**1. Introduction**

The unprecedented situation of COVID-19 presents a remarkable threat to the health of the general public. The presence of this highly contagious disease with the unpredictable extent of morbidity and mortality rates has an impact on almost all aspects of daily life [1]. During this difficult pandemic time, it is likely that mental health issues may get exacerbated due to perceive fear, worry, and stress because of uncertainty or factors over which humans have no control. More than one-third of the adults from the United States have shown symptoms of anxiety or depression during the pandemic, in contrast, to a figure of one in ten; from January to June 2019 [2]. In addition to the threat of getting infected with the virus, alterations in daily activities like restricted movements and strict maintenance of social distancing in several countries, new normal of work from home, partial or complete loss of a job, virtual classes for children, and avoidance of contact with friends and relatives, are considered as major contributors for altered mental functions during this crisis [3]. Concerning the susceptibility for psychological disturbance, the impact of a major epidemic is directly associated with the ability of a person to cope up with the situation. It is not wrong to say that almost the entire population has experienced some degree of mental distress during this difficult time, but the significant impact is seen only in vulnerable individuals. Particularly those people who got infected with the disease, those at high risk, such as the geriatric population, immunocompromised individuals, those living or receiving care in congregate settings, and people with preexisting psychiatric or substance abuse problems, possess an enhanced risk for abnormal psychosocial outcomes [4]. On top of that, long-term lockdown due to pandemic also results in limited access to healthcare that invariably results in mental health issues [5]. Moreover, females are more likely to develop psychological burden than males [6]. Additionally, a significant impact on mental health is also reported in people who have limited resources to use virtual social and health awareness services [7]. In addition, it is necessary to understand that all psychological illness and socialization issues are not necessarily can be termed as diseases; most of them temporary reactions to abnormal situations. However, it must be addressed in time to prevent the occurrence of its consequences.

Recently published articles emphatically describe the implication of COVID-19 on the mental health of health care professionals [8] as they are the front line warriors for this virus, and also several reports published on the implication of this situation on the educational system [9]. The reports describing the role of the pandemic on the mental status of the community [8,10] are also published elsewhere. However, there is a scarcity of data on the direct impact of COVID-19 on the mental status of the female population of Saudi Arabia. Hence, this study aimed to determine the impact of the COVID-19 event on mental health and its related lifestyle habits among Saudi Arabian females of Riyadh.
