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Geda DW, Stangl BL, Arsenault A, Thompson MF, Schwandt ML, Goldman D, Ramchandani VA, Diazgranados N, Luk JW. Drinking motives link positive and negative life events to problematic alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study. Alcohol Alcohol 2024; 59:agae068. [PMID: 39367531 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agae068] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 10/06/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Stressful life events are associated with problematic drinking, and alcohol misuse has been exacerbated during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. While coping motives may account for this association, positive life events (PLEs) and enhancement motives are understudied. To address these gaps, we examined the associations of history of alcohol use disorder (AUD), negative life events (NLEs), and PLEs with problematic alcohol use and tested coping and enhancement motives as mediators. METHODS The sample included baseline and follow-up data from 241 participants enrolled in the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Alcohol Study. Endorsements of past year PLEs and NLEs and their associations with problematic alcohol use were examined. Among the 202 current drinkers, path analyses tested mediational pathways via coping and enhancement motives. RESULTS The top two PLEs were change in work conditions (21.6%) and taking a vacation (20.3%). The top two NLEs were change in social activities (36.5%) and major change in recreation (26.6%). Individuals with a history of AUD and those who experienced more NLEs reported higher coping and enhancement motives, which were associated with higher problematic alcohol use. Individuals who experienced more PLEs reported lower coping motives, which was associated with lower problematic alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS Besides coping motives, enhancement motives were also associated with pandemic problematic alcohol use. Alcohol interventions targeting reward- and relief-driven drinking patterns may be beneficial to individuals with a history of AUD and those who experienced more NLEs. More research is needed to study PLEs which may help inform the development of strength-based alcohol interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Geda
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Office of the Clinical Director, Building 10 - CRC, Room 1-5340, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Bethany L Stangl
- Human Psychopharmacology Laboratory, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Office of the Clinical Director, Building 10 - CRC, Room 1-5340, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Avery Arsenault
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Office of the Clinical Director, Building 10 - CRC, Room 1-5340, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Matthew F Thompson
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 222 Richmond St., Providence, RI 02903, United States
| | - Melanie L Schwandt
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Office of the Clinical Director, Building 10 - CRC, Room 1-5340, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - David Goldman
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Office of the Clinical Director, Building 10 - CRC, Room 1-5340, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Office of the Clinical Director, Building 10 - CRC, Room 1-5340, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Vijay A Ramchandani
- Human Psychopharmacology Laboratory, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Office of the Clinical Director, Building 10 - CRC, Room 1-5340, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Nancy Diazgranados
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Office of the Clinical Director, Building 10 - CRC, Room 1-5340, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
| | - Jeremy W Luk
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Office of the Clinical Director, Building 10 - CRC, Room 1-5340, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States
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2
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Stewart SD, Manning WD, Gustafson KE, Kamp Dush C. Sexual and gender identities and alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0308925. [PMID: 39241086 PMCID: PMC11379183 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/08/2024] Open
Abstract
This study examined differences in alcohol use by sexual and gender identities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and assessed whether variation between groups was explained by pandemic-related stressors and minority stress. Data from 2,429 partnered adults in the National Couples' Health and Time Use Study (n = 3,593) collected from September 2020 to April 2021 were used to model drinking patterns (frequency, amount, and drinking to cope) by sexual and gender identities, COVID-19 stress and disruption, microaggressions, and supportive climate. Regression models indicated differences in drinking by gender and sexual identities, even controlling for demographic and socioeconomic factors. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual people had higher odds of drinking to cope with the pandemic than did heterosexual people, and cisgender men had higher odds than did cisgender women. Gay and lesbian people drank more regularly than did heterosexual people, as did cisgender men in relation to cisgender women. Exclusively bisexual people drank significantly more drinks than exclusively heterosexual people, and cisgender men drank significantly more drinks than did cisgender women and those who identified as trans/another gender identity. COVID-19 stress and minority stress were associated with greater alcohol consumption, but they did not account for these differentials. Moving forward, researchers will need to continuously assess these associations, as sources of discrimination and stress will persist beyond the pandemic. Although LGBTQ+ people have disproportionate sources of stress, they varied in how they used alcohol to cope. Potential sources of resilience among sexual and gender diverse individuals should be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan D Stewart
- Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Wendy D Manning
- Center for Family and Demographic Research and Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Kristen E Gustafson
- Center for Family and Demographic Research and Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Claire Kamp Dush
- Minnesota Population Center and Department of Sociology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
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3
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Ou C, Corby K, Booth K, Ou HH. Parental Patterns of Alcohol Consumption During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review. Interact J Med Res 2024; 13:e48339. [PMID: 39186759 PMCID: PMC11384174 DOI: 10.2196/48339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic led to public health restrictions that impacted the lives of people across the globe. Parents were particularly burdened with balancing multiple responsibilities, such as working from home while caring for and educating their children. Alcohol use among parents is an area that warrants further exploration. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate patterns of parental alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on relative changes in the frequency and quantity of alcohol use compared to prepandemic use, nonparent adult samples, or both. METHODS A scoping review informed by the methodology of Arksey and O'Malley explored patterns of parental alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Searches were conducted in CINAHL, Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Search terms were created using the Joanna Briggs Institute framework of Population, Concept, and Context, with the population being parents and the concept being alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS The database search yielded 3568 articles, which were screened for eligibility. Of the 3568 articles, 40 (1.12%) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the scoping review. Findings indicated the following: (1) having children at home was a factor associated with parental patterns of alcohol use; (2) mixed findings regarding gender-related patterns of alcohol consumption; and (3) linkages between parental patterns of alcohol use and mental health symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS This scoping review revealed heterogeneous patterns in parental alcohol use across sociocultural contexts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the known harms of alcohol use, it is worthwhile for clinicians to assess parental drinking patterns and initiate conversations regarding moderation in alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Ou
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Kathryn Corby
- School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Kelsey Booth
- School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Hui-Hui Ou
- Library Services, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC, Canada
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Brandt L, Anthonipillai NJ, López-Castro T, Melara R, Espinosa A. Substance use trajectories among urban college students: associations with symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression before and during COVID-19. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2024; 72:1717-1726. [PMID: 35728099 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2089844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study explored substance use trajectories and associations with mental health among an ethnically/racially diverse college student sample before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We combined repeated cross-sections and panel data from a total of 3,247 college students assessed with an online survey in 2018, 2019, and in three waves in 2020. We estimated trends in substance use and their relation to mental health over the survey waves using generalized estimating equations (GEE). Our results revealed notable associations between 30-day substance use patterns, time of assessment, and psychological well-being. These findings suggest a complex interplay between access to substances, context of substance use, and mental health. We discuss several initiatives that have been launched in response to the results of this ongoing study. Such initiatives may serve as examples for expanding similar efforts to other commuter colleges to prevent further increases in mental health problems and risky substance use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Brandt
- Division on Substance Use Disorders, New York State Psychiatric Institute & Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Teresa López-Castro
- Psychology Department, The City College of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Robert Melara
- Psychology Department, The City College of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Adriana Espinosa
- Psychology Department, The City College of New York, New York, New York, USA
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5
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Segrin C, Jiao J, Cooper RA. Social Isolation Mediates the Effects of Negative Emotionality and Resilience on Drinking to Cope and Drinking Alone. Subst Use Misuse 2024; 59:1860-1869. [PMID: 39060223 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2024.2383615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this research was to test an extension of the incentive motivation model of alcohol by examining effects of personality traits on drinking motives and contexts, as mediated by social isolation. Methods: Participants were 1269 adults who resided in the United States (n = 618) or United Kingdom (n = 651) and completed an online questionnaire measuring the traits of negative emotionality and resilience, along with social isolation, drinking motives (coping, social) and drinking contexts (alone, at a party, at a bar/club). Six months later, 70% of the participants returned to complete a similar online questionnaire. Results: Path analysis was used to test the hypothesized models and revealed that negative emotionality had a prospective indirect effect on drinking to cope and drinking alone through increased social isolation over the 6-month period of observation. In contrast, the trait of resilience had a prospective indirect effect on reductions in the drinking to cope motive and reductions in drinking alone, through decreased social isolation. Conclusion: The findings suggest that personality traits that contribute to social isolation may be risk factors for dysfunctional drinking motives and contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Segrin
- Department of Communication, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Jian Jiao
- Faculty of Humanities and Arts, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
| | - R Amanda Cooper
- Department of Communication, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
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Diniz AP, Mendonça RDD, Machado-Coelho GLL, Meireles AL. The Interaction between Education and Sex with Alcohol Consumption during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Two Brazilian Cities. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:804. [PMID: 38929050 PMCID: PMC11203712 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21060804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
This cross-sectional study, carried out between October and December 2020 in two Brazilian cities, aimed to evaluate the joint association of education and sex with habitual and episodic excessive alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Habitual alcohol consumption was defined as drinking any quantity of alcohol at least once per week. Excessive episodic alcohol consumption was defined as the consumption of five or more drinks by men or four or more drinks by women at least once in the last 30 days. Adjusted multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze associations of education and sex with alcohol consumption. Education was not associated with habitual alcohol consumption and excessive episodic alcohol consumption. However, when evaluating the joint effect between education and sex, it can be seen that men with low education were more likely to habitually consume (OR: 5.85; CI95:2.74-14.84) and abuse alcohol (OR: 4.45; IC95:1.54-12.82) and women with high education were more likely to have habitual (OR: 2.16; IC95:1.18-3.95) and abusive alcohol consumption (OR: 2.00; IC95:1.16-3.43). These findings highlight the modifying effect of sex on the relationship between education and alcohol consumption, such that education influenced alcohol consumption differently between sexes during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Popolino Diniz
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Nutrition, Nutrition School, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400000, MG, Brazil;
| | - Raquel de Deus Mendonça
- Department of Clinical and Social Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400000, MG, Brazil;
| | | | - Adriana Lúcia Meireles
- Department of Clinical and Social Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto 35400000, MG, Brazil;
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Ebling S, Johnson SU, Hoffart A, Pallesen S, Ebrahimi OV. The dynamic relationships between well-being, behavioral restrictions, and health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: A large-scale intensive longitudinal network study. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2024. [PMID: 38800934 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The behavioral restrictions disrupting daily life during the COVID-19 pandemic have profoundly impacted well-being, and health behaviors have been advocated to prevent decline. To understand how processes related to fluctuation in well-being unfold within individuals, analyses on the within-person level are required. In this preregistered intensive longitudinal study, 1,709 individuals from the Norwegian adult population provided data daily over 40 consecutive days during the pandemic. The responses were modeled in a multilevel vector autoregressive model to estimate within-person networks, across and within-day, and a between-person network. All three networks revealed productivity, relatedness, and optimism as positively associated. Social distancing was contemporaneously negatively associated with productivity and relatedness. Among behavioral factors, being physically active predicted lower relatedness across days but displayed positive associations with relatedness, productivity, and optimism contemporaneously. Alcohol consumption predicted lower productivity across and within-day, although revealing a positive association with optimism within-day. Being social online and feeling related to others displayed a temporal negative bidirectional relationship. In contrast, being social online was positively associated with optimism, productivity, and relatedness contemporaneously. Our study emphasizes the dynamic nature of well-being and its complex associations with behavioral factors during the pandemic. The study shed light on opposing associations of behavioral factors at the within- and between-person level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ebling
- Department of Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Sverre Urnes Johnson
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Research Institute, Modum Bad Psychiatric Hospital, Vikersund, Norway
| | - Asle Hoffart
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Research Institute, Modum Bad Psychiatric Hospital, Vikersund, Norway
| | - Ståle Pallesen
- Department of Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Omid V Ebrahimi
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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8
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Lac A. Drinking to Cope With the COVID-19 Pandemic Mediates Pathways From COVID-19 Anxiety to Alcohol Use and Alcohol Myopia Consequences. J Dual Diagn 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38742669 DOI: 10.1080/15504263.2024.2343372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE People may consume alcohol to cope with the stressors and anxieties of the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study applied the self-medication hypothesis, tension reduction hypothesis, and alcohol myopia theory to understand COVID-19 alcohol coping as a mediator of the pathways from COVID-19 anxiety to alcohol use and alcohol consequences. METHODS Participants (N = 477) were undergraduate college students. The mean age was 22.14 (SD = 5.66) years. Gender distribution included 73% females, 26% males, and 1% transgender. Racial categories included 70% White, 11% Latino, 5% Black, 5% Asian, and 9% multiracial. They completed the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, the COVID-19 Alcohol Coping Scale developed and validated in the present study, measures of drinking frequency and drinking quantity, and the Alcohol Myopia Scale to assess alcohol consequences. RESULTS First, confirmatory factor analysis supported the measurement structure of the COVID-19 Alcohol Coping Scale. Second, a general structural equation model containing only latent factors provided evidence for the following pathways: COVID-19 anxiety to COVID-19 alcohol coping to overall alcohol use to alcohol myopia consequences. Third, a specific structural equation model separated the overall alcohol use factor into two measures of drinking frequency and drinking quantity. Results found that COVID-19 alcohol coping uniquely explained drinking frequency (but not drinking quantity), indicating that the pursuit of alcohol to cope with the pandemic was related to more frequent days of alcohol use but not more concentrated use on drinking days. Tests of indirect effects corroborated the mediational pathways in the explanatory models. CONCLUSIONS The research offers insights into understanding that the risk connections from COVID-19 anxiety to alcohol behavioral outcomes are mediated by alcohol use to cope with the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Lac
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
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9
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Cook WK, Lui CK, Greenfield TK, Subbaraman M, Li L, Kerr WC. Drinking contexts, coping motive, simultaneous cannabis use, and high-intensity drinking among adults in the United States. Alcohol Alcohol 2024; 59:agae038. [PMID: 38851209 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agae038] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS High-intensity drinking (HID), extreme drinking considerably above the level of heavy episodic drinking (HED), is associated with long-term health and social consequences. There is limited understanding of HID beyond young adulthood. This study aims to identify concurrent risk factors for HID, comparing age differences among all adults. METHODS Multinomial logistic and linear regression modeling was performed using a nationally-representative sample of adults (analytic n = 7956) from the 2015 and 2020 National Alcohol Surveys. The outcomes were any HID of 8-11 drinks and 12+ drinks for men, and 8+ drinks for women, and corresponding frequencies. Concurrent risk factors included coping motive, sensation seeking, simultaneous use of alcohol and cannabis (SAC), and drinking at a bar or party. Analyses were stratified by age (18-29 vs. older) and sex. RESULTS For younger men, sensation-seeking was significantly associated with HID (vs. no HED) at both levels and frequency of HID 8-11 drinks, while drinking to cope was only significant for 12+ drinks. For older men, drinking to cope was a consistent predictor for both HID level and its frequency, but sensation-seeking was not significant. Both coping and sensation-seeking were significantly associated with any HID for all women, while coping was significant for HID frequency for younger women. Frequent drinking at bars and parties were associated with greater odds of HID for all adults. With HED as referent, similar patterns of (though fewer significant) associations were observed. CONCLUSIONS Younger and older adults share similar risk factors for HID, with coping more consistent for older men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Kim Cook
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 6001 Shellmound St. Suite 450, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States
| | - Camillia K Lui
- 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
| | - Meenakshi Subbaraman
- Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 6001 Shellmound St. Suite 450, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States
| | - Libo Li
- 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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10
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Marti-Prats L, Belin D. Characterization in the rat of the individual tendency to rely on alcohol to cope with distress and the ensuing vulnerability to drink compulsively. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae169. [PMID: 38868300 PMCID: PMC11168338 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae169] [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] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Only some vulnerable individuals who recreationally drink alcohol eventually develop the compulsive drinking pattern that characterizes alcohol use disorder. A new frontier in biomedical research lies in understanding the neurobehavioural mechanisms of this individual vulnerability, a necessary step towards developing novel effective therapeutic strategies. Translational research has been hindered by the lack of valid, reliable and robust approaches that enable the study of the influence of the reliance on alcohol to cope with stress or self-medicate negative emotional states on the subsequent transition to alcohol use disorder. We have therefore developed a behavioural task in the rat that enables the investigation of the neural and cellular basis of the exacerbation of the vulnerability to develop compulsive alcohol drinking by the use of alcohol to develop an adjunctive, anxiolytic, polydipsic drinking behaviour in a schedule-induced polydipsia procedure. Hence, in our task, alcohol is introduced in the schedule-induced polydipsia context after several weeks of training with water so that rats are exposed to alcohol for the first time in a distressing context and learn to drink alcohol as a coping strategy. Capitalizing on this protocol, we have consistently been able to identify a subpopulation of rats that were unable to learn to cope with negative states by drinking water and relied on alcohol to do so. This maladaptive reliance on alcohol drinking to cope with distress has been shown to be associated with an exacerbation of the subsequent transition to compulsive drinking. Furthermore, these vulnerable rats reached blood alcohol levels comparable to that of intoxication in humans, thereby developing two key features of alcohol use disorder, namely excessive alcohol intake and compulsive drinking. Altogether, this behavioural task provides a novel and unique tool for the investigation of the neurobehavioural mechanisms underlying the exacerbation of the individual vulnerability to developing compulsive alcohol drinking by the use of alcohol as a strategy to cope with distress, and for the evaluation of the efficacy of potential therapeutic strategies in a personalized medicine approach. This procedure, which focuses on an understudied but key factor of the development of alcohol use disorder, may become widely used as it benefits the fields of alcohol, emotion regulation and stress, the interest in which has substantially increased since the evidence of a profound exacerbation of alcohol use and alcohol-related negative consequences by the distress and social isolation engendered by the various measures implemented worldwide in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Marti-Prats
- Department of Psychology, CLIC (Cambridge Laboratory for Research on Impulsive/Compulsive Disorders), University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
| | - David Belin
- Department of Psychology, CLIC (Cambridge Laboratory for Research on Impulsive/Compulsive Disorders), University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EB, UK
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Mojica-Perez Y, Willoughby B, Anderson-Luxford D, Wilkinson C, Kuntsche E, Callinan S, Ritter A. Exploring the relationship between solitary drinking and living without other adults on alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alcohol Alcohol 2024; 59:agae013. [PMID: 38497163 PMCID: PMC10945291 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agae013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS The COVID-19 pandemic presents the opportunity to learn about solitary drinking as many people were forced to spend time at home. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between solitary drinking and living without other adults on alcohol consumption. METHODS A longitudinal study with four survey waves (between May and November 2020) obtained seven-day drinking diary data from Australian adults living in New South Wales. In May, a convenience sample of 586 participants (Mage = 35.3, SD = 14.8; 65.3% women) completed the first wave. Participants then completed a survey in June (n = 319, 54.4% response rate), July/August (n = 225, 38.4% response rate), and November (n = 222, 37.9% response rate). Information about alcohol consumption including risky drinking (more than four drinks on one occasion), household structure, solitary drinking, and demographics were collected. We conducted random-effects panel bivariate and multivariable regression analyses predicting the number of standard drinks and risky drinking. RESULTS Participants with solitary drinking occasions consumed more and had more risky drinking occasions than participants with no solitary drinking occasions, which was also found to be the case during lockdown. Living without other adults was associated with less consumption and less risky drinking than living with other adults. However, participants who lived without other adults and had frequent solitary drinking occasions (solitary drinking in >50% drinking occasions) reported more consumption than participants without a solitary drinking occasion. CONCLUSIONS Individuals who consume alcohol alone and live without other adults or spend long periods of time at home may be more at risk of alcohol-related harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvette Mojica-Perez
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Bree Willoughby
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Dan Anderson-Luxford
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Claire Wilkinson
- Drug Policy Modelling Program, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Emmanuel Kuntsche
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
- Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest 1088, Hungary
| | - Sarah Callinan
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Alison Ritter
- Drug Policy Modelling Program, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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12
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Lin TW, Richman JA, Johnson TP, Rospenda KM. Lingering Effects of COVID-19 Stressors on Mental Health and Alcohol Use in Middle Aged to Older Adults. AGING AND HEALTH RESEARCH 2024; 4:100178. [PMID: 38469172 PMCID: PMC10927003 DOI: 10.1016/j.ahr.2023.100178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Older adults have faced not only health threats but grave mental health challenges since the emergence of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Using factor analysis, this study is the first to identify the underlying dimensions of COVID-19-related stressors, then examine the relationship between these factors and mental health and alcohol use/misuse longitudinally in a middle aged to older adult sample in the United States. Methods As part of a long-term follow-up study, 921 survey participants completed measures of COVID-related stressors, psychological distress, and alcohol use/misuse in a 2020 survey. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to examine the dimensionality of COVID-related stress. Regression models were utilized to examine relationships between the extracted factors and depression, anxiety, and alcohol-related outcomes measured approximately one year later, in 2021. Results Four dimensions of COVID-19 stressors were extracted, including 1) jobs, finances and loss of routine; 2) practical difficulties; 3) social worries and challenges; and 4) supply shortages. Practical difficulties were associated with higher depression at follow-up, while jobs, finances and loss of routine were associated with past 12 month frequency of intoxication at follow-up. Conclusions Challenges from the pandemic may have longer-term implications for mental health in older adults past the acute phase of the pandemic. It is important to allocate sufficient attention and resources to the prevention of late life depression and mental health as policymakers and health professionals continue to deal with the pandemic and future variants of the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy W. Lin
- Department of Psychiatry (MC 912), 1601 W. Taylor St., 5th Floor, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Judith A. Richman
- Department of Psychiatry (MC 912), 1601 W. Taylor St., 4th Floor, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Timothy P. Johnson
- Department of Psychiatry (MC 912), 1601 W. Taylor St., 4th Floor, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kathleen M. Rospenda
- Department of Psychiatry (MC 912), 1601 W. Taylor St., 4th Floor, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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13
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Patton R, Chou J, Kestner T, Feeney E. Exploring social connectedness, isolation, support, and recovery factors among women seeking substance use treatment. Women Health 2024; 64:202-215. [PMID: 38282278 DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2024.2308518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between social variables, recovery orientation, and recovery capital among a sample of n = 30 women actively seeking substance use disorder treatment at a community-based facility in the Midwest United States. Results indicated a positive association between social connectedness, abstinence recovery orientation (p = .048) and social isolation (p = .010). Social isolation was positively associated with abstinence recovery orientation (p = .004) and negatively related to recovery capital (p = .003). Social support was positively correlated with positive expectancy (p = .030) and recovery capital (p = .033). Further, moderate/high alcohol use was related to lower normal living scores (t(28) = 3.10, p = .004), lower recovery capital scores (t(28) = 4.15, p < .000), and higher social isolation scores (t(28) = -2.53, p = .017). Screening at moderate/high risk for cannabis use was related to lower normal living scores (t(28) = 3.01, p = .005), and lower positive expectancy scores (t(28) = 3.03, p = .005). Finally, screening for moderate/high risk for polysubstance use was related to lower normal living orientation (t(28) = 2.52, p = .018) and recovery capital scores (t(28) = 2.79, p = .009). Current findings may inform strategies for examining social connectedness and social isolation variables in future clinical practice, policy, and scholarship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rikki Patton
- Department of Counseling and Family Therapy, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jessica Chou
- Department of Counseling and Family Therapy, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Tiffanie Kestner
- The Counseling Center of Wayne & Holmes County, Wooster, Ohio, USA
| | - Erika Feeney
- Department of Counseling and Family Therapy, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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14
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Zamboanga BL, Ramarushton B, Blumenthal H, Thompson L, Ham LS, Bartholomew JB, Schwartz SJ, Harkness A, Subrahmanyam K, McClain P, Regan P, Michikyan M. Business as usual? Drinking games participation before and during an academic pandemic (COVID-19) year among university students. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2024:1-8. [PMID: 38285886 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2023.2301328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Objective: A drinking game (DG) is a risky social drinking activity that is prevalent among university students and promotes rapid alcohol consumption. We examined university students' DG behaviors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Students (N = 368; Mage=21.12; women = 72.6%; Hispanic = 44.7%) from seven universities completed an online survey in 2021 (spring/summer). Results: 57% played DGs in-person before the pandemic and continued to play during the pandemic. These students were less worried about their health/symptoms if they were to contract COVID-19, had lower confidence in wearing a mask properly/socially distancing while under the influence of alcohol, consumed more alcohol during the pandemic, and endorsed higher enhancement drinking motives than students who played DGs before but stopped playing during the pandemic (30%). Conclusions: College health practitioners could pay close attention to students who endorse high enhancement motives as they are susceptible to risky DG play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byron L Zamboanga
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Banan Ramarushton
- Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA
| | | | - Linda Thompson
- Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA
| | - Lindsay S Ham
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - John B Bartholomew
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Seth J Schwartz
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Audrey Harkness
- School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, USA
| | - Kaveri Subrahmanyam
- Department of Psychology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Patrick McClain
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Pamela Regan
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Minas Michikyan
- Department of Child and Family Studies, California State University, Los Angeles, California, USA
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15
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Lu L, Liu G, Xu Y, Jiang J, Wei Z. A systematic review of studies on stress during the COVID-19 pandemic by visualizing their structure through COOC, VOS viewer, and Cite Space software. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1297112. [PMID: 38333890 PMCID: PMC10850234 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1297112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 epidemic generated different forms of stress. From this period, there has been a remarkable increase in the quantity of studies on stress conducted by scholars. However, few used bibliometric analyses to focus on overall trends in the field. Purpose This study sought to understand the current status and trends in stress development during COVID-19, as well as the main research drives and themes in this field. Methods 2719 publications from the Web of Science(WOS) core repository on stress during COVID-19 were analyzed by utilizing Co-Occurrence (COOC), VOS viewer, and Cite Space bibliometric software. The overall features of research on stress during COVID-19 were concluded by analyzing the quantity of publications, keywords, countries, and institutions. Results The results indicated that the United States had the largest number of publications and collaborated closely with other countries with each other. University of Toronto was the most prolific institution worldwide. Visualization and analysis demonstrated that the influence of stress during COVID-19 on the work, life, mental and spiritual dimensions is a hot research topic. Among other things, the frequency of each keyword in research on stress during COVID-19 increased from 2021 to 2022, and the researchers expanded their scope and study population; the range of subjects included children, nurses, and college students, as well as studies focusing on different types of stress, and emphasizing the handling of stress. Conclusion Our findings reveal that the heat of stress research during COVID-19 has declined, and the main research forces come from the United States and China. Additionally, subsequent research should concern more on coping methods with stress, while using more quantitative and qualitative studies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyun Lu
- College of Teacher Education, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guiping Liu
- College of Teacher Education, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanhua Xu
- School of Geography and Environment, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jinxiu Jiang
- College of Teacher Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zizi Wei
- School of Geography and Environment, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
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16
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Kautz SV, Bosk EA, Mendez A, Pomales H. Strategies and Adaptations to an Integrated Substance Use and Infant Mental Health Treatment Program During COVID-19. ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY IN MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH 2024; 51:17-34. [PMID: 37773312 DOI: 10.1007/s10488-023-01300-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased parenting stress and substance use. At the same time that mental health and social service needs increased, access to services, including among those receiving treatment, decreased due to stay-at-home orders. Few programs were equipped or prepared to translate their interventions to a virtual format at the start of the pandemic. There is a critical need to identify effective adaptations to substance use and family-focused treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Effective program adaptations have continued relevance for the expansion of access to family-focused addiction services beyond the pandemic itself, particularly for rural or other hard to reach populations. Seventy-three semi-structured interviews were conducted with the five agencies participating in the implementation of the In-Home Recovery Program (IHRP), an in-home, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment program. Using a rapid analysis approach two coders analyzed interviews for recurring concepts and themes. Facilitators for adapting services included: (1) the introduction of virtual toxicology screens, (2) helping parents access technology, (3) assisting parents with non-identified children to decrease their stress, and (4) anticipating reoccurrences of substances during the pandemic. Barriers to adapting services included: (1) engaging young children in virtual treatment, (2) privacy, and (3) engaging in telehealth with parents experiencing domestic violence or reoccurrence of substances. Findings reveal virtual substance use treatment is possible. Facilitators to adaptation such as providing access to technology and virtual toxicology screens demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of utilizing telehealth interventions for substance use. Barriers to adaptations were primarily related to the infant mental health component. Telehealth is likely not appropriate for children below the age of five. Individual sessions focusing on caregiving, rather than dyadic treatment may be more suitable to virtual formats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah V Kautz
- School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 390 George Street, Room 713, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA.
| | - Emily A Bosk
- School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 390 George Street, Room 713, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Alicia Mendez
- School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 390 George Street, Room 713, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Hannah Pomales
- School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 390 George Street, Room 713, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
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17
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Crisafulli MJ, Flori JN, Dunn ME, Dvorak RD. College Student Alcohol Use: Understanding the Role of Alcohol Expectancies, Social Anxiety, Social Connectedness, and Need to Belong. Psychiatry 2023; 87:21-35. [PMID: 38048159 PMCID: PMC11151340 DOI: 10.1080/00332747.2023.2286845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
ObjectiveCollege students consume more alcohol and engage in binge drinking more frequently than their non-college attending peers, and prevalence of alcohol-related consequences (e.g., drinking and driving; taking avoidable risks) has not decreased proportionally with decreases in consumption. Social anxiety and alcohol expectancies, or beliefs about the effects of alcohol, have been found to be significantly related to alcohol use and account for significant variance in alcohol use and related consequences. Few studies, however, have examined how other social variables such as need to belong and social connectedness may fit into existing models of increased and risky alcohol use. Methods: Students at a large state university (n = 1,278) completed an online survey measuring alcohol expectancies, need to belong, social anxiety, and social connectedness. Mean age of participants was 19.65 years, and 59.5% self-identified as female, 39.8% male, and 0.7% identified as transgender. Structural equation modeling supported hypothesized relationships between need to belong, social anxiety, social connectedness, alcohol expectancies, and alcohol use, a mean centered variable that included binge drinking, drinking frequency, and amount of consumption. Results: Positive alcohol expectancies related to tension reduction, sociability, and sexuality, were positively related to drinking, such that increased alcohol expectancies were associated with increased drinking. Alcohol expectancies mediated the relationship between need to belong and increased alcohol use, as well as social connectedness and increased alcohol use. Similarly, social anxiety also mediated these relationships. No direct relationships were found between need to belong or social connectedness and alcohol use, suggesting previous research exploring these relationships may have excluded control variables (e.g., biological sex, race/ethnicity) that better explain the impact of need to belong and social connectedness on alcohol use. Conclusion: Prevention and intervention efforts might be more effective in reducing alcohol use if social factors are more broadly targeted.
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18
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Luk JW, Geda DW, Stangl BL, Cheng C, Schwandt ML, Goldman D, Diazgranados N, Ramchandani VA. Social media addiction as a mediator of the associations between fear of COVID-19, mental health symptoms, and problematic alcohol use. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1268890. [PMID: 38034930 PMCID: PMC10682110 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1268890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Fear of COVID-19 is a risk factor for anxiety and depressive symptoms. During the COVID-19 pandemic, drinking to cope with psychological distress has been proposed as a key mechanism leading to problematic drinking. The goal of this study was to test social media addiction as a mediator linking fear of COVID-19 to mental health symptoms and problematic alcohol use. Methods In between April 6 and July 2 of 2022, 250 participants completed an online survey as part of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Alcohol Study. Path analyses were conducted to test the mediational pathways. Results Using the polythetic classification scheme, 13.2% (n = 33) of participants were classified as having social media addiction. Compared with participants without social media addiction, participants with social media addiction spent significantly more time on social media platforms and on digital communications with a family member or friend. They also reported greater fear of COVID-19, higher anxiety symptoms, and higher depressive symptoms. Path analyses indicated that social media addiction mediated the associations of fear of COVID-19 with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, there were indirect pathways linking fear of COVID-19 to problematic alcohol use through higher social media addiction and higher anxiety and depressive symptoms. Conclusion Social media addiction may be a maladaptive coping mechanism that individuals with high fear of COVID-19 utilized to deal with uncertainty and perceived risks during the pandemic. Findings underscore the need to examine cognitions related to fear of COVID-19 and address excessive social media use in the context of mental health and alcohol interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy W. Luk
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Daniel W. Geda
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Bethany L. Stangl
- Human Psychopharmacology Laboratory, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Cecilia Cheng
- Social and Health Psychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Melanie L. Schwandt
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - David Goldman
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Nancy Diazgranados
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Vijay A. Ramchandani
- Human Psychopharmacology Laboratory, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, United States
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19
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Kalanj K, Ćurković M, Peček M, Orešković S, Orbanić A, Marshall R. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute mental health admissions in Croatia. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1231796. [PMID: 38026363 PMCID: PMC10679393 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1231796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The pandemic of COVID-19 had a profound impact on our community and healthcare system. This study aims to assess the impact of COVID-19 on psychiatric care in Croatia by comparing the number of acute psychiatric cases before coronavirus disease (2017-2019) and during the pandemic (2020-2022). Materials and methods The paper is a retrospective, comparative analyzes of the hospital admission rate in Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) classes related to mental diseases, and organic mental disorders caused by alcohol and drug use. This study used DRG data from all acute hospitals in Croatia accredited to provide mental health care services and relevant publicly available data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health (CIPH) and the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (CHIF). All hospital admissions for acute psychiatric patients in Croatia were tracked during both periods under study. Results During the pandemic, the average number of all such cases decreased by 28% in secondary and tertiary hospitals, and by 11% in specialist psychiatric hospitals. It was also found that during COVID-19, there was a decrease in case numbers in DRG classes related to major affective disorders and anxiety, alcohol, and drug intoxication (31, 48, 34 and 45%, respectively). However, the same period saw an increase in hospital activity for eating disorders and for involuntary admissions related to schizophrenia and paranoia (30, 34 and 39% respectively). There were no changes in the admission rate for cases related to opioid use. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in both a steep decrease in the overall number of psychiatric cases inpatient treatment at mental health facilities and their DRG casemix. Increasing our understanding of how pandemics and isolation affect demand for psychiatric care will help us better plan for future crises and provide more targeted care to this vulnerable group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Kalanj
- Department of Medical Oncology, Clinic of Oncology, Clinical Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
- Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marko Ćurković
- University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mirta Peček
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Stjepan Orešković
- Andrija Štampar School of Public Health, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Rick Marshall
- Epidemiologist and Independent Consultant in Health System Funding Models, Eaglehawk Neck, TAS, Australia
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20
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Beck JG, Bowen ME, Majeed R, Free BL, Brown TA, Brown B, Farchione T. Alcohol Use and Mental Health Symptoms in Nurses during the Early Months of COVID-19. J Dual Diagn 2023; 19:240-247. [PMID: 37813696 DOI: 10.1080/15504263.2023.2260346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The current study examined associations of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], depression, and generalized anxiety disorder [GAD] with alcohol consumption and drinking to cope in a sample of 310 nurses during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD Using a cross-sectional design, nurses completed online surveys. RESULTS Over 50% of the sample reported alcohol misuse and 12.2% reported drinking to cope. Further, 38.7% reported elevated symptoms of PTSD, 29.7% moderate-to-high symptoms of depression, and 56.8% elevated symptoms of GAD symptoms. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to examine how mental health symptoms were associated with alcohol outcomes, controlling for age, gender pronouns, education, and race. No significant predictors emerged for alcohol consumption. Significant associations of symptoms of PTSD and depression were found for drinking to cope, such that higher levels of mental health symptoms were associated with greater endorsement of drinking to cope. CONCLUSION Results are discussed in light of increasing prevention and support services for nurses.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Gayle Beck
- Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Mya E Bowen
- Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Rimsha Majeed
- Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Bre'Anna L Free
- Department of Psychology, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Timothy A Brown
- Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bonnie Brown
- Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Todd Farchione
- Center for Anxiety & Related Disorders, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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21
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Pedersen HF, Stripp TK, Hvidt NC, Isene TA, la Cour P, Stålsett G, Danbolt LJ. Mental health of Scandinavians during the first lockdown in the COVID-19 pandemic: Psychosocial resources and coping strategies as protective or risk factors for anxiety and depression. Scand J Psychol 2023; 64:543-551. [PMID: 36871196 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic was a global health and economic crisis. In the early phase of the pandemic, studies found that populations were reporting lower levels of mental well-being and high levels of distress and worry. This study investigated potential protective and risk factors such as sociodemographics and psychological factors such as adaptation/coping. METHODS Two convenience samples from Norway and Denmark were recruited during the early phase of the first lockdown in May 2020 using snowball sampling primarily by social media. Measures included the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) for screening anxiety and depression, COVID-19 distress, and coping strategies applied during the lockdown. Descriptive analyses were applied as well as bivariate correlations for associations between coping and mental health measures. RESULTS Levels of anxiety and depression were not alarmingly high, but being young, single, and female constituted a higher risk for poorer mental health. Applying positive reframing strategies was negatively associated with poor mental health and high COVID-19 stress, whereas distraction coping strategies were positively correlated with poor mental health and high COVID-19 stress. CONCLUSION Applying positive reframing as a coping strategy may constitute a protective factor for mental health in the early phase of a crisis such as a pandemic. This knowledge may inform public health agencies on how to promote mental health in similar situations in the future. However, longitudinal and qualitative studies are needed to investigate the long-term effects of the different coping strategies applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi F Pedersen
- Research Clinic for Functional Disorders, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Research Center for Existential Health, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
- Institute for Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Tobias K Stripp
- Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Niels C Hvidt
- Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Tor-Arne Isene
- Research Center for Existential Health, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
| | - Peter la Cour
- Research Center for Existential Health, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
| | - Gry Stålsett
- MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars J Danbolt
- Research Center for Existential Health, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Brumunddal, Norway
- MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, Oslo, Norway
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22
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Sekeris A, Algahtani T, Aldabergenov D, Rock KL, Auwal F, Aldewaissan F, Williams BD, Kalk NJ, Copeland CS. Trends in deaths following drug use in England before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdowns. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1232593. [PMID: 37841731 PMCID: PMC10570433 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1232593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim This research aimed to describe how the characteristics of deaths following drug use changed during the COVID-19 pandemic in England, and how this can inform future strategy to support the health and social care of people who use drugs in future emergency scenarios. Method All deaths reported to the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths which occurred between January 2018 and December 2021 inclusive were extracted for analysis. Exponential smoothing models were constructed to determine any differences between forecasted vs. actual trends. Key results Following the first lockdown period in England there were significant increases in the proportion of people who died at home beyond the 95% confidence bounds of the exponential smoothing model and concurrent decreases in the proportion of people who died in hospital. Whilst the overall proportion of deaths attributable to opioids did not significantly deviate from the forecasted trend, there were significant increases in methadone-related deaths and decreases in heroin/morphine-related death beyond the 95% confidence bounds. The proportion of deaths concluded as suicide increased, as did those implicating antidepressant use. There were no changes in the proportion of deaths following use of other drug classes, alcohol use in combination with psychoactive drugs, or on decedent demographics (gender, age, and drug user status). A small number of deaths due to drug use had COVID-19 infection itself listed as a cause of death (n = 23). Conclusion For people who use drugs, the impact of the restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic was greater than that of infection from the virus itself. The health and social care strategy for these people needs to be pre-emptively adapted to mitigate against the specific risk factors for fatal drug overdose associated with future emergency scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Sekeris
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Medicine Research, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Thikra Algahtani
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Medicine Research, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniyar Aldabergenov
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Medicine Research, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kirsten L. Rock
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Medicine Research, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fatima Auwal
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Medicine Research, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Farah Aldewaissan
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Medicine Research, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bryn D. Williams
- Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola J. Kalk
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline S. Copeland
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Medicine Research, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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23
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Tam CC, Ye Z, Wang Y, Li X, Lin D. Self-care behaviors, drinking, and smoking to cope with psychological distress during COVID-19 among Chinese college students: the role of resilience. Psychol Health 2023; 38:1174-1193. [PMID: 34892991 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2021.2007913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE College students are vulnerable to psychological distress during COVID-19 due to pandemic-related stressors. In response to psychological distress, college students engage in various coping behaviors, such as self-care behaviors and substance use. The transactional model of stress and coping depicts a cognitive appraisal process in the stress-coping association. Psychological resilience is an essential factor for the cognitive appraisal. This study aimed to investigate the mediation effects of resilience on psycho-behavioral health in response to COVID-19 stressors. DESIGN Longitudinal data were collected from 1,225 Chinese college students via web-based anonymous surveys at wave 1 (T1, between Jan 31 and Feb 11, 2020) and wave 2 (T2, between Mar 20 and Apr 3, 2020). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Participants reported their COVID-19 stressors (T1), resilience (T1), psychological distress (depression and anxiety; T2), and coping behaviors (self-care behaviors, drinking, and smoking; T2). Path analysis was used for data analyses. RESULTS Resilience mediated the association between COVID-19 stressors and psychological distress. Resilience together with psychological distress mediated the association of COVID-19 stressors with self-care behaviors or drinking. CONCLUSIONS Resilience appears to offer protection that promotes psycho-behavioral health in college students in the face of COVID-19 stressors. Interventions for college students should attend to resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheuk Chi Tam
- South Carolina SmartState Center for Healthcare Quality, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Zhi Ye
- Zhejiang Police College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuyan Wang
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoming Li
- South Carolina SmartState Center for Healthcare Quality, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Danhua Lin
- Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Bell L, Garnett C, Bao Y, Cheng Z, Qian T, Perski O, Potts HWW, Williamson E. How Notifications Affect Engagement With a Behavior Change App: Results From a Micro-Randomized Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2023; 11:e38342. [PMID: 37294612 PMCID: PMC10337295 DOI: 10.2196/38342] [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: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drink Less is a behavior change app to help higher-risk drinkers in the United Kingdom reduce their alcohol consumption. The app includes a daily notification asking users to "Please complete your drinks and mood diary," yet we did not understand the causal effect of the notification on engagement nor how to improve this component of Drink Less. We developed a new bank of 30 new messages to increase users' reflective motivation to engage with Drink Less. This study aimed to determine how standard and new notifications affect engagement. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to estimate the causal effect of the notification on near-term engagement, to explore whether this effect changed over time, and to create an evidence base to further inform the optimization of the notification policy. METHODS We conducted a micro-randomized trial (MRT) with 2 additional parallel arms. Inclusion criteria were Drink Less users who consented to participate in the trial, self-reported a baseline Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score of ≥8, resided in the United Kingdom, were aged ≥18 years, and reported interest in drinking less alcohol. Our MRT randomized 350 new users to test whether receiving a notification, compared with receiving no notification, increased the probability of opening the app in the subsequent hour, over the first 30 days since downloading Drink Less. Each day at 8 PM, users were randomized with a 30% probability of receiving the standard message, a 30% probability of receiving a new message, or a 40% probability of receiving no message. We additionally explored time to disengagement, with the allocation of 60% of eligible users randomized to the MRT (n=350) and 40% of eligible users randomized in equal number to the 2 parallel arms, either receiving the no notification policy (n=98) or the standard notification policy (n=121). Ancillary analyses explored effect moderation by recent states of habituation and engagement. RESULTS Receiving a notification, compared with not receiving a notification, increased the probability of opening the app in the next hour by 3.5-fold (95% CI 2.91-4.25). Both types of messages were similarly effective. The effect of the notification did not change significantly over time. A user being in a state of already engaged lowered the new notification effect by 0.80 (95% CI 0.55-1.16), although not significantly. Across the 3 arms, time to disengagement was not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS We found a strong near-term effect of engagement on the notification, but no overall difference in time to disengagement between users receiving the standard fixed notification, no notification at all, or the random sequence of notifications within the MRT. The strong near-term effect of the notification presents an opportunity to target notifications to increase "in-the-moment" engagement. Further optimization is required to improve the long-term engagement. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/18690.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Bell
- Department of Medical Statistics, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Medical Research Council Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Garnett
- Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yihan Bao
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Zhaoxi Cheng
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Tianchen Qian
- Department of Statistics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Olga Perski
- Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Henry W W Potts
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Williamson
- Department of Medical Statistics, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Vu TT, Dario JP, Mateu-Gelabert P, Levine D, Punter MA, Borrell LN, Ngo VK. Alcohol Misuse, Binge Drinking, and their Associations with Psychosocial Factors during COVID-19 among Harlem Residents in New York City. J Urban Health 2023; 100:638-648. [PMID: 37249819 PMCID: PMC10228422 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-023-00738-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
This study examined alcohol misuse and binge drinking prevalence among Harlem residents, in New York City, and their associations with psycho-social factors such as substance use, depression symptom severity, and perception of community policing during COVID-19. An online cross-sectional study was conducted among 398 adult residents between April and September 2021. Participants with a score of at least 3 for females or at least 4 for males out of 12 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test were considered to have alcohol misuse. Binge drinking was defined as self-reporting having six or more drinks on one occasion. Modified Poisson regression models were used to examine associations. Results showed that 42.7% used alcohol before COVID-19, 69.1% used it during COVID-19, with 39% initiating or increasing alcohol use during COVID-19. Alcohol misuse and binge drinking prevalence during COVID-19 were 52.3% and 57.0%, respectively. Higher severity of depression symptomatology, history of drug use and smoking cigarettes, and experiencing housing insecurity were positively associated with both alcohol misuse and binge drinking. Lower satisfaction with community policing was only associated with alcohol misuse, while no significant associations were found between employment insecurity and food insecurity with alcohol misuse or binge drinking. The findings suggest that Harlem residents may have resorted to alcohol use as a coping mechanism to deal with the impacts of depression and social stressors during COVID-19. To mitigate alcohol misuse, improving access to mental health and substance use disorder services, and addressing public safety through improving relations with police could be beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thinh T Vu
- Center for Innovation in Mental Health, Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Community Health and Social Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Joseph P Dario
- Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pedro Mateu-Gelabert
- Department of Community Health and Social Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deborah Levine
- Harlem Health Initiative, Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Malcolm A Punter
- Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, Inc., New York, NY, USA
| | - Luisa N Borrell
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Victoria K Ngo
- Center for Innovation in Mental Health, Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Community Health and Social Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
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Srinagesh A, Forthal S, Madden SP, Stein LAR, Muench F. Impacts of COVID-19 on alcohol use among help-seeking adults. ADVANCES IN DRUG AND ALCOHOL RESEARCH 2023; 3:11159. [PMID: 38389810 PMCID: PMC10880767 DOI: 10.3389/adar.2023.11159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with both increased and decreased alcohol use. Authors explored reasons for increased and decreased alcohol use since the COVID-19 lockdown (March 2020) in a sample of help-seeking adults (HSA) participating in a remote-based alcohol reduction text-messaging intervention in the USA. At the time of recruitment, the HSA in this study were interested in reducing rather than stopping their alcohol consumption. An optional self-report questionnaire was completed by 324 participants (mean age 41.6 ± 10.2 years; 71.5% female; 83.9% White) in February 2021. Survey questions assessed sociodemographic factors, social stressors (quarantine conditions, employment status, changes to daily routine), and drinking patterns. Authors fit two ordinal logistic regression models: one for increased drinking and one for decreased drinking, as functions of the potential predictors and control variables. Most participants (n = 281; 87.0%) reported drinking more than usual since COVID-19 lockdown began. The most common self-reported reasons for drinking more were increased stress/anxiety (74.7%), boredom (69.4%), and spending more time at home (65.5%) whereas reasons for drinking less were less socializing (33.7%) and worrying about how alcohol would impact the immune system (31.5%). Identifying as female, severity of changes to daily routine, and increased access to alcohol were significantly associated with drinking more than usual. These data suggest that the general consequences of the pandemic in the general population (e.g., boredom) led to greater alcohol use among help-seeking adults attempting to reduce their drinking. Identifying these factors may help create more targeted interventions during public health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aradhana Srinagesh
- Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, South Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Sarah Forthal
- Partnership to End Addiction, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sean P Madden
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States
| | - L A R Stein
- Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, South Kingston, RI, United States
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Colton KC, Godleski SA, Baschnagel JS, Houston RJ, DeHarder SM. Alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic: gender, parenthood, intimate partner violence, and stress. AIMS Public Health 2023; 10:360-377. [PMID: 37304583 PMCID: PMC10251053 DOI: 10.3934/publichealth.2023027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Some preliminary work during the COVID-19 pandemic indicates that adult alcohol use increased, particularly for parents. This cross-sectional study examined the quantity and frequency of adults' alcohol use during the early stages of the pandemic. Additionally, the influences of gender, parenthood, COVID-19-related stressors and intimate partner violence (IPV) on alcohol consumption were examined. The sample consisted of 298 adults (98 parents) from across the United States who completed self-report surveys through Qualtrics at the beginning of the pandemic in May 2020. In the present study, all men reported higher levels of drinking compared to all women. Although stress levels did not impact alcohol consumption, findings indicate that increased IPV experiences were associated with higher levels of heavy drinking during the pandemic. Results also suggested that having children in the home particularly impacted drinking levels during the pandemic, above and beyond the influence of gender, IPV, and stress levels. These findings suggest that parenthood may have had a cascading influence on drinking experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Implications and recommendations for further research are discussed.
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28
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Villadsen A, Patalay P, Bann D. Mental health in relation to changes in sleep, exercise, alcohol and diet during the COVID-19 pandemic: examination of four UK cohort studies. Psychol Med 2023; 53:2748-2757. [PMID: 34726136 PMCID: PMC8692854 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721004657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have included lockdowns and social distancing with considerable disruptions to people's lives. These changes may have particularly impacted on those with mental health problems, leading to a worsening of inequalities in the behaviours which influence health. METHODS We used data from four national longitudinal British cohort studies (N = 10 666). Respondents reported mental health (psychological distress and anxiety/depression symptoms) and health behaviours (alcohol, diet, physical activity and sleep) before and during the pandemic. Associations between pre-pandemic mental ill-health and pandemic mental ill-health and health behaviours were examined using logistic regression; pooled effects were estimated using meta-analysis. RESULTS Worse mental health was related to adverse health behaviours; effect sizes were largest for sleep, exercise and diet, and weaker for alcohol. The associations between poor mental health and adverse health behaviours were larger during the May lockdown than pre-pandemic. In September, when restrictions had eased, inequalities had largely reverted to pre-pandemic levels. A notable exception was for sleep, where differences by mental health status remained high. Risk differences for adverse sleep for those with the highest level of prior mental ill-health compared to those with the lowest were 21.2% (95% CI 16.2-26.2) before lockdown, 25.5% (20.0-30.3) in May and 28.2% (21.2-35.2) in September. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our findings suggest that mental health is an increasingly important factor in health behaviour inequality in the COVID era. The promotion of mental health may thus be an important component of improving post-COVID population health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aase Villadsen
- Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Praveetha Patalay
- Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing, Population Science and Experimental Medicine, UCL, London, UK
| | - David Bann
- Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Social Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
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Frank O, Murphy MSQ, Talarico R, Denize KM, Boisvert C, Harvey ALJD, Rennicks White R, Corsi DJ, Sampsel K, Wen SW, Walker MC, El-Chaâr D, Muldoon KA. The COVID-19 pandemic and parental substance use: a cross-sectional survey of substance use among pregnant and post-partum individuals and their partners. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2023.2183148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Frank
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Public Health, Columbia University Mailman, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Malia S. Q Murphy
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert Talarico
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kathryn M. Denize
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carlie Boisvert
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Ruth Rennicks White
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel J Corsi
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kari Sampsel
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shi Wu Wen
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark C. Walker
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- International and Global Health Office, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Darine El-Chaâr
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katherine A. Muldoon
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Increased Difficulties Managing Chronic Medical Conditions During the COVID-19 Pandemic Are Associated With Increased Alcohol and Cannabis Use Among Unhoused and Unstably Housed Women. J Addict Med 2023; 17:e132-e134. [PMID: 36084220 PMCID: PMC9992454 DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The COVID-19 pandemic caused dramatic upsurges in stress and anxiety across the United States, as well as increased substance use to cope with pandemic-related stress. Few studies have focused exclusively on extremely disadvantaged individuals who are already at risk for substance use. We sought to understand factors associated with increased alcohol and cannabis use during the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic among unsheltered and unstably housed women. METHODS Between July and December 2020, we conducted phone surveys with San Francisco unhoused and unstably housed women regarding substance use, health, and health services use since the beginning of the pandemic (March 2020). RESULTS Among 128 participants, increased use of alcohol and cannabis were reported by 15% and 23%, respectively. The odds of increased use of both substances were 4 times higher in participants who also had increased difficulties managing symptoms of a chronic medical condition during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS An intentional and comprehensive approach to managing the health of particularly vulnerable individuals during the COVID pandemic could help alleviate its exacerbating influences. Such an approach should include resources, tools and interventions for managing substance use, as well as chronic, non-COVID medical conditions, which are common and strongly tied to substance use in unhoused and unstably housed women.
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Zamboanga BL, Blumenthal H, Ramarushton B, Napper LE, Hurlocker MC, Ford K, Bacon M, Madson MB. What pandemic? A multisite study of drinking motives and drinking games participation among college students during a pandemic (COVID-19) academic year. Addict Behav 2023; 138:107560. [PMID: 36516637 PMCID: PMC9699705 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
A drinking game (DG) is a widely practiced social activity that tends to encourage rapid alcohol consumption. While social restrictions during the pandemic (COVID-19) academic year were implemented as a health measure across many colleges/universities, the extent to which college student drinkers continued to play DGs in-person is not well understood. Because theory and research suggest that drinking motives are proximal correlates of drinking behaviors, we examined which drinking motives increased the likelihood of playing DGs in-person, and playing DGs in-person in a group of 10 + people during the 2020-21 pandemic academic year. College students (past-year drinkers) from 12 universities completed an online survey (N = 900; Mage = 19.42, Range = 18-25; SDage = 1.45, White = 73.1%, 69.2% female). Of the students surveyed, 590 students played DGs, with 460 students only playing DGs in-person. Of the students who played DGs in-person, 274 students reported that the maximum number of people they played DGs with in-person exceeded the CDC's recommended guidelines (10 + people). Accounting for demographics, general alcohol use, and perceived COVID-19 threat, social drinking motives were positively associated with an increased likelihood of playing DGs in-person; the inverse was found for coping motives. Drinking motives were not associated with the likelihood of playing DGs with 10 + people but greater alcohol use and lower perceived threat of COVID-19 were. Given that the pandemic did not deter many student drinkers from playing DGs in-person, further investment in targeted intervention and public health initiatives aimed at substance-free alternatives promoting engagement and enhancement of social activities may be needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byron L. Zamboanga
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, United States,Corresponding author. Queries regarding the statistical analyses of this paper should be addressed to Dr. Blumenthal and Banan Ramarushton; all other correspondence regarding this article should be addressed to Prof. Byron L. Zamboanga
| | | | | | - Lucy E. Napper
- Department of Psychology, Lehigh University, United States
| | | | - Kayla Ford
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, United States
| | - Miller Bacon
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, United States
| | - Michael B. Madson
- School of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, United States
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Gonzalez MR, Brown SA, Pelham WE, Bodison SC, McCabe C, Baker FC, Baskin‐Sommers A, Dick AS, Dowling GJ, Gebreselassie S, Guillaume M, Marshall AT, Sheth C, Sowell ER, Van Rinsveld A, Tapert SF. Family Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Risks of Financial Insecurity and Coping. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENCE 2023; 33:43-58. [PMID: 35748113 PMCID: PMC9349420 DOI: 10.1111/jora.12776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, families have experienced unprecedented financial and social disruptions. We studied the impact of preexisting psychosocial factors and pandemic-related financial and social disruptions in relation to family well-being among N = 4091 adolescents and parents during early summer 2020, participating in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive DevelopmentSM Study. Poorer family well-being was linked to prepandemic psychosocial and financial adversity and was associated with pandemic-related material hardship and social disruptions to routines. Parental alcohol use increased risk for worsening of family relationships, while a greater endorsement of coping strategies was mainly associated with overall better family well-being. Financial and mental health support may be critical for family well-being during and after a widespread crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Spillane NS, Schick MR, Nalven T, Crawford MC, Martz AS. A retrospective examination of changes in drinking motives during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Psychiatry Med 2023; 58:102-118. [PMID: 35722920 PMCID: PMC9209856 DOI: 10.1177/00912174221110086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The COVID-19 pandemic has led to substantial changes in college student alcohol use. Changes in drinking motives may explain some of these changes in drinking patterns. The purpose of the present study is to explore how drinking motives and alcohol use have changed amongst college students considering the timeframes before and after the onset of COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., March 2020) in the United States. We hypothesized that there would be significant changes in drinking motives after March 2020, which would be significantly related to changes in alcohol use. METHODS Participants for the current study were undergraduate students reporting lifetime alcohol use (n = 198, Mage = 21.3, 66.7% female, 86.4% White) recruited through online advertisements in classes to complete an online survey in April 2020. Participants were asked to report on their drinking motives and alcohol use considering the timeframes before and after the onset of closures and stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., before and since March 2020). RESULTS Paired samples t-tests revealed that endorsement of social (t[171) = 12.79, p < .001, d = 1.16) and conformity motives significantly decreased (t[170] = 4.46, p < .001, d = 0.31), while endorsement of coping motives significantly increased (t[172] = -2.70, p = .008, d = .15) after the onset of COVID-19. Linear regression analyses, controlling for drinking motives before March 2020, revealed that changes in enhancement (β = -.47, p < .001) and coping motives (β = -.22, p = .04) were significantly associated with changes in alcohol use quantity. CONCLUSIONS Findings of the present study support the need for interventions to target coping and social drinking to reduce risk for alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nichea S. Spillane
- Nichea S. Spillane, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, 110 Chafee Hall, 142 Flagg Road, Kingston RI 02881, USA.
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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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SARS-CoV-2 versus Influenza A Virus: Characteristics and Co-Treatments. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11030580. [PMID: 36985154 PMCID: PMC10051779 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
For three years, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has completely changed our lifestyles and prepared us to live with this novel pneumonia for years to come. Given that pre-existing flu is caused by the influenza A virus, we have begun unprecedently co-coping with two different respiratory diseases at the same time. Hence, we draw a comparison between SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A virus based on the general characteristics, especially the main variants’ history and the distribution of the two viruses. SARS-CoV-2 appeared to mutate more frequently and independently of locations than the influenza A virus. Furthermore, we reviewed present clinical trials on combined management against COVID-19 and influenza in order to explore better solutions against both at the same time.
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Di Tata D, Bianchi D, Pompili S, Laghi F. The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Alcohol Abuse and Drunkorexia Behaviors in Young Adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3466. [PMID: 36834161 PMCID: PMC9967230 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak negatively affected young adults' psychological well-being, increasing their stress levels and symptoms of anxiety and depression, and potentially triggering health-risk behaviors. The present study was aimed at investigating the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol abuse and drunkorexia behaviors among young adults living in Italy. Participants were 370 emerging adults (63% women, 37% men; Mage = 21.00, SDage = 2.96, range: 18-30) who were recruited through an online survey between November 2021 and March 2022. Participants completed measures of alcohol abuse, drunkorexia behaviors, negative life experiences, and post-traumatic symptoms related to the COVID-19 outbreak. The results showed that the emotional impact and negative life experiences associated with the pandemic predicted both alcohol abuse and drunkorexia behaviors, albeit in different ways. Specifically, the number of negative life experiences during the pandemic and the tendency to avoid COVID-19-related negative thoughts positively predicted alcohol abuse; and the presence of intrusive thoughts associated with the pandemic significantly predicted the frequency of drunkorexia behaviors. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Di Tata
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
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Gilchrist G, Potts LC, Connolly DJ, Winstock A, Barratt MJ, Ferris J, Gilchrist E, Davies E. Experience and perpetration of intimate partner violence and abuse by gender of respondent and their current partner before and during COVID-19 restrictions in 2020: a cross-sectional study in 13 countries. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:316. [PMID: 36782157 PMCID: PMC9924203 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14635-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA) includes controlling behaviours, psychological, physical, sexual and financial abuse. Globally, surveys and emergency services have recorded an increase in IPVA since restrictions were imposed to limit COVID-19 transmission. Most studies have only included heterosexual women. METHODS Data from the Global Drug Survey (an annual, anonymous, online survey collecting data on drug use) Special Edition were analysed to explore the impact of COVID-19 on people's lives, including their intimate relationships. Five relationship groupings were created using respondents' lived gender identity: women partnered with men (46.9%), women partnered with women (2.1%), men partnered with men (2.9%), men partnered with women (47.2%), and partnerships where one or both partners were non-binary (1%). Self-reported experience and perpetration of IPVA in the past 30 days before (February) and during COVID-19 restrictions (May or June) in 2020 (N = 35,854) was described and compared for different relationship groupings using Fishers Exact Tests. Changes in IPVA during restrictions were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS During restrictions, 17.8 and 16.6% of respondents had experienced or perpetrated IPVA respectively; 38.2% of survivors and 37.6% of perpetrators reported this had increased during restrictions. Greater proportions of non-binary respondents or respondents with a non-binary partner reported experiencing or perpetrating IPVA (p < .001) than other relationship groupings. 22.0% of respondents who were non-binary or had a non-binary partner, 19.5% of men partnered with men, 18.9% of men partnered with women, 17.1% of women partnered with women and 16.6% of women partnered with men reported experiencing IPVA. Respondents with higher psychological distress, poor coping with pandemic-related changes, relationship tension and changes (increases or increases and decreases) in alcohol consumption reported increased experience of IPVA during restrictions. CONCLUSIONS This study confirmed that IPVA can occur in all intimate relationships, regardless of gender of the perpetrator or survivor. Non-binary respondents or respondents with non-binary partners reported the highest use and experience of IPVA. Most IPVA victim support services have been designed for heterosexual, cisgender women. IPVA support services and perpetrator programmes must be tailored to support all perpetrators and survivors during the pandemic and beyond, regardless of their sexual or gender identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gail Gilchrist
- National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Laura C Potts
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Dean J Connolly
- National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Barts Health NHS Trust, Whipps Cross University Hospital, London, UK
| | - Adam Winstock
- Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, University College London, London, UK
- Global Drug Survey, London, UK
| | - Monica J Barratt
- Social and Global Studies Centre and Digital Ethnography Research Centre, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, Australia
| | - Jason Ferris
- Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Emma Davies
- Centre for Psychological Research, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
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aan het Rot M, Baltariu IC, Enea V. Increased alcohol use to cope with COVID-19-related anxiety one year into the coronavirus pandemic. NORDIC STUDIES ON ALCOHOL AND DRUGS 2023; 40:146-159. [PMID: 37063818 PMCID: PMC10101168 DOI: 10.1177/14550725221147111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: An increase in drinking to cope with anxiety provoked by the coronavirus was observed during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: In the present study, we examined the role of drinking motives in the anxiety–alcohol link one year into the pandemic. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, we collected data between April and May 2021: 678 participants located in Romania or the Netherlands completed an online survey on alcohol consumption in the past month (assessed using a simple quantity-frequency measure), change in drinking during the past year (assessed using a single item asking whether there had been an increase, decrease or no change), drinking motives (assessed using the Revised Drinking Motives Questionnaire), drinking-related problems (assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test), and COVID-19-related anxiety (assessed using the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale). Results: Compared to before the pandemic, while 42% of participants had decreased their alcohol consumption, 15% reported an increase. Participants with clinically relevant COVID-19-related anxiety (11%) were more likely to drink to cope with negative affect, enhance positive affect, and conform to others. The association between COVID-19-related anxiety and drinking-related problems was specifically moderated by drinking to cope, such that the anxiety–alcohol link was stronger in participants who endorsed this drinking motive more. Conclusion: Drinking is a maladaptive coping strategy for individuals with high levels of COVID-19-related anxiety. These individuals might benefit from interventions involving the learning of healthier skills to deal with the ongoing pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marije aan het Rot
- Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Isabelle C. Baltariu
- Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iasi, Romania
| | - Violeta Enea
- Department of Psychology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iasi, Romania
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Lake S, Assaf RD, Gorbach PM, Cooper ZD. Selective Changes in Medical Cannabis Use Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from a Web-Based Sample of Adults in the United States. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2023; 8:174-183. [PMID: 35073161 PMCID: PMC9940798 DOI: 10.1089/can.2021.0115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had widespread impacts on mental health and substance use. While increases in nonmedical cannabis use during COVID-19 have been documented among people who use cannabis across a diversity of settings, changes in specific medical applications of cannabis during the COVID-19 pandemic have not been characterized. We sought to examine changes in the prevalence, frequency, and mode of use of medical cannabis for a range of commonly treated conditions and symptoms during COVID-19. Methods: Data were obtained from an online survey of a sample of adults in the United States who use cannabis (n=1886), administered in September 2020. This study was restricted to participants who self-reported past-year medical cannabis use (n=598). Using data reported in a retrospective (pre-COVID) and current assessment period, we examined changes in cannabis use prevalence, frequency, and inhalation as the primary mode of administration for 11 commonly treated conditions. Results: There were slight but statistically significant increases in weekly (from 21.4% to 23.4%) and daily (from 16.2% to 20.7%) self-reported medical cannabis use during COVID-19 (p<0.001). Anxiety was the only specific therapeutic purpose for which daily cannabis use increased statistically significantly during COVID-19 (18.5% to 25.4%; p=0.004). In multivariable logistic regression, the odds of increasing cannabis use for anxiety during COVID-19 were statistically significantly higher for women, respondents from Western states, and states with legal medical and nonmedical cannabis. Discussion: We detected slight shifts toward higher frequencies of medical cannabis use during COVID-19. Disaggregated by therapeutic indication, daily cannabis use to manage anxiety increased during the pandemic. There is a need to assess whether changes in cannabis use that coincided with the pandemic will be sustained over time, and how these changes are connected to mental health outcomes, particularly among women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Lake
- UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ryan D. Assaf
- UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Pamina M. Gorbach
- UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ziva D. Cooper
- UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Sohal A, Khalid S, Green V, Hagino J, Chaudhry H, Gulati A, Roytman M. Soaring rates of alcohol-related hepatitis in the latter phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: A new normal? JGH Open 2023; 7:148-151. [PMID: 36852146 PMCID: PMC9958332 DOI: 10.1002/jgh3.12864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Background Studies have reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in alcohol consumption and alcohol-associated health problems in the general population. Our previous study documented a rise in severe alcohol-related hepatitis cases requiring inpatient admission in our hospital system in the early pandemic (2019 vs. 2020). This study assesses the rates of severe alcohol-related hepatitis in the latter part of the pandemic (2021). Methods We performed a retrospective chart review via an electronic medical record to evaluate the number of cases of alcohol-related hepatitis in patients presenting to three community hospitals in Fresno, California, between 2019 (pre-pandemic) and 2021. A total of 547 patients were included in the study. We compared the demographics, clinical course, and outcomes of patients with alcohol-related hepatitis pre-pandemic (2019), early pandemic (2020), and during the later phase of the pandemic (2021). Results The number of cases increased from 131 in 2019 to 201 in 2020 and 215 in 2021 (53% and 64% increase, respectively). The number of young patients (age <40 years) increased from 30 in 2019 to 61 in 2020 and 71 in 2021 (103% and 136% increase, respectively) (p = 0.13). The number of admissions of women increased from 24 in 2019 to 55 in 2020 and 67 in 2021 (129% and 179% increase, respectively) (p = 0.026). Deaths during hospitalization increased from 20 in 2019 to 26 in 2021 (p = 0.674). The number of rehospitalizations within 3 months increased 4.5 times from 18 in 2019 to 80 in 2021 (p < 0.001). Conclusion Our study revealed that the admissions for alcohol-related hepatitis remained significantly above the pre-pandemic levels through the end of 2021. We believe this sustained increase in cases of alcohol-related hepatitis in our hospital system reflects a much larger national problem. Alcohol-related hepatitis is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and societal cost. Urgent public health interventions are needed at a national level to prevent this rise in cases from becoming a new normal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aalam Sohal
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaFresnoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Sameeha Khalid
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaFresnoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Victoria Green
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaFresnoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jeffrey Hagino
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaFresnoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Hunza Chaudhry
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of CaliforniaFresnoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Alakh Gulati
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyUniversity of CaliforniaFresnoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Marina Roytman
- Department of Gastroenterology and HepatologyUniversity of CaliforniaFresnoCaliforniaUSA
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Cook M, MacLean S, Callinan S. Home alone: Patterns and perceptions of solitary home alcohol consumption in an Australian convenience sample. Drug Alcohol Rev 2023. [PMID: 36645079 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In contrast with extensive literature exploring sociable alcohol use, few studies focus on drinking alone at home, even though the home is the place where the majority of drinking occurs. METHODS We draw on survey and interview data gathered in 2018/2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, to identify prevalence and perceptions of solitary home drinking in an Australian convenience sample of heavy and light drinkers (LD). RESULTS A substantial minority of survey participants identified drinking home alone, with over a quarter of heavy drinkers (27%) reporting that they only drank alone in their own home (compared to 15% of LD). In interviews, solitary home drinking was frequently constructed as signifying personal inadequacy, heavy consumption and harm. However, tensions arose through solitary home drinking bringing pleasures, such as relaxation. It was regarded as more socially acceptable for men than women and lighter home drinking patterns were viewed more positively than heavy drinking. Perceptions of what constitutes solitary home drinking varied, with some suggesting it includes drinking with others present who are not themselves drinking, and others using a more limited definition of consuming alcohol while alone in a house. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS While strong social sanctions against it persist, solitary home drinking can reflect a lack of opportunity to drink with others and also be associated with more harmful regular patterns of alcohol use. Increasing recognition of home drinking provides a new imperative to better understand the complex stigmatisation that frames solitary home drinking and to explore opportunities to limit associated harms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Cook
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sarah MacLean
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.,School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sarah Callinan
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
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Rukundo GZ, Wakida EK, Karungi CK, Asasira J, Kumakech E, Obua C. Depression, suicidality, substance-use and associated factors among people living with HIV the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285310. [PMID: 37146057 PMCID: PMC10162553 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mental disorders are common in people living with HIV (PLHIV) but they are often unrecognized and untreated. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the already limited mental health services in low resource countries such as Uganda, and yet the extent to which the COVID-19 mitigation measures have affected the mental health of PLHIV is not fully known. We aimed to determine the burden of depression, suicidality, substance use and associated factors among adult PLHIV who were seeking care at two HIV clinics in northern and southwestern Uganda. METHODS We conducted a phenomenological qualitative and quantitative cross-sectional study among 431 PLHIV to determine the burden of depression, suicidality and substance-use disorders at two HIV clinics, at Lira Regional Referral Hospital and Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital in northern and southwestern Uganda respectively, during the COVID-19 lockdown. We used the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to assess for depression and suicidality, and the Michigan Assessment-Screening Test for Alcohol and drugs (MAST-AD) to assess for substance use disorder. We conducted descriptive statistics analysis to determine the burden of the disorders, and logistic regression to determine the associated factors. For the qualitative method we conducted in-depth interviews with 30 PLHIV and did thematic analysis. RESULTS Of the 431 PLHIV surveyed, mean age was 40.31 ± 12.20 years; 53.1% (n = 229) had depression; 22.0% (n = 95) had suicidality; and 15.1% (n = 65) had substance-use disorder. Female gender (PR = 1.073, 95%CI 1.004-1.148, P = 0.038), lack of formal education (PR = 1.197, 95% CI 1.057-1.357, P = 0.005), substance-use disorder (PR = 0.924, 95%CI 0.859-0.994, P = 0.034) and suicidality (PR = 0.757, 95%CI 0.722-0.794, p = 0.000) were associated with depression after adjusting for confounders. Further analysis showed that being female (PR = 0.843, 95% CI 0.787-0.903, P = 0.000*) and having depression (PR = 0.927, 95% CI 0.876-0.981, P = 0.009) and owning a large business (PR = 0.886, 95% CI 0.834-0.941, p = 0.000*) were significantly associated with having a substance-use disorder. Only depression was independently associated with suicidality after adjusting for confounding factors (PR 0.108, 95%CI 0.054-0.218, p = 0.000*). For the qualitative results, there were three apriori themes: a) Burden of depression, b) substance-use, and c) suicidality among the PLHIV during the COVID-19 containment measures. CONCLUSION There was high prevalence of depression, suicidality and substance-use disorder in adult PLHIV in Uganda during the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdown measures. The three mental health problems seem to have bidirectional relationships and gender has a lot of contribution to the relationships. Interventions aimed at any of the disorders should consider these bidirectional relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godfrey Zari Rukundo
- Department of Psychiatry, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Edith K Wakida
- Department of Psychiatry, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
- Department of Medical Education, California University of Science and Technology, Milpitas, CA, United States of America
| | - Christine K Karungi
- Office of Research Administration, Mbarara University of Science and Technology Mbarara, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Jenipher Asasira
- Office of Research Administration, Mbarara University of Science and Technology Mbarara, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Edward Kumakech
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Lira University, Lira, Uganda
| | - Celestino Obua
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Mbarara, Uganda
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Alcohol Consumption During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States: Results From a Nationally Representative Longitudinal Survey. J Addict Med 2023; 17:e11-e17. [PMID: 35861345 PMCID: PMC9897121 DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alcohol consumption and risky drinking behavior increased in the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, but it is not known if and for whom those changes were sustained over the longer term. This study analyzes longitudinal data on drinking patterns during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. METHODS A nationally representative longitudinal survey was used to assess alcohol consumption patterns among respondents 21 years and older who reported drinking between February and November 2020 (N = 557) overall and by subgroups. RESULTS Compared with February, drinks per month in April and November 2020 significantly ( P ≤ 0.01) increased by 36% and 38%, respectively. The proportion exceeding drinking guidelines significantly increased by 27% and 39%, and increases for binge drinking were 26% and 30% (both P = 0.01). February to November increases in proportion exceeding drinking guidelines were significantly larger for women (54% increase) than for men (32%), and for Black (508%) than for White respondents (16%). Drinks per month significantly increased more for respondents with children in the household (64%) than for those without children (20%). There also was a significantly larger increase in drinks per month for those who reported drinking to cope (57% increase) and those who reported drinking for enhancement (40%) than for those who did not. CONCLUSIONS Self-reported alcohol consumption and risky drinking patterns increased during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Monitoring alcohol consumption changes, with a focus on marginalized groups, is warranted to plan behavioral health services and inform prevention for future pandemics.
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Grigsby TJ, Howard K, Howard JT, Perrotte J. COVID-19 Concerns, Perceived Stress, and Increased Alcohol Use Among Adult Women in the United States. Clin Nurs Res 2023; 32:84-93. [PMID: 36398789 PMCID: PMC9679311 DOI: 10.1177/10547738221136678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the direct and indirect (via perceived stress) effects of different types of pandemic-related concerns and increased alcohol use among adult women in the United States (US). We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data from April 2020 for adult females in the US who use alcohol (n = 1,089). The indirect effect model accounted for 19% of the variance in perceived stress and 8% of the variance in reporting increased alcohol use compared to no change or decreased use. Path analysis results indicated that concerns about isolation (odds ratio [OR] = 1.027, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.013-1.046), job/finances (OR = 1.025, 95% CI = 1.007-1.065), basic needs (OR = 1.021, 95% CI = 1.008-1.047), and concerns about government (OR = 1.038, 95% CI = 1.014-1.179]) were significantly related to reporting increased alcohol use through perceived stress. These findings can inform timely public health interventions to minimize alcohol-related harm among women.
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Gohari MR, Varatharajan T, Patte KA, MacKillop J, Leatherdale ST. The intersection of internalizing symptoms and alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic: A prospective cohort study. Prev Med 2023; 166:107381. [PMID: 36513170 PMCID: PMC9737513 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Given the well-established relationship between alcohol and internalizing symptoms, potential increases in depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to increases in alcohol consumption and binge drinking. This study examines this association from before to during two phases of the pandemic in a cohort of Canadian youth. We used linked data from a sub-sample of 1901 secondary school students who participated in three consecutive school years of the Cannabis use, Obesity, Mental health, Physical activity, Alcohol use, Smoking, and Sedentary behaviour (COMPASS) study between 2018/19 and 2020/21. Separate multilevel logistic regression models examined the association between depression and anxiety symptoms with odds of escalation and reduction (vs. maintenance) and initiation (vs. abstinence) of alcohol consumption. Results show that depression and anxiety symptoms significantly increased over the three years, and these changes were moderated by changes in alcohol consumption and binge drinking. Students with increased depression symptoms were less likely to reduce their alcohol consumption in the early pandemic (Adjust odds ratio [AOR] 0.94, 95% CI:0.90-0.98), more likely to initiate alcohol consumption in the ongoing pandemic period (AOR 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05), and more likely to initiate binge drinking in both periods. The depression-alcohol use association was stronger among females than males. This study demonstrates a modest association between internalizing symptoms and alcohol use, particularly for depression symptoms and in females. The identified depression-alcohol use association suggests that preventing or treating depression might be beneficial for adolescent alcohol use and vice versa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmood R Gohari
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Thepikaa Varatharajan
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Karen A Patte
- Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, Niagara Region, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines L2S 3A1, Ontario, Canada.
| | - James MacKillop
- Peter Boris Chair in Addictions Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University & St. Joseph's Healthcare, 100 West 5th Street, Hamilton L8P 3R2, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Scott T Leatherdale
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Ontario, Canada.
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Lambe LJ, Yunus FM, Moore M, Keough MT, Thompson K, Krank M, Conrod P, Stewart SH. Inhibited personality traits, internalizing symptoms, and drinking to cope during the COVID-19 pandemic among emerging adults. Cogn Behav Ther 2022; 52:198-212. [PMID: 36519887 DOI: 10.1080/16506073.2022.2152726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Emerging adults with high levels of inhibited personality traits may be at-risk for drinking to cope during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current research explored mediational pathways between two inhibited personality traits (anxiety sensitivity (AS) and hopelessness (HOP)), internalizing symptoms (anxiety, depression, and COVID-19 distress), and coping drinking motives (drinking to cope with anxiety and drinking to cope with depression) during the pandemic. Cross-sectional data were collected from 879 undergraduate drinkers (79% female, 83% White, 18-25 years old) at five Canadian universities from January-April 2021. Participants self-reported on their personality, anxiety (GAD-7), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), COVID-19 distress, and coping drinking motives. Mediational path analyses provided evidence of both specific and non-specific pathways between personality and coping motives via internalizing symptoms. Depressive symptoms partially mediated the link between HOP and drinking to cope with depression motives. While anxiety symptoms did not significantly mediate links between AS and coping with anxiety motives in the full model, evidence of mediation was found in a post-hoc sensitivity analysis. COVID-19 distress served as a non-specific mediator. AS and HOP are critical transdiagnostic risk factors that increase vulnerability for internalizing psychopathology and, in turn, risky drinking motives, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J. Lambe
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Fakir Md Yunus
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Mackenzie Moore
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | | | - Kara Thompson
- Department of Psychology, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Marvin Krank
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia- Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Patricia Conrod
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sherry H. Stewart
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Freisthler B, Price Wolf J. Longitudinal Changes in Self-Reported Alcohol Consumption by Mothers’ During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Alcohol Alcohol 2022; 58:235-237. [PMID: 36521494 PMCID: PMC10168707 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agac064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Previous research shows that drinking by mothers was higher during the initial stages of the pandemic. Less is known about whether these drinking levels were maintained years after the first stay-at-home orders. Using three waves of data, each approximately a year apart, drinks per day remain elevated, whereas drinking frequency and continued volume have decreased during subsequent waves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget Freisthler
- The Ohio State University College of Social Work, , 340C Stillman Hall, 1947 College Rd. N, Columbus, OH 43210 , USA
| | - Jennifer Price Wolf
- San Jose State University School of Social Work, , 1 Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95112 , USA
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Fu Q, Ge J, Xu Y, Liang X, Yu Y, Shen S, Ma Y, Zhang J. The evolution of research on depression during COVID-19: A visual analysis using Co-Occurrence and VOSviewer. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1061486. [PMID: 36561872 PMCID: PMC9764011 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1061486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to public health problems, including depression. There has been a significant increase in research on depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little attention has been paid to the overall trend in this field based on bibliometric analyses. Methods Co-Occurrence (COOC) and VOSviewer bibliometric methods were utilized to analyze depression in COVID-19 literature in the core collection of the Web of Science (WOS). The overall characteristics of depression during COVID-19 were summarized by analyzing the number of published studies, keywords, institutions, and countries. Results A total of 9,694 English original research articles and reviews on depression during COVID-19 were included in this study. The United States, China, and the United Kingdom were the countries with the largest number of publications and had close cooperation with each other. Research institutions in each country were dominated by universities, with the University of Toronto being the most productive institution in the world. The most frequently published author was Ligang Zhang. Visualization analysis showed that influencing factors, adverse effects, and coping strategies were hotspots for research. Conclusion The results shed light on the burgeoning research on depression during COVID-19, particularly the relationship between depression and public health. In addition, future research on depression during COVID-19 should focus more on special groups and those at potential risk of depression in the general population, use more quantitative and qualitative studies combined with more attention to scale updates, and conduct longitudinal follow-ups of the outcomes of interventions. In conclusion, this study contributes to a more comprehensive view of the development of depression during COVID-19 and suggests a theoretical basis for future research on public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiannan Fu
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Jiahao Ge
- College of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Yanhua Xu
- School of Geography and Environment, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liang
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Yuyao Yu
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Suqin Shen
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Yanfang Ma
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Jianzhen Zhang
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China,*Correspondence: Jianzhen Zhang
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Sheerin CM, Kuo SIC, Smith RL, Bannard T, Gentry AE, Dick DM, Amstadter AB. COVID and college: how the pandemic impacted alcohol use disorder status among students. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2022:1-8. [PMID: 36469936 PMCID: PMC10239786 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2133963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Alcohol consumption patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic have varied notably. Participants: We examined the acute impact of the pandemic on alcohol use disorder (AUD) in a generalizable sample of college students who were surveyed pre-pandemic and re-surveyed in May 2020. Method: Items assessed pre-pandemic included DSM-5 AUD and mental health symptoms. A COVID-19 impacts questionnaire was administered, and alcohol and mental health items re-assessed. Results: AUD symptoms decreased from pre-pandemic to during the pandemic, demonstrating a change in trajectory compared to prior cohorts. Students with persistent AUD reported greater concurrent symptoms of PTSD, depression, and alcohol consumption than those with remitted AUD (ps ≤ .02), but not increased COVID-19 impact. Persistent AUD status was predicted by higher sensation seeking and alcohol consumption. Conclusions: Students with concurrent mental health problems are at continued risk for persistent AUD. Findings highlight the impact of the college environment and social context for drinking on AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M. Sheerin
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, 800 E. Leigh St., Richmond, VA, 23298
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1200 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23298
| | - Sally I-Chun Kuo
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 W. Franklin Street, Richmond, VA, 23284
| | - Rebecca L. Smith
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 W. Franklin Street, Richmond, VA, 23284
| | - Thomas Bannard
- Rams in Recovery, University Counseling Services, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1103 W. Marshall Street, Richmond, VA, 23284
| | - Amanda E. Gentry
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, 800 E. Leigh St., Richmond, VA, 23298
| | - Danielle M. Dick
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 W. Franklin Street, Richmond, VA, 23284
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1101 E. Marshall Street, Richmond, VA, 23298
| | - Ananda B. Amstadter
- Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, 800 E. Leigh St., Richmond, VA, 23298
- Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1200 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23298
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 W. Franklin Street, Richmond, VA, 23284
- Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, 203 E. Cary Street, Richmond, VA, 23219
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Goodyear K, Moyo P, Avila JC, Ahluwalia JS, Monnig MA. Associations between alcohol and cannabis use before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results of a community survey. Addict Behav Rep 2022; 16:100455. [PMID: 36101549 PMCID: PMC9458547 DOI: 10.1016/j.abrep.2022.100455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted individuals around the world, creating unprecedented challenges. Due to lockdowns and social distancing measures, many people have turned to contactless modes of obtaining alcohol and other substances (e.g., home delivery). This study investigated associations between alcohol and cannabis use before and during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic and factors associated with use. An online, cross-sectional survey with a non-probability sample (N = 1126) was conducted in Northeast states during June-July 2020. Outcomes examined prevalence of alcohol and cannabis use for the overall sample and predictors of use in individuals who used substances. In the overall sample, we found that alcohol and cannabis use decreased from before to during the pandemic. For individuals who drank alcohol, higher pre-pandemic drinking, mid-range household income, and obtaining alcohol through home delivery were associated with higher alcohol drinking during the pandemic. For individuals who used cannabis, higher pre-pandemic cannabis use and obtaining cannabis through home delivery were associated with higher cannabis use during the pandemic. Overall, from before to during the pandemic, we found a decrease in the proportion of individuals who used substances and no changes in quantity for individuals who continued to use substances. Home delivery was associated with greater use of alcohol and marijuana, supporting a need for further research on risk factors for heavier substance use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Goodyear
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Patience Moyo
- Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, Department of Health Services, Policy and Practice, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Jaqueline C. Avila
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Jasjit S. Ahluwalia
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Mollie A. Monnig
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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