Binge drinking before and after a COVID-19 campus closure among first-year college students

Bonar, Erin E.; Parks, Michael J.; Gunlicks-Stoessel, Meredith; Lyden, Grace R.; Mehus, Christopher J.; Morrell, Nicole; Patrick, Megan E.

doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106879

Cited by 53 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…In terms of age, the percentage of risky drinkers before the pandemic was around 23% in the 30 to 64 age range, whereas in the 18 to 29 age range, it was around 32%. In contrast to other studies that indicated that risky consumption especially decreased in people from 18 to 29 years old during confinement [10,11,[15][16][17][18], in our study, the greatest decreases were observed in the 35 to 44 age group, followed moderately by the 25 to 34 age group and, finally, by the 18 to 24 age group, but only slightly.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Other studies conducted during confinement indicate that about 14% of alcohol drinkers increased their consumption during this period [42][43][44] The second conclusion is that being a young adult was a strong predictor of decreased alcohol consumption during confinement. These findings are consistent with other studies [10,11,[15][16][17][18] that report a greater decline in the prevalence and frequency of drinking in people from 18 to 29 years old. This greater decrease in all the indicators of alcohol consumption in the youngest adults, compared to older adults, can be explained, at least partially, by limitations on social drinking opportunities due to the closure of venues for young people (discotheques, festivals, and pubs) where they were used to drinking alcohol regularly [44], in contrast to older drinkers, whose consumption is more associated with the home [28,44,45].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Some studies indicate that, during confinement, the prevalence of alcohol consumption, the frequency of consumption, or the number of drinks on each occasion stayed the same or declined compared to pre-pandemic levels [11,13,14]. Other studies note that the decrease in prevalence and risky drinking was more significant in people from 18 to 29 years old [10,11,[15][16][17][18]. However, in this same age group, an increase in alcohol consumption, in terms of frequency and average amount, has also been reported [19,20], indicating that this could be a strategy used to cope with the stressful emotional burden of the pandemic [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Age and Living Situation as Key Factors in Understanding Changes in Alcohol Use during COVID-19 Confinement

Blasco

Silvestre

Vázquez-Martínez

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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(1) The aim of the present study was to evaluate and characterize changes in alcohol use during the COVID-19 confinement in a sample of Spanish adults, analyzing their age and living situation as defining life cycle variables. (2) Method: Data from 3779 individuals were collected through a set of online surveys. AUDIT-C was used to measure the frequency of consumption, the average daily consumption, intensive consumption, risky consumption, and Standard Drink Units. (3) Results: Although alcohol consumption during confinement showed a significant general decline, age revealed important differences, with the decline being more pronounced in adults from 18 to 29 years old. The living situation also showed significant differences. The largest decreases in alcohol consumption were found in those who lived with their parents or other relatives, whereas those who lived alone or with a partner even increased their level of consumption. In addition, the data show a significant interaction between these two variables and gender. (4) Conclusions: Age and cohabitation processes are key factors in understanding the life situation of each individual during confinement and, consequently, in explaining consumption patterns. The results obtained provide interesting recommendations for designing prevention policies in both normal and crisis circumstances, emphasizing the need to understand alcohol use from a psychosocial perspective.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Age and Living Situation as Key Factors in Understanding Changes in Alcohol Use during COVID-19 Confinement

Blasco

Silvestre

Vázquez-Martínez

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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show abstract

“…Most importantly, this study showed a strong change in the consumption behavior of students that regularly practiced BD as the pandemic unfolded in time, indicating a significant decrease in alcohol intake from the pre-pandemic time to Lockdown and Post-Lockdown. These findings agree with recent research conducted worldwide with college students suggesting that COVID-19 lockdown measures, which imposed campus closures and limitations of social contact, led to significant decreases in alcohol consumption in BDs, thus appearing to work as a short-term ecological intervention on BD behavior for these students [ 22 , 46 , 47 , 59 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…The scarce research on BD changes related to COVID-19 in young adults have shown contradicting results. As such, a recent US study reported 60% of Regular BDs increased alcohol consumption [ 45 ], while two other US studies and one Belgian study reported reductions in consumption by nearly 40% [ 46 , 47 ] and 68% [ 48 ] of the Regular BDs, respectively. These mixing results on BD behavior draw attention to the need of longitudinal studies about changes in alcohol consumption in young adults with distinct drinking profiles, as a function of the pandemic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of the COVID-19 Mitigation Measures on Alcohol Consumption and Binge Drinking in College Students: A Longitudinal Survey

Vasconcelos

Crego

Rodrigues

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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To “flatten the curve” of COVID-19 contagion, several countries ordered lockdowns amid the pandemic along with indications on social distancing. These social isolation measures could potentially bring alterations to healthy behavior, including to alcohol consumption. However, there is hardly any scientific evidence of the impact of such measures on alcohol consumption and binge drinking (BD) among young adults, and how they relate to alcohol craving, stress, anxiety, and depression levels. We addressed these questions by conducting a longitudinal study with 146 Portuguese college students—regular binge drinkers (regular BDs), infrequent binge drinkers (infrequent BDs) and non-binge drinkers (non-BDs)—in three moments: before the pandemic (Pre-Lockdown), during lockdown (Lockdown) and 6 months after (Post-Lockdown). Results revealed that regular BDs decreased alcohol use during Lockdown, a change in behavior that was even greater during Post-Lockdown, when regular BDs displayed similar levels of consumption to infrequent/non-BDs. Additionally, alcohol craving and living with friends were predictive of alcohol use during Lockdown, whereas stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms did not contribute to explain changes in drinking behavior. Collectively, the results suggest that BD in young Portuguese college students can be stopped when the contexts in which alcohol intake usually takes place are suppressed, which may have important implications for future prevention and intervention strategies.

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Relationship Between Depression and Risky Alcohol Consumption in Women: the Mediating Role of Coping Styles and Age

Blasco

Mateu-Mollá

Silvestre

et al. 2022

Int J Ment Health Addiction

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Women are more likely to use alcohol as a coping strategy for psychological distress, with higher rates of comorbidity with depression being found in those with an alcohol use disorder. The objective of this study was to analyze changes in problematic alcohol consumption and depression during the COVID-19 lockdown, and to establish a predictive model based on age. A total of 1889 women aged 18–64 years ( M = 36.14) participated. The Patient Health Questionnaire was applied for depression, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Short Version for alcohol, and active and avoidant coping were considered. In the period prior to the pandemic, depression and avoidant coping were good predictors of alcohol consumption in women, regardless of age. During lockdown, this predictive capacity was only maintained in women aged 35–64 years. In the mediational models, differences were observed according to age. For women aged 18–34 years, depression was the predictor variable of problematic alcohol consumption, but for women aged 35–64 years it was the avoidant coping style, which is the predominant style in women of this age with clinical depression. The relevance of age in the combined treatments of depression and problematic alcohol consumption is highlighted, and training in active coping strategies is suggested.

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Binge drinking before and after a COVID-19 campus closure among first-year college students

Cited by 53 publications

References 23 publications

Age and Living Situation as Key Factors in Understanding Changes in Alcohol Use during COVID-19 Confinement

Age and Living Situation as Key Factors in Understanding Changes in Alcohol Use during COVID-19 Confinement

Effects of the COVID-19 Mitigation Measures on Alcohol Consumption and Binge Drinking in College Students: A Longitudinal Survey

Relationship Between Depression and Risky Alcohol Consumption in Women: the Mediating Role of Coping Styles and Age

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