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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] [MESH Headings] [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.
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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
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Alpers SE, Pallesen S, Vold JH, Haug E, Lunde LH, Skogen JC, Mamen A, Mæland S, Fadnes LT. The association between psychological distress and alcohol consumption and physical activity: a population-based cohort study. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1181046. [PMID: 37426109 PMCID: PMC10323831 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1181046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic and infection control measures caused changes to daily life for most people. Heavy alcohol consumption and physical inactivity are two important behavioral risk factors for noncommunicable diseases worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic, with its social distancing measures, home office policies, isolation, and quarantine requirements may have an impact on these factors. This three-wave longitudinal study aims to investigate if psychological distress and worries related to health and economy were associated with levels and changes in alcohol consumption and physical activity during the two first years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway. Methods We used data collected in April 2020, January 2021, and January 2022 from an online longitudinal population-based survey. Alcohol consumption and physical activity status were assessed at all three measuring points via the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT-C) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF). COVID-19-related worries, home office/study, occupational situation, age, gender, children below 18 years living at home, and psychological distress (measured with the Symptom Checklist (SCL-10)) were included as independent variables in the model. A mixed model regression was used and presented with coefficients with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Analysis of data from 25,708 participants demonstrates that participants with substantial symptoms of psychological distress more often reported higher alcohol consumption (1.86 units/week, CI 1.48-2.24) and lower levels of physical activity [-1,043 Metabolic Equivalents of Task (METs) per week, CI -1,257;-828] at baseline. Working/studying from home (0.37 units/week, CI 0.24-0.50) and being male (1.57 units/week, CI 1.45-1.69) were associated with higher alcohol consumption. Working/studying from home (-536 METs/week, CI -609;-463), and being older than 70 years (-503 METs/week, CI -650;-355) were related to lower levels of physical activity. The differences in activity levels between those with the highest and lowest levels of psychological distress reduced over time (239 METs/week, CI 67;412), and similarly the differences in alcohol intake reduced over time among those having and not having children < 18 years (0.10 units/week, CI 0.01-0.19). Conclusion These findings highlight the substantial increases in risks related to inactivity and alcohol consumption among those with high levels of psychological distress symptoms, and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and increase the understanding of factors associated with worries and health behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Eiken Alpers
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ståle Pallesen
- Department of Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Optentia Research Focus Area, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
| | - Jørn Henrik Vold
- Bergen Addiction Research, Department of Addiction Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ellen Haug
- Department of Health Promotion and Development, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Teacher Education, NLA University College, Bergen, Norway
| | - Linn-Heidi Lunde
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jens Christoffer Skogen
- Department of Health Promotion, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway
- Alcohol and Drug Research Western Norway, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
- Centre for Evaluation of Public Health Measures, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Asgeir Mamen
- School of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, Oslo, Norway
| | - Silje Mæland
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Lars Thore Fadnes
- Bergen Addiction Research, Department of Addiction Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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Zapata I, Maté-Muñoz JL, Higueras A, Hernández-Lougedo J, Martín-Fidalgo N, García-Fernández P, Redondo-Vega MV, Ruiz-Tovar J. Toxic Habits and Well-Being Measures in Spanish Healthcare University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13213. [PMID: 36293793 PMCID: PMC9603594 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unhealthy lifestyles are strongly entrenched in healthcare universities and have sometimes been linked to stress or lack of sleep. This study investigated the prevalence of toxic habits (smoking, patterns of harmful alcohol use, and illicit drug use), stress levels, perceived health status, and sleep duration and assessed the connections between toxic habits and said well-being measures, as well as healthcare students' perception of the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on these health-related behaviors. METHODS In a cross-sectional study, healthcare students from Alfonso X University (Spain) completed a health survey composed of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), self-perceived health status, and the number of hours of sleep. RESULTS A total of 997 healthcare students completed the survey, of which 982 were analyzed. Being a smoker (32.2%) was associated with worse health status and insufficient sleep. Risk drinkers (33.2%) were associated with being female, and the consumption of cannabinoids (6.7%), with being male. These three toxic habits were related to each other. High levels of stress (28.2%) were correlated with worse ratings in the perception of health status (29.2%) and with insufficient sleep (45.8%), and all of them were associated with the female sex. Respectively, 49.3% and 44.2% of students recognized a worsening in their perception of stress and their sleep habits during the pandemic. CONCLUSION Healthcare universities must carry out health promotion programs for stress management, sleep habits, and unhealthy lifestyles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Zapata
- Department of Medicine, Alfonso X El Sabio University, 28691 Madrid, Spain
| | - José Luis Maté-Muñoz
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Juan Hernández-Lougedo
- Department of Physical Activity and Sports Science, Alfonso X El Sabio University, 28691 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Pablo García-Fernández
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- IdISSC, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Jaime Ruiz-Tovar
- Department of Medicine, Alfonso X El Sabio University, 28691 Madrid, Spain
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