Bodied Peers

Abstract

Aim:This study aimed to assess Ramadanfasting’s effect on psychological wellbeing among disabled individuals versus able-bodied peers.

Methods:Twenty-two disabled persons and twenty-eight able-bodied individuals participated in the study. All of them were asked to answer the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) which was constructed by Cohen et al. (1983). This scale comprises 10-items which were translated and employed in the study. The items (1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10) are negative, while the remaining items (4, 5, 7, 8)are positive. The researcher follows the same response format used byCohen et al. (1983). Moreover, the itemsare rated from 0= never to 4= very often as per a five-point Likert-type scale.

Results: The total score of PSS was (15.75 ± 4.46) which indicates that the stress level among able-bodied and disabled persons are at the lower border of the moderate level.No obvious differencewas noticed between able-bodied individuals (15.75 ± 4.46) and Disabled individuals (15.59 ± 8.23) in the total score of PSS, P= 0. 931. No significant difference was observed between males (16.00 ± 6.21) and females (15.11 ± 6.65) in PSS P= 0.638. Furthermore, no obvious differences were noticed in physicallyactive and non-physically active individuals P= 0.294. However, physically active participants have lower total score of PSS by 2.03 points (15.03 ± 6.26) than non-physically active participants (17.06 ± 6.42).

Conclusion: Ramadan fasting had no negative effect on the psychological wellbeing of disabled and able-bodied persons. The authors recommend including physical activity in individuals’ daily life which would reduce stress for both disabled individuals and their able-bodied peers.