Catalogue Search | MBRL
Are you sure you want to remove the book from the shelf?
{{itemTitle}}
93
result(s) for
"Saudi Arabia Civilization"
Sort by:
Eunuchs and sacred boundaries in Islamic society
In this thought-provoking interdisciplinary work, Shaun Marmon describes how eunuchs, as a category of people who embodied ambiguity, both defined and mediated critical thresholds of moral and physical space in the household, in the palace and in the tomb of pre-modern Islamic society. The author's central focus is on the sacred society of eunuchs who guarded the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad in Medina for over six centuries and whose last representatives still perform many of their time honored rituals to this day. Through Marmon's account, the \"sacred\" eunuchs of Medina become historical guides into uncharted dimensions of Islamic ritual, political symbolism, social order, gender and time.
eBook
A Systematic Review of the Technology Acceptance Model for the Sustainability of Higher Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Identified Research Gaps
Over the past three decades, the Technology Acceptance model (TAM) has garnered considerable attention in higher education. COVID-19 boosted the development of TAM as multiple studies were rapidly undertaken during the pandemic. This, however, created a gap in our current understanding of the directions and trends of TAM advancement. The purpose of this study is to obtain insight into the advancement of TAM throughout the pandemic. It would assist researchers in comprehending the advancement and direction of TAM studies in higher education, such as gaining an understanding of the prevalent external variables for TAM, the statistical analysis employed, research methodologies, the technologies studied, and the geographic location of the research conducted. Finally, research gaps and future directions for TAM studies are presented. A systematic review utilizing PRISMA was conducted on 104 sampled publications. It was found that self-efficacy, subjective norms, experience, and enjoyment were the external variables most frequently used in TAM, while internal motivation received minimal attention. The existing studies have focused mainly on student samples, so further investigation is needed into lecturers, higher education personnel, and mixed groups. Further study is also required on qualitative and mixed methods, with the partial least square structural equation model currently dominating statistical analysis. Future technologies such as 5G, AI, cloud computing, augmented reality, virtual reality, and BYOD represent new TAM-related research gaps. The majority of studies have been undertaken in Asian countries, such as China and those in southeast Asia. This new systematic literature review provides insight into the trend of TAM advancement in the sustainability of higher education during the pandemic, the identified research gaps, and recommendations for future research directions. These findings also serve as a reference for future research by enhancing the foundation established by previous reviews and research on TAM, thereby facilitating the model’s ongoing expansion.
Journal Article
Unraveling the stigma: a qualitative descriptive exploration of the relationship between culture, religion, and mental disorders in Saudi Arabia
Background
A lack of understanding about the needs of people in Middle Eastern and Islamic contexts living with mental health disorders, and their experiences of diagnosis-related social and personal stigma inhibits high-quality care.
Methods
This qualitative descriptive study, based in Saudi Arabia, used the Stigma Mitigating Conceptual Model to explore mental disorder-related stigma from the perspective of challenges and strategies connected to knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. Thirteen adults with mental health disorders completed semi-structured interviews, analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results
Four major themes and nine subthemes pertaining to the impact of stigma on public and self/personal knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors were identified: (1)
effects of the mental disorder on everyday life
, (2)
challenges
, (3)
overcoming the challenges
, and (4)
types of stigma experienced
. Greater knowledge of mental health disorders promoted Islamic principles of compassion and support, while the absence of knowledge exacerbated public stigma and fears the individual is under the influence of the ‘Evil Eye’, or lacks prayers and devotion. Participant strategies to mitigate stigma include education, and more opportunities for those living with mental health disorders to share their stories.
Conclusions
Study findings provide nuance into the role of stigma in the context of cultural and religious factors in Saudi. These insights can be used to help tailor care and interventions to people from Middle Eastern contexts, as Western perspectives have predominantly driven mental health care.
Journal Article
Digital health determinants & divide in the Arab world: A cross-sectional study
Digital determinants of health include key technological factors such as internet access, digital literacy, and the quality of online health information. These elements critically influence health outcomes and behaviors.
This study examined the impact of digital health determinants on health improvement across ten Arab countries: Bahrain, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. The study analyzed a dataset of 12,522 samples after implementing SMOTE-ENN to balance underrepresented demographics, capturing data on digital literacy, internet access, and the impact of online health information on personal health.
Results showed that 93.9% of participants reported having internet access, yet 71.4% did not receive formal education on internet usage. Morocco, Tunisia, and Jordan reported the highest percentages of individuals without such education. Regarding health impacts, 32.9% of participants reported significant personal health improvements linked to digital determinants. Egypt, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia had higher rates of positive health impacts, while Morocco, Jordan, and Bahrain reported the lowest health improvements. Higher digital literacy and reliable internet access were positively associated with better health outcomes across all countries, whereas specific sociodemographic and digital factors varied: younger age and urban residence were linked to greater benefit in the Gulf; education level and healthcare access were especially influential in North Africa; and in the Levant, digital literacy and use of trusted health sources showed strong impact. These findings show both shared and region-specific drivers of digital health benefits.
Improving health outcomes requires diversification: foundational education on internet usage must be combined with broader digital literacy initiatives, efforts to build and maintain trust in credible online health platforms, and strategies that actively foster patient engagement through interactive digital tools. Policies should also ensure reliable internet infrastructure and tailor interventions to regional and sociodemographic contexts to improve overall health outcomes.
Journal Article
Stakeholder perspectives on digital wellbeing in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional survey
Background
In Saudi Arabia, the rapid growth of digital media and smartphone use has raised concerns about problematic usage and its impacts on well-being, especially among young people. Research on stakeholder perspectives regarding intervention strategies remains limited.
Objective
This study aimed to gather insights from societal stakeholders, including youth, parents, policymakers, industry leaders, clinicians, educators, and digital media users, to inform culturally tailored interventions for digital well-being in Saudi Arabia.
Methods
A purposeful non-random sample of 92 participants representing different stakeholder groups was recruited to complete an online survey, answering questions about their experiences and perspectives on digital media use. Primary stakeholder group was assigned based on participant self-selection. We analyzed distributions of categorical variables related to media use time, reasons for use, impacts, self-regulation strategies, and perceived effectiveness of interventions (e.g., education programs, media campaigns, Internet use restrictions).
Results
Of the participants, 63.0% were male, and 46.7% were under 25 years old. Regular digital media users, individuals with problematic Internet use, and clinicians/health professionals comprised 26.1%, 18.5%, and 18.5% of respondents, respectively. Extensive screen time was common, with 47.8% reporting four or more hours of recreational digital use on weekdays and 56.6% on weekends. Participants reported both positive impacts (e.g., social connections, school/work performance) and negative impacts (e.g., sleep disruption, reduced physical activity) of digital media use. Efforts to regulate media use were reported by 72.8%, with strategies like deleting apps or digital detoxes. At least 50.0% of participants endorsed all proposed intervention approaches as likely effective for improving digital well-being, with educational programs for parents, school programs, and regulatory apps receiving over 75.0% support. Children and adolescents were seen as key target groups for these interventions.
Conclusions
Findings from this diverse stakeholder sample suggest that digital well-being interventions in Saudi Arabia should prioritize youth, focusing on education-based approaches and apps for media regulation. Incorporating these perspectives can lead to culturally relevant interventions addressing the unique challenges of digital media use in Saudi Arabia. The generalizability of the findings may be limited due to sample size and potential overrepresentation of certain stakeholder groups.
Journal Article