1
|
Botella-Juan L, Morales-Suárez-Varela M, Amezcua-Prieto C, Mateos-Campos R, Ayán-Pérez C, Molina AJ, Ortiz-Moncada R, Delgado-Parrilla A, Blázquez-Abellán G, Delgado-Rodríguez M, Alonso-Molero J, Fernández-Villa T. Changes in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 among first-year university students in Spain, considering the risk of problematic use - UniHcos project. Alcohol 2024; 120:133-141. [PMID: 38969249 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2024.06.008] [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: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prevalence rates and self-reported changes in patterns of alcohol use among first-year university students in Spain, considering the risk of problematic alcohol use. A serial cross-sectional study based on the uniHcos project was carried out. Data from 10 518 first-year university students (73.3% female, mean age 19 (SD = 1.6)) collected between 2012 and 2022 were analysed. The evolution of the pooled prevalence rates during the time series was analysed and the risk of problematic alcohol consumption was assessed using the AUDIT. Also, self-reported changes in alcohol use patterns during the pandemic were assessed. According to the results, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of alcohol use in the past 30-days was reduced (76.3% in 2019 vs. 63.7% in COVID-19) increasing again in the New Normal period. Thus, a similar pattern in the practice of binge drinking was observed. Regarding the AUDIT score, 21.7% (95%CI 20.9, 22.6) of the students had harmful alcohol consumption, with a higher proportion among males. In the multivariable logistic models, a higher AUDIT score was significantly associated (p-value < 0.001) with being male and living with roommates. According to self-reported changes in consumption patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic, a higher proportion of participants with harmful use reported an increase in alcohol consumption compared to those at low-risk (43% vs 19%). Finally, despite the overall reduction in drinking prevalence during COVID-19, changes were not equal for all students and depended on their previous level of problematic drinking, highlighting that this should be considered in the development of strategies against alcohol use in this population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Botella-Juan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; The Research Group in Gene-Environment and Health Interactions (GIIGAS), Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - María Morales-Suárez-Varela
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública-CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Food Sciences, Toxicology and Legal Medicine, Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Carmen Amezcua-Prieto
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública-CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.Granada), 18014 Granada, Spain
| | - Ramona Mateos-Campos
- Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences. Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Carlos Ayán-Pérez
- Well-Move Research Group, Department of Special Didactics, Universidad de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
| | - Antonio José Molina
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; The Research Group in Gene-Environment and Health Interactions (GIIGAS), Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública-CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Rocío Ortiz-Moncada
- Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Food and Nutrition Research Group, Universidad de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain
| | - Ana Delgado-Parrilla
- Centre for Research on Natural Resources, Health, and Environment (RENSMA), Universidad de Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain
| | - Gemma Blázquez-Abellán
- Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02008 Albacete, Spain
| | - Miguel Delgado-Rodríguez
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública-CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain; Department of Health Sciences, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
| | - Jessica Alonso-Molero
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad de Cantabria-IDIVAL, 39008 Santander, Spain
| | - Tania Fernández-Villa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; The Research Group in Gene-Environment and Health Interactions (GIIGAS), Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública-CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Schwandt ML, Cullins E, Ramchandani VA. The role of resilience in the relationship between stress and alcohol. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 31:100644. [PMID: 38827175 PMCID: PMC11140813 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Stress plays a well-documented role in alcohol consumption and the risk for developing alcohol use disorder. The concept of resilience - coping with and successfully adapting to stressful life experiences - has received increasing attention in the field of addiction research in recent decades, and there has been an accumulation of evidence for resilience as a protective factor against problematic alcohol consumption, risk for alcohol use disorder, disorder severity, and relapse. The conceptual and methodological approaches used in the generation of this evidence vary considerably across investigations, however. In light of this, we carried out this review in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the meaning and scope of resilience, what factors contribute to resilience, how it is measured, and how it relates to alcohol-associated phenotypes. Implications for treatment through the use of resilience-building interventions are likewise discussed, as well as implications for future research on the role of resilience in the etiology and clinical outcomes of alcohol use disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melanie L. Schwandt
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eva Cullins
- Human Psychopharmacology Laboratory, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Vijay A. Ramchandani
- Human Psychopharmacology Laboratory, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kupcewicz E, Schneider-Matyka D, Rachubińska K, Jastrzębski P, Bentkowska A, Grochans E. Health Behaviours and the Quality of Life of Students of Medical Fields during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Nutrients 2024; 16:1747. [PMID: 38892679 PMCID: PMC11174481 DOI: 10.3390/nu16111747] [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: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Social distancing and closing down public spaces associated with learning, leisure and physical activity limited the spread of COVID-19. These measures had an impact not only on the economy and education but also on health behaviours and the quality of life of individuals affected by the restrictions. The aim of this study was to identify the role of health behaviours in the perception of the quality of life of students during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: This study was conducted among 796 students of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn in the first quarter of 2022. Subgroup 1 consisted of students at the Public Health School (n = 428; 53.8%) and subgroup 2 consisted of students belonging to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (n = 368; 46.2%). The diagnostic survey method was applied, and an original survey questionnaire, the Health Behaviour Inventory and the Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQoL-Bref version) were used. (3) Results: The largest contribution to the prediction of quality of life of students in subgroup 1 was made by a positive mental attitude related to avoiding too strong emotions, which explained 19% of the result variability in the somatic domain (ßeta = 0.24; R2 = 0.21), 20% of the result variability in the psychological domain (ßeta = 0.36; R2 = 0.20), 16% of the result variability in the social domain (ßeta = 0.52; R2 = 0.17) and 17% of the result variability in the environmental domain (ßeta = 0.19; R2 = 0.19). Moreover, in subgroup 2, a predominantly positive mental attitude significantly predicted quality of life in the somatic domain, explaining 23% of the result variability (ßeta = 0.24; R2 = 0.26), while it explained 25% of the result variability in the psychological domain (ßeta = 0.47; R2 = 0.25), 16% of the result variability in the social domain (ßeta = 0.46; R2 = 0.17) and 21% of the result variability in the environmental domain (ßeta = 0.38; R2 = 0.23). (4) Conclusions: Positive correlations between health behaviours and the quality of life among the study participants were determined. Health-promoting behaviours had a beneficial impact on the respondents' quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The category of health behaviours described as a positive mental attitude was an important predictor for the participants' quality of life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Kupcewicz
- Department of Nursing, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 14 C Zolnierska Street, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Daria Schneider-Matyka
- Department of Nursing, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 48 Żołnierska Street, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Kamila Rachubińska
- Department of Nursing, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 48 Żołnierska Street, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Paweł Jastrzębski
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 14 C Żołnierska Street, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Bentkowska
- Hospital Emergency Department, Provincial Specialist Hospital in Olsztyn, 18 Żołnierska Street, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Grochans
- Department of Nursing, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 48 Żołnierska Street, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Logie CH, Okumu M, Admassu Z, MacKenzie F, Tailor L, Kortenaar JL, Perez-Brumer A, Ahmed R, Batte S, Hakiza R, Kibuuka Musoke D, Katisi B, Nakitende A, Juster RP, Marin MF, Kyambadde P. Exploring ecosocial contexts of alcohol use and misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda: Multi-method findings. J Migr Health 2024; 9:100215. [PMID: 38375158 PMCID: PMC10875238 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmh.2024.100215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Urban refugees may be disproportionately affected by socio-environmental stressors that shape alcohol use, and this may have been exacerbated by additional stressors in the COVID-19 pandemic. This multi-method study aimed to understand experiences of, and contextual factors associated with, alcohol use during the pandemic among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda. We conducted a cross-sectional survey (n = 335), in-depth individual interviews (IDI) (n = 24), and focus groups (n = 4) with urban refugee youth in Kampala. We also conducted key informant interviews (n = 15) with a range of stakeholders in Kampala. We conducted multivariable logistic regression analyses with survey data to examine socio-demographic and ecosocial (structural, community, interpersonal) factors associated with ever using alcohol and alcohol misuse. We applied thematic analyses across qualitative data to explore lived experiences, and perceived impacts, of alcohol use. Among survey participants (n = 335, mean age= 20.8, standard deviation: 3.01), half of men and one-fifth of women reported ever using alcohol. Among those reporting any alcohol use, half (n = 66, 51.2 %) can be classified as alcohol misuse. In multivariable analyses, older age, gender (men vs. women), higher education, and perceived increased pandemic community violence against women and children were associated with significantly higher likelihood of ever using alcohol. In multivariable analyses, very low food security, relationship status, transactional sex, and lower social support were associated with increased likelihood of alcohol misuse. Qualitative findings revealed: (1) alcohol use as a coping mechanism for stressors (e.g., financial insecurity, refugee-related stigma); and (2) perceived impacts of alcohol use on refugee youth health (e.g., physical, mental). Together findings provide insight into multi-level contexts that shape vulnerability to alcohol mis/use among urban refugee youth in Kampala and signal the need for gender-tailored strategies to reduce socio-environmental stressors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen H. Logie
- Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Moses Okumu
- School of Social Work, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- School of Social Sciences, Uganda Christian University, Mukono, Uganda
| | - Zerihun Admassu
- Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Frannie MacKenzie
- Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lauren Tailor
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jean-Luc Kortenaar
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Amaya Perez-Brumer
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rushdia Ahmed
- Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shamilah Batte
- Organization for Gender Empowerment and Rights Advocacy- OGERA Uganda, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Robert Hakiza
- Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID), Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Brenda Katisi
- Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID), Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Robert-Paul Juster
- Department of Psychiatry & Addiction, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Marie-France Marin
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Peter Kyambadde
- Most At Risk Population Initiative Clinic, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
- National AIDS Control Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Guzman Villegas-Frei M, Jubin J, Bucher CO, Bachmann AO. Self-efficacy, mindfulness, and perceived social support as resources to maintain the mental health of students in Switzerland's universities of applied sciences: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:335. [PMID: 38297239 PMCID: PMC10829234 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17692-x] [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: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Switzerland's student population is at a particularly high risk of developing mental health disorders, creating a major challenge for Switzerland's higher education establishments. Research to date has primarily sought to identify the risk factors affecting students' mental health; however, their exposure to these factors is often unavoidable. Thus, the present study adopted a salutogenic approach focussing on the determinants of health. We examined the mental health resources available to students reported in the literature as being susceptible to helping them maintain good mental health despite their exposure to risk factors. METHODS In February 2020, 2,415 first- and second-year bachelor's degree students in applied sciences in French-speaking Switzerland completed an online questionnaire. The variables measured were self-evaluated mental health, perceived stress and three potential health resources: students' feelings of self-efficacy, their capacity for mindfulness and their social support. The results were analysed using hierarchical linear regression models. RESULTS When all the variables were included in the model without interaction effect, our results revealed that students' self-evaluated mental health was negatively associated with perceived stress (β = -0.43, p < 0.001) and positively associated with the three potential health resources (self-efficacy: β = 0.26, p < 0.001; mindfulness: β = 0.10, p < 0.001; social support: β = 0.17, p < 0.001). An analysis of the interaction effects also revealed that a high level of self-efficacy was associated with perceived stress being less strongly linked to mental health (β = 0.29, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that self-efficacy, mindfulness, and perceived social support are valuable resources for protecting students' mental health. Thus, implementing interventions aimed at reinforcing them, could support students in applied sciences all along their academic pathway, in their classes and during their professional work experience placements.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Guzman Villegas-Frei
- La Source School of Nursing, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Av. Vinet 30, Lausanne, 1004, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan Jubin
- La Source School of Nursing, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Av. Vinet 30, Lausanne, 1004, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Ortoleva Bucher
- La Source School of Nursing, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Av. Vinet 30, Lausanne, 1004, Switzerland
| | - Annie Oulevey Bachmann
- La Source School of Nursing, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Av. Vinet 30, Lausanne, 1004, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Marrone M, Pititto F, Stellacci A, Nicolì S, Buongiorno L, De Luca BP, Aventaggiato L, Strisciullo G, Solarino B, Benevento M. Alcohol and Drug Consumption among Drivers before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Observational Study. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2023; 13:897-905. [PMID: 37232706 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe13050068] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic might have changed recreational habits. In this study, the results of toxicological tests for alcohol and drugs in blood were compared among drivers stopped at roadside checks in the periods before (1 January 2018 to 8 March 2020) and after the lockdown measures (9 March 2020 to 31 December 2021). A total of 123 (20.7%) subjects had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit for driving of 0.5 g/l, 21 (3.9%) subjects tested positive for cocaine, and 29 (5.4%) subjects positive for cannabis. In the COVID-19 period, the mean blood alcohol level was significantly higher than in the previous period. Cannabis use, which was more frequent among younger subjects, was statistically associated with cocaine use. There has also been a quantitative increase in alcohol levels in the population with values above the legal limits, indicative of greater use of alcohol in the population predisposed to its intake.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maricla Marrone
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Fortunato Pititto
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Alessandra Stellacci
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Simona Nicolì
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Luigi Buongiorno
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Benedetta Pia De Luca
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Lucia Aventaggiato
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Strisciullo
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Biagio Solarino
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Marcello Benevento
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Delaney K, Dietrich MS, Corte C, Akard TF, Piano MR. Hazardous alcohol use, drinking motives and COVID-19-related anxiety in college students. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2023:1-10. [PMID: 37052579 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2023.2198022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examined the associations of anxiety and drinking motives with hazardous and binge alcohol use among young adults. PARTICIPANTS We recruited young adults (N = 182, mean age 25) between November 2020 and December 2020. METHODS Linear regressions were used to evaluate relationships among hazardous alcohol use (US Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-C [USAUDIT-C]), binge drinking (Alcohol Intake Questionnaire [AIQ]), PROMIS-Anxiety, COVID-19 related anxiety (CAS), and the drinking to cope with depression and anxiety subscales of the Modified Drinking Motives Questionnaire. RESULTS Sixty-two percent of participants reported hazardous drinking (USAUDIT-C score > 4). PROMIS Anxiety and CAS scores were 63.7 and 1.0, respectively. Scores were positively associated with drinking patterns. However, the drinking to cope with depression motive significantly mediated these associations. CONCLUSIONS After the onset of the pandemic, hazardous and binge drinking patterns among young adults were associated with drinking to cope with depression rather than anxiety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kendra Delaney
- Center for Research Development and Scholarship, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Mary S Dietrich
- Center for Research Development and Scholarship, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Collen Corte
- College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Terrah Foster Akard
- Center for Research Development and Scholarship, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Mariann R Piano
- Center for Research Development and Scholarship, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tetteh-Quarshie S, Risher ML. Adolescent brain maturation and the neuropathological effects of binge drinking: A critical review. Front Neurosci 2023; 16:1040049. [PMID: 36733924 PMCID: PMC9887052 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1040049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Adolescence is a transitional stage marked by continued brain development. This period is accompanied by physical and neurochemical modifications in the shape and function of the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and other limbic system structures. Brain maturation during adolescence, which is typically governed by intrinsic factors, can be dramatically altered by environmental influences such as drugs and alcohol. Unlike many other addictive substances, binge drinking is very common and normative among teenagers and young adults. This repeated pattern of excessive alcohol consumption in adolescents has been shown to cause behavioral changes and neurocognitive impairments that include increased anxiety, risky decision-making, and learning deficits, which could lead to the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). This manuscript highlights factors that lead to adolescent binge drinking, discusses maturational changes that occur in an adolescent's brain, and then evaluates the effect of adolescent alcohol consumption on brain structure, function, and neurocognitive abilities in both human studies and animal models. The impact of gender/sex and COVID-19 are briefly discussed. Understanding the factors that promote the onset of adolescent binge drinking and its undesirable consequences could serve as a catalyst for developing therapeutic agents that would decrease or eradicate the damaging effects of alcohol on an adolescent brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Tetteh-Quarshie
- Department of Biomedical Science and Research, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, United States
| | - Mary-Louise Risher
- Department of Biomedical Science and Research, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, United States,Neurobiology Research Laboratory, Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Huntington, WV, United States,*Correspondence: Mary-Louise Risher,
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kohls E, Guenthner L, Baldofski S, Brock T, Schuhr J, Rummel-Kluge C. Two years COVID-19 pandemic: Development of university students' mental health 2020-2022. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1122256. [PMID: 37091715 PMCID: PMC10117945 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1122256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The literature indicates a negative impact on the mental health of university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. It remains unclear if this negative impact persists even after lockdown measures are lifted. The current study therefore investigates the mental health status of students by drawing on two previous studies the present study seeks to investigate differences in the mental health status across three time points. Methods A cross-sectional, anonymous online survey among students of six universities was conducted between April and May 2022 (N = 5,510). Symptoms of depression, anxiety, hazardous alcohol use and eating disorders as well as social and emotional variables were assessed utilizing standardized instruments. Risk- and protective factors for severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms were investigated using multiple regression models. Differences in e.g., symptoms of depression across three time points were assessed with one-way analysis of variance. Results More than one third of students exhibited clinically relevant symptoms of depression (35.5%), hazardous alcohol use (33.0-35.5% depending on gender) or anxiety disorder (31.1%). Taken together, almost two out of three (61.4%) students reported clinically relevant symptoms in at least one of the aforementioned symptom patterns, while almost one fifth of students reported suicidal ideation or thoughts of self-harm (19.6%). Higher perceived stress and loneliness significantly predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms, while resilience and social support were identified as protective factors. Compared to 2020 and 2021, levels of depressive symptoms were significantly reduced in 2022, levels of hazardous alcohol consumption showed a small but significant increase from 2021 to 2022. Worryingly, prevalence of suicidal ideation was the highest yet, being significantly higher than in 2020 (14.5%) and 2021 (16.5%). Conclusion These results confirm previous results that the pandemic had and still has a negative impact on the mental health of university students. The present study broadens this view by the fact that some areas seem to recover quicker, while others seem to increase worryingly. Especially the persistent rise in suicidal ideation from 2020 to 2021 and to 2022, a constant reduction in reported social support and associated perceived loneliness is concerning. The claim for low-threshold and accessible mental health support for university students remains the same as in the beginning of the pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Kohls
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lukas Guenthner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sabrina Baldofski
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tanja Brock
- Centre for Research, Further Education and Consulting, University of Applied Sciences for Social Work, Education and Nursing Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jan Schuhr
- Centre for Research, Further Education and Consulting, University of Applied Sciences for Social Work, Education and Nursing Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christine Rummel-Kluge
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- *Correspondence: Christine Rummel-Kluge
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Coulaud PJ, Airagnes G, McGrath K, Bolduc N, Bertrand K, Jauffret-Roustide M, Knight R. Factors Associated with Self-Reported Changes in Alcohol Use among Young Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Analysis between Canada and France. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16694. [PMID: 36554575 PMCID: PMC9778883 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
While the COVID-19 pandemic impacted young adults' alcohol use patterns, little is known about how changes in alcohol use may differ across different settings. Our objective was to identify and compare factors associated with changes in alcohol use among young adults in Canada and France during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey in October-December 2020 with young adults aged 18-29 (n = 5185) in Canada and France. In each country, weighted multinomial logistic regressions were performed to identify factors associated with self-reported decrease and increase in alcohol use separately (reference: no change). Respectively, 33.4% and 21.4% reported an increase in alcohol use in Canada and France, while 22.9% and 33.5% reported a decrease. Being 25-29 was a predictor of decrease in Canada, while living away from family was associated with an increase in France. In both countries, participants were more likely to report an increase if they reported depressive symptoms, smoking tobacco, or cannabis use. Conversely, those who had been tested for COVID-19 and those who were highly compliant with COVID-19 preventive measures were more likely to report a decrease. Efforts are needed to develop alcohol use interventions for young adults, including in ways that prioritize those with mental health challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Julien Coulaud
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada
| | - Guillaume Airagnes
- AP-HP. Centre-Université Paris Cité, DMU Psychiatrie et Addictologie, 75006 Paris, France
- INSERM, Population-Based Epidemiological Cohorts, 94800 Villejuif, France
| | - Kai McGrath
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada
| | - Naseeb Bolduc
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada
| | - Karine Bertrand
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Marie Jauffret-Roustide
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada
- Centre d’Étude des Mouvements Sociaux (EHESS/CNRS UMR8044/INSERM U1276), 75244 Paris, France
- Baldy Center on Law and Social Policy, Buffalo University, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Rod Knight
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada
- Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2K5, Canada
- École de Santé Publique de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3N 1X9, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Babicki M. Use of Alcohol, Cannabinoids, Psychostimulants, and Sedatives before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Students in 40 European Countries. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14879. [PMID: 36429598 PMCID: PMC9690623 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In March 2020, the WHO announced the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been ongoing for over 2 years. To stop the spread of the virus, the governments of many countries decided to introduce reasonable social restrictions that were suitable for pandemic waves. This led to radical changes in people's lives, especially among students, who are very active in society. Before COVID-19, being of student age was associated with the highest frequency of stimulants use. It is important to note that drugs are taken disparately in various areas. Therefore, using the Computer-Assisted Web Interview type of study, the impact of the pandemic on the use of alcohol, cannabinoids, psychostimulants (e.g., amphetamine, methamphetamine, ecstasy) and sedatives (e.g., zolpidem, zopiclone, alprazolam, lorazepam, etc.) was assessed among students from European countries. The questionnaire included single- and multiple-answer questions. The first part concerned sociodemographic questions, while the second included questions about the use of stimulants in the last 3 months prior to participation in the study. Distribution of the survey covered the period from 31 January 2016 to 30 April 2021. A total of 17,594 European students participated in the study. The vast majority of participants were women (80.4%) and students of non-medical universities (77.2%) living in Eastern European countries (86.1%). Of all students, 15,613 (89.6%) reported alcohol drinking, 2538 (14.1%) the use of cannabinoids, 650 (3.6%) psychostimulants, and 2252 (12.5%) sedatives in the past three months. It has been shown that women are far less likely to use alcohol (OR 0.81), psychostimulants (OR 0.44) and cannabinoids (OR 0.49), while they are more likely to use sedatives (OR 1.41). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the consumption of alcohol (OR 0.55) and psychostimulants (OR 0.72) decreased and that of sleep medications increased (OR 1.17). To conclude, the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the pattern of stimulants used by students in European countries. The restriction of social interactions contributed to the decrease in the consumption of alcohol and psychostimulants but increased the use of sedatives and the frequency of their use. Women were found to use sedatives more often, while men preferred to drink alcohol and use cannabinoids or psychostimulants. It has also been shown that students of Central and Eastern Europe more often use alcohol and sedatives, while in Southern European countries psychostimulants and cannabinoids are preferred.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Babicki
- Department of Family Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 51-141 Wroclaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Agyapong B, Shalaby R, Wei Y, Agyapong VIO. Can ResilienceNHope, an evidence-based text and email messaging innovative suite of programs help to close the psychological treatment and mental health literacy gaps in college students? Front Public Health 2022; 10:890131. [PMID: 36388394 PMCID: PMC9650226 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.890131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a high prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders in college students globally. Financial stressors, course workload, peer pressure, and other personal, family, and societal stressors contribute to the high incidence of mental disorders among college students. Despite the high prevalence of mental disorders in college students, barriers such as lack of mental health literacy, stigma of mental health, inadequate numbers of mental health counselors and clinical psychologists supporting students in colleges in both low- and high-income countries, and financial and geographical barriers often hinder college students from accessing the needed mental supports. There is increasing evidence on the effectiveness and feasibility of mobile technology in health promotion and closing psychological treatment gaps. College students are well adapted to the use of mobile technology, particularly text and email messaging daily, which presents a unique opportunity for an innovative way to offer support for their mental health. In this article, we provide a perspective on the ResilienceNHope program, an evidence-based text and email messaging innovation, to close the psychological treatment gap and improve the mental health literacy of college students.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Belinda Agyapong
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada,Global Psychological eHealth Foundation, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Reham Shalaby
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Yifeng Wei
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Vincent I. O. Agyapong
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada,Global Psychological eHealth Foundation, Edmonton, AB, Canada,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada,*Correspondence: Vincent I. O. Agyapong
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Skipping Breakfast and Incidence of Frequent Alcohol Drinking in University Students in Japan: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14132657. [PMID: 35807842 PMCID: PMC9267987 DOI: 10.3390/nu14132657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Frequency of alcohol drinking is a potential predictor of binge drinking of alcohol, a serious social problem for university students. Although previous studies have identified skipping breakfast as a predictor of various health-compromising behaviors and cardiometabolic diseases, few studies have assessed the association between skipping breakfast and the incidence of frequent alcohol drinking. This retrospective cohort study included 17,380 male and 8799 female university students aged 18–22 years admitted to Osaka universities between 2004 and 2015. The association between breakfast frequency (eating every day, skipping occasionally, and skipping often/usually) and the incidence of frequent alcohol drinking, defined as drinking ≥4 days/week, was assessed using multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. During the median observational period of 3.0 years, 878 (5.1%) men and 190 (2.2%) women engaged in frequent alcohol drinking. Skipping breakfast was significantly associated with the incidence of frequent alcohol drinking (adjusted hazard ratios [95% confidence interval] of eating every day, skipping occasionally, and skipping often/usually: 1.00 [reference], 1.02 [0.84–1.25], and 1.48 [1.17–1.88] in men; 1.00 [reference], 1.60 [1.03–2.49], and 3.14 [1.88–5.24] in women, respectively). University students who skipped breakfast were at a higher risk of frequent alcohol drinking than those who ate breakfast every day.
Collapse
|