Handgrip strength and physical activity intensity levels in Emirati female college students

Despite widespread physical inactivity and rising health risks in young Emirati women, handgrip strength (HGS), a critical indicator of health, remains understudied. Barriers such as extreme heat, cultural norms, gender roles, and family expectations may limit physical activity (PA) in this population. This study investigated the associations between HGS and accelerometer- and self-report-based PA intensities among Emirati female college students, and how their HGS and PA levels compare with international standards.

This mixed-methods study involved 291 Emirati female college students aged 18 to 26 years (M = 20.49 ± 1.83). Assessments included cross-sectional baseline (T0) and follow-up measures (T1). HGS was assessed using a test-rest protocol, and accelerometer data were used to measure PA intensity at T0. Device wear time, muscle mass, and hand size were included as covariates in the models. Self-reported PA scores were collected at T0 and T1, eight weeks apart.

Standardized results indicated that device-based sedentary time and light PA were significantly associated with HGS. However, the effect sizes were relatively small (β = -0.15 and β = 0.15, respectively; p < .05). Neither device-based moderate- nor vigorous-intensity PA, nor self-reported activity at any intensity, was significantly associated with HGS. Most students did not meet PA guidelines (~ 80%), with discrepancies between device- and self-reported vigorous PA. HGS fell around the 5th-10th percentile for women aged 20-24, indicating substantially lower strength than age-matched peers worldwide.

Based on these findings, reducing sedentary time and increasing everyday light PA may potentially support muscular strength. This finding should be interpreted with caution when generalizing to other studies beyond this sample, as the adjusted accelerometer wear time was implemented to accommodate cultural modesty norms regarding traditional attire. The absence of associations between moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA and HGS likely reflects the inability of accelerometers to capture strength-related activities or low participation at these intensity levels. Moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA, as well as muscular strength, need to be improved in this population to align with international guidelines.