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Dey P, De Souza LR. Public Health Challenges for Post-secondary Students During COVID-19: A Scoping Review. COMMUNITY HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH & POLICY 2024:2752535X241257561. [PMID: 38821889 DOI: 10.1177/2752535x241257561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Research about public health impacts of COVID-19 on post-secondary students is slowly beginning to emerge. This scoping review identified common public health challenges among post-secondary students in higher-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Five databases were searched to find relevant peer-reviewed literature up to March 2022. Results were categorized according to reported public health challenges and relevant socio-economic variables. After screening, 53 articles were reviewed. Most articles were from the USA (39/53). The seven main public health challenges identified were mental health (35/53), financial instability (25/53), physical health (13/53), food insecurity (12/53), social well-being (8/53), digital access (7/53), and housing or relocation (6/53). Students with low socioeconomic status experienced heightened public health challenges. This review offers insight and opportunities for the development of longitudinal tools to support social determinants of health in post-secondary populations in high-income countries and may offer insight into similar experiences for students in other settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Dey
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Leanne R De Souza
- University College, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, Institute for Life Course and Aging, University of Toronto,Toronto, ON, Canada
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Chase E, Calhoun BH, Khosropour CM, Lee CM, Rhew IC. Trajectories of financial distress during the COVID-19 pandemic and their associations with mental health and substance use outcomes in a cohort of young adults. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2024; 16:442-459. [PMID: 37821092 PMCID: PMC11006823 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented life disruptions among young adults, including increased job insecurity and financial strain. Mental health problems and substance use have also increased during the pandemic, with young adults particularly vulnerable to experiencing these challenges. This study examines trajectories of financial distress among young adults during the pandemic and their associations with depression, anxiety, and hazardous alcohol and cannabis use. Data from 473 young adults (ages 22-29) recruited in the Northwest United States were collected from April/May 2020 to July/August 2021. Financial distress trajectories were identified using growth mixture modeling. Negative binomial models were used to examine associations between financial distress trajectories and distal outcomes of depression, anxiety, alcohol, and cannabis use. Three distinct trajectories were identified, revealing Low, Moderate, and High financial distress experiences. Individuals with "Moderate" and "High" trajectories showed significantly greater depressive and anxiety symptom scores compared with those in the "Low" financial distress trajectory group. Trajectories were not associated with subsequent levels of alcohol or cannabis use. Young adult mental health remains a priority during periods of economic downturn. Providers must be aware of the psychological challenges imposed by financial distress among young adults to address worsening mental health symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Chase
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, 3980 15 Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Brian H. Calhoun
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Center for the Study of Health Risk and Behaviors, University of Washington, Box 357238, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Christine M. Khosropour
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, 3980 15 Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Christine M. Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Center for the Study of Health Risk and Behaviors, University of Washington, Box 357238, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Isaac C. Rhew
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, 3980 15 Ave NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Center for the Study of Health Risk and Behaviors, University of Washington, Box 357238, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
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Vydiswaran VGV, Strayhorn A, Weber K, Stevens H, Mellinger J, Winder GS, Fernandez AC. Automated-detection of risky alcohol use prior to surgery using natural language processing. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 48:153-163. [PMID: 38189663 PMCID: PMC10783530 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preoperative risky alcohol use is one of the most common surgical risk factors. Accurate and early identification of risky alcohol use could enhance surgical safety. Artificial Intelligence-based approaches, such as natural language processing (NLP), provide an innovative method to identify alcohol-related risks from patients' electronic health records (EHR) before surgery. METHODS Clinical notes (n = 53,629) from pre-operative patients in a tertiary care facility were analyzed for evidence of risky alcohol use and alcohol use disorder. One hundred of these records were reviewed by experts and labeled for comparison. A rule-based NLP model was built, and we assessed the clinical notes for the entire population. Additionally, we assessed each record for the presence or absence of alcohol-related International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnosis codes as an additional comparator. RESULTS NLP correctly identified 87% of the human-labeled patients classified with risky alcohol use. In contrast, diagnosis codes alone correctly identified only 29% of these patients. In terms of specificity, NLP correctly identified 84% of the non-risky cohort, while diagnosis codes correctly identified 90% of this cohort. In the analysis of the full dataset, the NLP-based approach identified three times more patients with risky alcohol use than ICD codes. CONCLUSIONS NLP, an artificial intelligence-based approach, efficiently and accurately identifies alcohol-related risk in patients' EHRs. This approach could supplement other alcohol screening tools to identify patients in need of intervention, treatment, and/or postoperative withdrawal prophylaxis. Alcohol-related ICD diagnosis had limited utility relative to NLP, which extracts richer information within clinical notes to classify patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- VG Vinod Vydiswaran
- Department of Learning Health Sciences, University of Michigan, MI, Ann Arbor, USA
- School of Information, University of Michigan, MI, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Asher Strayhorn
- Department of Learning Health Sciences, University of Michigan, MI, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Katherine Weber
- Department of Learning Health Sciences, University of Michigan, MI, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Haley Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, MI, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Jessica Mellinger
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, MI, Ann Arbor, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, MI, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - G Scott Winder
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, MI, Ann Arbor, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, MI, Ann Arbor, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, MI, Ann Arbor, USA
| | - Anne C. Fernandez
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, MI, Ann Arbor, USA
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Tao X, Liu T, Giorgi S, Fisher CB, Curtis B. Extended impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: Trajectories of mental health and substance use among U.S. adults, September 2020-August 2021. DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE REPORTS 2023; 8:100186. [PMID: 37692907 PMCID: PMC10483007 DOI: 10.1016/j.dadr.2023.100186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Background Americans reported significant increases in mental health and substance use problems after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. This can be a product of the pandemic disruptions in everyday life, with some populations being more impacted than others. Objectives To assess the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and substance use in U.S. adults from September 2020 to August 2021. Methods Participants included 1056 adults (68.5% women) who participated in a national longitudinal online survey assessing the perceived impact of COVID-19 on daily life, stress, depression and anxiety symptoms, and alcohol and cannabis use at 3-time points from September 2020 to August 2021. Results Individuals with lower self-reported social status reported the highest perceived impact. Participants' perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on daily life, stress, anxiety, and alcohol use risk significantly decreased over time but remained high. However, there was no change in depressive symptoms and cannabis use. Higher levels of perceived impact of the pandemic significantly predicted both more baseline mental health concerns and lower decreases over time. Lower self-report social status predicted more baseline mental health concerns and smaller decreases in those concerns. Black adults reported significantly higher cannabis use rates than non-Hispanic White adults. Conclusion The impact of COVID-19 on daily life continued to be a risk factor for mental health during the second wave of the pandemic. In addition to infection prevention, public health policies should focus on pandemic-related social factors such as economic concerns and caretaking that continue to affect mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Tao
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Tingting Liu
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Positive Psychology Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Salvatore Giorgi
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Celia B. Fisher
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, United States
- Center for Ethics Education, Fordham University, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Brenda Curtis
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Rubio M, van Hooijdonk K, Luijten M, Kappe R, Cillessen AHN, Verhagen M, Vink JM. University students' (binge) drinking during COVID-19 lockdowns: An investigation of depression, social context, resilience, and changes in alcohol use. Soc Sci Med 2023; 326:115925. [PMID: 37137201 PMCID: PMC10125214 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE The first COVID-19 lockdown impacted the social life and behaviors of university students, such as alcohol use. While previous studies have reported changes in students' alcohol use during the lockdown, knowledge of risk groups like binge drinkers is limited. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to investigate how the first lockdown impacted the alcohol use of university students who were regular binge drinkers before the lockdown. METHODS Cross-sectional data were used to explore self-reported changes in alcohol use and associated psychosocial effects in regular binge drinking versus regular drinking university students (N = 7355) during the first COVID-19 lockdown (Spring 2020) in the Netherlands. RESULTS University students generally drank less alcohol and reduced binge drinking behaviors during the lockdown. Being a binge drinker who increased/maintained alcohol use, or a regular drinker who increased, was associated with older age, fewer servings of alcohol per week before COVID-19, higher contact with friends, and not living with parents. Among regular binge drinkers, men increased their alcohol use during the lockdown significantly more than women. Among regular drinkers, those with high depressive symptoms and low resilience had increased alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS These findings give insight into significant changes in drinking behaviors among university students during the first COVID-19 lockdown. More importantly, it underscores the need to reckon vulnerable students considering drinking type and associated psychosocial variables for increasing or maintaining higher alcohol use during societal stress periods. In the present study, an unexpected at-risk group emerged among regular drinkers who increased alcohol use during the lockdown in association with their mental state (i.e., depression and resilience). As the COVID-19 pandemic, and the possibility of similar scenarios in the future, is still present in the current student life, specific preventive strategies and interventions should be targeted accordingly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milagros Rubio
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
| | | | - Maartje Luijten
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Rutger Kappe
- Department of Student Success, Inholland University for Applied Sciences, Haarlem, Netherlands
| | | | - Maaike Verhagen
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline M Vink
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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6
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Cho J, Sussman S, Kechter A, Vogel EA, Barrington-Trimis JL, Unger JB, Leventhal AM. Alcohol Use and Life Stressors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study of Young Adults. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2023; 29:554-561. [PMID: 39055691 PMCID: PMC11268834 DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2023.2183909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Objective To estimate the extent to which drinking to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and experiencing pandemic-related life stressors are associated with alcohol use escalation among young adults. Methods Respondents in Los Angeles, CA, USA (N=2,130) completed prospective cohort study surveys before (baseline; October 2018-November 2019; mean age: 19.7[SD=0.4) and during (follow-up; May-August 2020) the COVID-19 outbreak. Past 30-day drinking days and number of drinks per drinking day were assessed from baseline to follow-up. At follow-up, participants reported drinking to cope with social isolation and pandemic-related stressors. Results Pandemic-related stressor prevalence ranged from 5.5% (evicted/lost home) to 72.6% (worried about education) and 27.1% drank to cope with social isolation during the pandemic. Respondents who did (vs. did not) report pandemic-related coping drinking were more likely to increase past 30-day drinking days and drinks per drinking day from baseline to follow-up after adjustment for possible confounders. Employment loss/reduction, financial problems, and perceived likelihood of contracting COVID-19 or handling the pandemic poorly were each associated with increases in drinking days or drinks per drinking day. Conclusions Experiencing certain life stressors and drinking to cope with social isolation may be associated with drinking escalation among young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhan Cho
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Steve Sussman
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Afton Kechter
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Erin A. Vogel
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
| | - Jessica L. Barrington-Trimis
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jennifer B. Unger
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Adam M. Leventhal
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
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Hahm HC, Hsu KC, Hyun S, Kane K, Liu CH. Psychological Distress and Heavy Alcohol Consumption Among U.S. Young Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Womens Health Issues 2023; 33:17-24. [PMID: 36270930 PMCID: PMC9485433 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2022.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The predictors of heavy drinking among U.S. young women during the COVID-19 pandemic are not well-examined. This study aims to determine the prospective relationship between COVID-19 psychological distress and heavy alcohol use among U.S. young adult women. DESIGN This study used the COVID-19 Adult Resilience Experiences Study (CARES) data collected from April 13, 2020, to August 31, 2020 (T1) and September 21, 2020, to March 15, 2021 (T2). Among the young adults (ages 18-30) who participated in both surveys, a total of 684 identified as women (including transgender women) and were included in the analysis. Three or more drinks as a typical intake were defined as heavy drinking. Psychological distress in T1 was measured using scores for financial stress, COVID-19-related worry, and COVID-19-related grief. A series of logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with young women's heavy drinking during the pandemic. RESULTS Twenty-two and one-half percent of young women reported heavy drinking in a typical intake. After controlling for covariates, women who reported high levels of COVID-19-related grief were more likely to report heavy drinking (odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.13; p < .05). Those with high levels of COVID-19-related worry were less likely to report drinking heavily (odds ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.85-0.97; p < .01). CONCLUSIONS Those who suffer from a deeper sense of COVID-19-related grief are particularly at risk of heavy drinking and should be targeted for outreach and clinical intervention. Further research is necessary to determine the long-term impacts of the pandemic on heavy drinking among young women and should include a more comprehensive assessment of psychological distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeouk Chris Hahm
- Boston University, School of Social Work, Boston, Massachusetts,Correspondence to: Hyeouk Chris Hahm, PhD, Professor, Boston University, School of Social Work, 264 Bay State Road, #222, Boston, MA 02215. Phone: (617) 353-3925
| | | | - Sunah Hyun
- Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kaiden Kane
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Cindy H. Liu
- Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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Myntti WW, Armstrong SB. Bouncing back from COVID-19: The role of resilience in depression, substance use, and loneliness in college students amidst the pandemic. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2022:1-10. [PMID: 36328785 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2135377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To assess the influence of specific COVID-19 impacts on college student depression, loneliness, and alcohol and cannabis use, and to investigate if resilience moderates these relationships. Participants: Data were collected from students (N = 1849, 80.9% white, 66.6% female) at a midwestern university during the 2021 winter/spring semester. Methods: Data were gathered cross-sectionally through an online survey platform. COVID-19 impacts and resilience's relationships with mental health variables were analyzed with multiple regression analysis. Moderation analyses were conducted using PROCESS. Results: The COVID-19 impacts measured in this study were significantly related to student depression and cannabis use. Resilience moderated the association between COVID-19 impacts and (a) depression and (b) cannabis use. Conclusion: Resilience may mitigate the effect of pandemic-related impacts on depression and cannabis use in college students, but not loneliness and alcohol use. These findings hold important implications for further research and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warner W Myntti
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Stacey B Armstrong
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan, USA
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Wakabayashi M, Sugiyama Y, Takada M, Kinjo A, Iso H, Tabuchi T. Loneliness and Increased Hazardous Alcohol Use: Data from a Nationwide Internet Survey with 1-Year Follow-Up. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191912086. [PMID: 36231395 PMCID: PMC9566210 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We aimed to examine the association between loneliness and developing alcohol dependence or hazardous alcohol use. A cohort study was conducted utilizing data from a nationwide internet survey in 2021 and 2022 in Japan. A total of 15,854 follow-up participants (55% men, with a mean age of 52.8 years) were divided based on AUDIT scores: nondrinkers (AUDIT: 0), low-risk drinkers (AUDIT: 1-7), medium-risk drinkers (AUD: 8-14), high-risk drinkers (AUDIT: 15-19), and probable alcohol dependence (AUDIT: 20-40). The University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (Version 3), a short-form three-item scale, was used to assess loneliness (high loneliness score of ≥6). The prevalence of high loneliness was higher in nondrinkers than that in low- and medium-risk drinkers, i.e., 22%, 18%, and 17%, respectively, as well as in high-risk drinkers (32%) and those with probable alcohol dependence (43%) compared to non-high-risk drinkers (19%). After adjusting for various factors (sociodemographic, social isolation, psychological distress, and smoking), non-high-risk drinkers (AUDIT: 0-14) with high loneliness were more likely to become high-or-over-risk drinkers (AUDIT: 15-40) than those without high loneliness, with adjusted risk ratios of 1.45 (95% confidence interval: 1.08-1.96) through multivariable binary logistic regression. Among non-high-risk drinkers, people with high loneliness scores at baseline were associated with increased high-risk drinking patterns with probable alcohol dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mami Wakabayashi
- Institute for Global Health Policy Research, Bureau of International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1, Toyama Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Sugiyama
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Research Center for Medical Sciences, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
| | - Midori Takada
- Department of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Osaka Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Osaka 536-8588, Japan
| | - Aya Kinjo
- Division of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Tottori 683-8503, Japan
| | - Hiroyasu Iso
- Institute for Global Health Policy Research, Bureau of International Health Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1, Toyama Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan
| | - Takahiro Tabuchi
- Cancer Control Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka 541-8567, Japan
- The Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Tokyo 106-6234, Japan
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Creswell KG, Terry-McElrath YM, Patrick ME. Solitary alcohol use in adolescence predicts alcohol problems in adulthood: A 17-year longitudinal study in a large national sample of US high school students. Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 238:109552. [PMID: 35835632 PMCID: PMC9639649 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying risk factors for alcohol use disorder (AUD) is important for public health. The social context of drinking-such as drinking alone-may be an independent and robust early risk marker for AUD symptoms later in life. We evaluated whether solitary alcohol use in adolescence (age 18) and young adulthood (age 23/24) was concurrently associated with binge drinking and prospectively predicted age 35 AUD symptoms, and whether associations differed by sex. METHODS Longitudinal data were from the Monitoring the Future study. Surveys were completed by adolescents in 12th grade at age 18 (1976-2002), young adults at age 23/24 (1981-2008), and adults at age 35 (1993-2019). Analyses included past 12-month alcohol users (n = 4464 for adolescent models; n = 4561 for young adult models). Multivariable regression analyses tested whether adolescent and young adult solitary alcohol use was associated concurrently with binge drinking frequency and prospectively with age 35 AUD symptoms. RESULTS Solitary alcohol use in adolescence and young adulthood was associated (a) concurrently with binge drinking and (b) prospectively with increased risk of age 35 AUD symptoms (even after controlling for earlier binge drinking, alcohol use frequency, and sociodemographic covariates). Adolescent solitary alcohol use was associated with age 35 AUD symptoms particularly among females; no interaction was observed between sex and young adult solitary alcohol use in predicting age 35 AUD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Adolescent and young adult solitary alcohol use was associated with increased adult AUD symptoms above and beyond other risk factors; adolescent female solitary alcohol users were especially at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasey G Creswell
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA.
| | | | - Megan E Patrick
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
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11
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Singh S, Bedi D. Financial Disruption and Psychological Underpinning During COVID-19: A Review and Research Agenda. Front Psychol 2022; 13:878706. [PMID: 35910967 PMCID: PMC9333085 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.878706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has disastrous impacts on sustainability initiatives and worsened poverty, hunger, and health issues. The financial distress by this pandemic has resulted in psychological challenges among the people. The list of vulnerable sections of the psychological impacts of the financial problems during COVID-19 is led by students, pregnant women, children, old age people, parents, and many more. The recommendations of this article are to focus on coping strategies for managing psychological issues related to financial problems during the pandemic, facilitating social support, promoting public health facilities and health insurance, financial support for pregnant women, and child care. Special care for old-age people and support for troubling parents and students. This article also recommends interventions and policies for reviving the disrupted businesses and strengthening entrepreneurs. Measures for income generation, removal of hunger, and reducing addictions and gambling should also be on the priority list. Limited collaboration among countries was observed, but robust collaboration among the research institutions and authors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeet Singh
- University Centre for Research & Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali, India
- University School of Business, Chandigarh University, Mohali, India
- *Correspondence: Sanjeet Singh,
| | - Deepali Bedi
- University School of Business, Chandigarh University, Mohali, India
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12
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Kerr WC, Ye Y, Martinez P, Karriker-Jaffe KJ, Patterson D, Greenfield TK, Mulia N. Longitudinal assessment of drinking changes during the pandemic: The 2021 COVID-19 follow-up study to the 2019 to 2020 National Alcohol Survey. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:1050-1061. [PMID: 35753040 PMCID: PMC9350305 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background Surveys of changes in drinking during the COVID‐19 pandemic have primarily relied on retrospective self‐report. Further, most such surveys have not included detailed measures of alcohol use patterns, such as beverage‐specific consumption, nor measures of alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms that would allow a comprehensive understanding of changes in alcohol use. Methods Data from 1819 completed interviews from the N14C follow‐up survey to the 2019 to 2020 National Alcohol Survey (N14) were conducted between January 30 and March 28, 2021. Questions on alcohol use from the Graduated Frequency series, beverage‐specific quantity and frequency, and DSM‐5 AUD items were asked in both surveys and used to estimate changes from pre‐pandemic drinking to drinking during the pandemic. Analyses focus on changes in these measures over time and comparisons between key subgroups defined by gender, race/ethnicity, and age. Results Key findings include particularly large increases in drinking and AUD for African Americans and women, reduced drinking and heavy drinking prevalence among men and White respondents, and a concentration of increased drinking and AUD among respondents aged 35 to 49. Increases in alcohol use were found to be driven particularly by increases in drinking frequency and the consumption of spirits. Conclusions Results confirm prior findings of overall increases and subgroup‐specific changes, and importantly, provide detailed information on the patterns of change across major socio‐demographic subgroups. Substantial increases in the prevalence of DSM‐5 moderate to severe AUDs are a novel finding that is of particular concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- William C Kerr
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, California, USA
| | - Yu Ye
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, California, USA
| | - Priscilla Martinez
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, California, USA
| | | | - Deidre Patterson
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, California, USA
| | - Thomas K Greenfield
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, California, USA
| | - Nina Mulia
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, California, USA
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Batterham PJ, Shou Y, Farrer LM, Murray K, Morse AR, Gulliver A, Slade T, Newton NC, Calear AL. Patterns and predictors of alcohol use during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: Longitudinal cohort study. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:1248-1257. [PMID: 35567305 PMCID: PMC9348344 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Background The COVID‐19 pandemic has resulted in disruptions across many life domains. The distress associated with the pandemic itself, and with public health efforts to manage the outbreak, could result in increased alcohol use. This study aimed to quantify changes in alcohol use during the early stages of the pandemic and factors associated with different patterns of use. Methods Data were obtained from a longitudinal survey of a representative Australian adult sample (N = 1296, 50% female, Mage = 46.0) conducted from March to June 2020, during the first wave of the COVID‐19 outbreak in Australia. Change in alcohol consumption was examined using Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test‐Consumption (AUDIT‐C) scores from waves one, three, five, and seven of the study, each 4 weeks apart. Factors associated with alcohol consumption were examined, including depression (PHQ‐9) and anxiety (GAD‐7) symptoms, health risk tolerance, stress and coping, work and social impairment (WSAS), COVID impacts, and sociodemographic variables. We tested changes in alcohol use across the full sample using a mixed effects repeated measure ANOVA model and a multinomial logistic regression to identify factors assessed at wave 1 that were independently associated with alcohol use. Results There was no significant change in AUDIT‐C scores across the study. For most participants, alcohol use did not increase during the early phase of the COVID‐19 pandemic in Australia. COVID‐19 exposure, higher perceived coping, depression symptoms, and male gender were associated with greater odds of increasing or elevated levels of alcohol use. Social changes, which included working from home, had mixed effects on alcohol consumption. Conclusions Although no evidence was found for increased alcohol use overall during the early months of the pandemic, several factors were associated with alcohol consumption at risky levels. Greater understanding of motivations for drinking across public and private contexts, along with targeted support for high‐risk groups, could assist in reducing harm associated with alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J Batterham
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Yiyun Shou
- Research School of Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Louise M Farrer
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Kristen Murray
- Research School of Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Alyssa R Morse
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Amelia Gulliver
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Tim Slade
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicola C Newton
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alison L Calear
- Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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14
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Patrick ME, Terry-McElrath YM, Miech RA, Keyes KM, Jager J, Schulenberg JE. Alcohol use and the COVID-19 pandemic: Historical trends in drinking, contexts, and reasons for use among U.S. adults. Soc Sci Med 2022; 301:114887. [PMID: 35316700 PMCID: PMC8924032 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Objective The current study used U.S. national data to examine drinking trends prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, focusing on changes in U.S. young- and middle-adult alcohol prevalence, frequency, and drinking contexts and reasons, and whether they differed by age and college status. Methods Data from 2015 to 2020 from 16,987 young adults (ages 19–30) and 23,584 middle adults (ages 35–55) in the national Monitoring the Future study were used to model historical trends and potential 2020 shifts (data collection April 1 to November 30, 2020) in prevalence (30-day, daily, binge drinking) and frequency (30-day, binge drinking). For young adults, data on drinking contexts and negative affect reasons for drinking were examined. Moderation by age and college status was also tested. Results 2020 was associated with (1) downward deviation in 30-day (young and middle adults) and binge drinking (young adults) prevalence; (2) upward deviation in daily drinking prevalence (middle adults); (3) among drinkers, upward deviation in frequency of 30-day (young and middle adults) and binge drinking (young adults); and (4) changes in drinking contexts and reasons among drinkers. Among college students, in particular, 2020 was associated with a downward deviation from expected historical trends in drinking prevalence. Upward deviations in daily prevalence and both binge and 30-day drinking frequency were stronger at ages 25–30 (vs. 19–24) and 35–45 (vs. 50–55). Conclusions Among U.S. young and middle adults, deviations from expected historical trends in population alcohol use that occurred during the pandemic included decreases in alcohol use prevalence, increases in alcohol use frequency, and increases in the use of alcohol to relax/relieve tension and because of boredom. These shifts were likely due, in part, to drinking while alone and at home—which increased during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Patrick
- University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | | | - Richard A Miech
- University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Katherine M Keyes
- Columbia University, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Justin Jager
- Arizona State University, T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - John E Schulenberg
- University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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15
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Martinez P, Karriker-Jaffe KJ, Ye Y, Patterson D, Greenfield TK, Mulia N, Kerr WC. Mental health and drinking to cope in the early COVID period: Data from the 2019-2020 US National Alcohol Survey. Addict Behav 2022; 128:107247. [PMID: 35074636 PMCID: PMC8760097 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies show drinking to cope and mental health problems have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, their samples have been limited by convenience sampling or lack of a pre-pandemic measure. We examined the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, drinking to cope and their association using a probability-based sample of the US adult population. METHODS Data was drawn from the probability samples of the 2019-2020 National Alcohol Survey (N = 7,233) to examine differences in drinking to cope and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Analyses compared participants who responded to the survey just prior to the widespread onset of the pandemic to those who responded after March 2020, in the total sample and by sex. RESULTS Respondents in the early- vs. pre-COVID-19 period had a 1.48 higher odds (p = 0.03) of higher agreement with drinking to forget one's worries and problems, with a significant association observed among women only. Respondents with symptoms of depression and anxiety had a 2.94 and 1.56 higher odds, respectively, of higher agreement with drinking to forget one's worries. We observed significant associations between early- vs. pre-COVID-19 period, depression and anxiety symptoms, and drinking to forget one's worries among women only; however, moderation by sex in the total sample was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS We observed higher prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms and greater drinking to forget worries in the early months of COVID restrictions relative to the period just prior, with some effects more prominent among women. These observations call for sustained monitoring of and support for the mental health of the general population, and of women in particular during the course of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla Martinez
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 6001 Shellmound St Suite 450, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States.
| | | | - Yu Ye
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 6001 Shellmound St Suite 450, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States
| | - Deidre Patterson
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 6001 Shellmound St Suite 450, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States
| | - Thomas K Greenfield
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 6001 Shellmound St Suite 450, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States
| | - Nina Mulia
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 6001 Shellmound St Suite 450, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States
| | - William C Kerr
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 6001 Shellmound St Suite 450, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States
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16
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Subbaraman MS. A commentary on "Abstinence versus moderation recovery pathways following resolution of a substance use problem". Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2022; 46:705-706. [PMID: 35352355 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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17
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Oh H, Leventhal AM, Tam CC, Rajkumar R, Zhou S, Clapp JD. Stressors experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and substance use among US college students. DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE REPORTS 2021; 1:100005. [PMID: 35156105 PMCID: PMC8606256 DOI: 10.1016/j.dadr.2021.100005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic caused numerous stressors that may have been linked to substance use among college students. METHODS We analyzed data from the Fall 2020 Healthy Minds Study (N = 15,995), a non-probability sample of students attending one of 28 universities, who completed an online survey during the COVID-19 pandemic (September - December 2020). Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the associations between COVID-19 stressors (concern, racial/ethnic discrimination, financial distress, infection, illness of loved one, death of loved one, caregiving) and substance use (alcohol, cigarette, marijuana), adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and international student status. All COVID-19 stressors were included in the same weighted logistic regression models. RESULTS About 46.89% of the sample reported drinking any alcohol (in the past 2 weeks), 7.38% used any cigarettes, and 16.87% used any marijuana over the past month. Multivariable logistic regression models showed that infection and caregiving were significantly associated with alcohol use; racial/ethnic discrimination and financial distress were associated with smoking cigarettes; and concern and infection were associated with marijuana use. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 stressors were related to substance use, though the strength and significance of the associations varied depending on the stressors and the type of substance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Oh
- Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, USA
| | - Adam M. Leventhal
- USC Institute for Addiction Science, University of Southern California, USA
| | | | - Ravi Rajkumar
- Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, India
| | - Sasha Zhou
- Wayne State University, Department of Public Health, Wayne State, USA
| | - John D. Clapp
- Suzanne Dworak Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, USA
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Fruehwirth JC, Gorman BL, Perreira KM. The Effect of Social and Stress-Related Factors on Alcohol Use Among College Students During the Covid-19 Pandemic. J Adolesc Health 2021; 69:557-565. [PMID: 34353720 PMCID: PMC8415772 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this article is to study how Covid-19 stress-related factors and changes in social engagement during the pandemic contributed to changes in alcohol use among first-year college students. METHODS We used data on 439 first-year students (ages 18-20) at a large public university in North Carolina both before (October 2019 to February 2020) and after (June/July 2020) the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. We evaluated changes in prevalence and days of alcohol use and binge drinking. We estimated the associations between Covid-19 stressors/stress (work reductions, health, distanced learning difficulties, perceived stress) and social engagement (perceived social support from friends, social isolation, and social distancing) after controlling for students' pre-pandemic alcohol use, social engagement, and demographic characteristics. RESULTS We found that the prevalence of alcohol use and binge drinking in the past 30 days decreased from 54.2% to 46.0% and 35.5% to 24.6%, respectively; days of use did not change significantly. The decreases were primarily associated with reductions in social engagement. Among Covid-19 stressors/stress, only challenges with distance learning were associated with higher alcohol use among those who were already drinking prior to the pandemic. Drinking increased more among those who endorsed using substances to cope, while drinking was not associated with resilient coping. CONCLUSIONS Unless new drinking habits are formed during the pandemic, decreases in alcohol use among college students are unlikely to be sustained as social distancing measures are removed. Colleges may want to target interventions to students who have responded to stress with increased alcohol use, partly by addressing difficulties with distance learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Cooley Fruehwirth
- Department of Economics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
| | - Benjamin L Gorman
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Krista M Perreira
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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