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Bambrah V, Wardell JD, Keough MT. Longitudinal co-trajectories of depression and alcohol problems in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022:1-17. [PMID: 36531195 PMCID: PMC9748906 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-04109-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
We examined person-centered heterogeneity in the longitudinal co-development of depression and alcohol problems during the COVID-19 outbreak. We also investigated the risk factors (personality and coping) for being in "higher" relative to "lower" risk subgroups of combined depressive symptoms and alcohol problems. Canadian participants (N = 364, M age = 32.16, 54.67% male) completed questionnaires four times every three months, starting approximately 2 months after Canada announced its COVID-19 State-of-Emergency. Parallel-process latent class growth analysis found evidence for three latent subgroups: a "moderate increasing depression and alcohol problems" subgroup (Class 1); a "moderate stable depression, moderate decreasing alcohol problems" subgroup (Class 2); and a "low-risk normative" subgroup (with mild depression that was stable and mild alcohol problems that decreased; Class 3). Multinomial logistic regressions found that higher levels of hopelessness, impulsivity, and boredom proneness distinguished Class 1 from Class 3. Further, lower levels of general self-efficacy distinguished Class 1 from Classes 2 and 3. Linear mixed models found that Class 1 increasingly used maladaptive avoidant coping strategies (denial, drugs/alcohol, behavioural disengagement) as the pandemic progressed, whereas Class 2 increasingly used adaptive approach-oriented strategies (planning, seeking emotional support from others). We analyzed longitudinal data to detect classes of individuals with depressive and alcohol-related difficulties during COVID-19 and to characterize the vulnerability factors for increased difficulties. Highlighting the heterogeneity in the co-trajectory of depression and alcohol problems during COVID-19 and the personality and coping factors associated with combined increases in these mental health difficulties can inform treatment practices and bolster peoples' preparedness and resilience for future pandemics. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-04109-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veerpal Bambrah
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, York University, Behavioural Sciences Building, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3 Canada
| | - Jeffrey D. Wardell
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, York University, Behavioural Sciences Building, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3 Canada
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Canada
| | - Matthew T. Keough
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, York University, Behavioural Sciences Building, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3 Canada
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Wardell JD, Kempe T, Rapinda KK, Single A, Bilevicius E, Frohlich JR, Hendershot CS, Keough MT. Drinking to Cope During COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of External and Internal Factors in Coping Motive Pathways to Alcohol Use, Solitary Drinking, and Alcohol Problems. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2020; 44:2073-2083. [PMID: 32870516 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in massive disruptions to society, to the economy, and to daily life. Some people may turn to alcohol to cope with stress during the pandemic, which may put them at risk for heavy drinking and alcohol-related harms. Research is needed to identify factors that are relevant for coping-motivated drinking during these extraordinary circumstances to inform interventions. This study provides an empirical examination of coping motive pathways to alcohol problems during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Participants (N = 320; 54.7% male; mean age of 32 years) were Canadian adult drinkers who completed an online survey assessing work- and home-related factors, psychological factors, and alcohol-related outcomes over the past 30 days, covering a time period beginning within 1 month of the initiation of the COVID-19 emergency response. RESULTS The results of a theory-informed path model showed that having at least 1 child under the age of 18, greater depression, and lower social connectedness each predicted unique variance in past 30-day coping motives, which in turn predicted increased past 30-day alcohol use (controlling for pre-COVID-19 alcohol use reported retrospectively). Income loss was associated with increased alcohol use, and living alone was associated with increased solitary drinking (controlling for pre-COVID-19 levels), but these associations were not mediated by coping motives. Increased alcohol use, increased solitary drinking, and greater coping motives for drinking were all independently associated with past 30-day alcohol problems, and indirect paths to alcohol problems from having children at home, depression, social connectedness, income loss, and living alone were all supported. CONCLUSIONS Findings provide insight into coping-motivated drinking early in the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight the need for longitudinal research to establish longer term outcomes of drinking to cope during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Wardell
- From the Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Institute for Mental Health Policy Research and Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tyler Kempe
- Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Karli K Rapinda
- Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Alanna Single
- Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Elena Bilevicius
- Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Jona R Frohlich
- Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Christian S Hendershot
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research and Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Matthew T Keough
- From the Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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