A Latent Class Analysis of Mental Health Severity and Alcohol Consumption: Associations with COVID-19-Related Quarantining, Isolation, Suicidal Ideations, and Physical Activity

Abstract

The present study examined latent class cluster group patterns based on measures of depression and anxiety symptom severity and alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hypothesized correlates with latent class cluster groups including quarantining, self-isolation, suicidal ideations, sitting hours per day, and physical activity (vigorous intensity exercise in minutes per week) were examined. The delimited participant sample consisted of 606 university young adults 18 to 25 years of age ( M = 21.24 ± 1.62). Latent cluster analysis (LCA) modeled patterns of depression and anxiety symptom severity and alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between group analysis and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to examine relationships between latent class clusters and correlates including quarantining, self-isolation, suicidal ideations, sitting hours per day, and physical activity (vigorous intensity exercise in minutes per week). LCA results showed that six latent cluster groups provided optimal model-to-date fit based on mental health symptom severity and alcohol consumption ( L 2 = 56.31, BIC = 5012.79, AIC = 4849.74, and the bootstrap L 2 p -value = .88; Entropy R 2 = .89). Identified latent class clusters were as follows: cluster one = moderate anxiety and depression severity and moderate alcohol consumption ( n = 156; 25.7%); cluster two = high mental health severity and alcohol consumption ( n = 133; 21.9%); cluster three = low mental health symptoms and moderate alcohol consumption ( n = 105; 17.3%); cluster four = lowest mental health severity and alcohol consumption ( n = 95; 15.7%); cluster five = moderate depression severity, low anxiety severity, and low alcohol consumptions ( n = 74; 12.2%); and cluster six = moderate anxiety severity, low depression severity, and low alcohol consumption ( n = 43; 7.1%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis results found that quarantining, self-isolation, suicidal ideations, sedentary behavior, and physical activity were differentially associated with cluster group membership. Findings from this study demonstrate associations between COVID-19 public health restrictions, suicidal ideations, and declines in mental health and increases in alcohol consumption among young adult university students.

COVID-19 pandemic fatigue and its sociodemographic and psycho-behavioral correlates: a population-based cross-sectional study in Hong Kong

“…It is well established that exercise can help alleviate depression 41 . Alcohol consumption was associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms amid the pandemic 42,43 . Our results suggest that pandemic fatigue could have adverse effects on lifestyle factors and related behavioral health and well-being.…”

Knowledge mapping of students’ mental health status in the COVID-19 pandemic: A bibliometric study

“…It is reasonable to assume that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the plight of these students and significantly damage their mental health. In terms of addictive behaviors, numerous articles have demonstrated the strong relationship between social media addiction, alcohol addiction, drug addiction, smartphone addiction, and other addictive behaviors with COVID-19 and mental health ( Sujarwoto et al, 2021 ; Hu et al, 2022 ; Lardier et al, 2022 ; Yehudai et al, 2022 ). In 2020, a study focusing on children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these children’s mental health and worsened their behavioral problems ( Zhang et al, 2020 ).…”

Factors Associated with Self-Reported Changes in Alcohol Use among Young Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Analysis between Canada and France

“…This may be explained by the fact that there were fewer opportunities for young adults to attend social gatherings or to drink socially with their peers. It is also important to note that these COVID-19 stressors were associated with an increase in alcohol use in Canada, suggesting that the experience of isolation may influence young adults’ alcohol patterns differently, including toward more consumption [ 17 ]. The association between COVID-19 stressors and changes in alcohol use in both directions could also have been influenced by the negative impact of the COVID-19 lockdown measures (e.g., closures of bars and nightclubs, temporary bans) on alcohol availability.…”

“…In the existing COVID-19 literature among young adults, three main sets of factors have been reported to be associated with diverse changes in alcohol use. First, socio-demographic factors have been identified, such as age [ 6 , 15 , 16 ], gender [ 6 , 15 , 17 , 18 ], ethno-racial identity [ 15 , 19 , 20 ], and living situation [ 6 , 15 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. For example, students who moved to live with their parents were less likely to drink alcohol compared to those who continued living in their pre-COVID residences [ 23 ].…”

“…A second set of factors feature the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health measures. Previous studies identified how COVID infection, episodes of quarantine, in-person social interactions, and lower levels of adherence to COVID-19 measures were all associated with increased alcohol use [ 15 , 17 , 18 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Other studies also suggest that young adults who have been affected by the negative economic consequences of the pandemic (e.g., employment loss) had a greater likelihood of increased alcohol use [ 21 , 27 ].…”