COVID-19 Perceived Impact and Psychological Variables as Predictors of Unhealthy Food and Alcohol Consumption Trajectories: The Role of Gender and Living with Children as Moderators

Abstract

The present study examines the trajectories of unhealthy food and alcohol consumption over time and considers whether perceived impact of COVID-19 and psychological variables are predictors of these trajectories. We ascertained whether these predictors are different in women vs. men and between women living with vs. without children. Data were collected through online surveys administered to 1038 participants from two universities (staff and students) in Chile, across five waves (July to October 2020). Participants provided information about their past-week unhealthy food and alcohol consumption and mental health. Using latent growth curve modeling analysis, we found that higher perceived health and interpersonal COVID-19 impact, younger age and lower depression symptoms were associated with more rapid increases over time in unhealthy food consumption. On the other hand, higher perceived COVID-19 economic impact and older age were associated with more rapid diachronic decreases in alcohol consumption. Gender and living with or without children, for women only, were moderators of these trajectories. This longitudinal study provides strong evidence identifying the multiple repercussions of COVID-19 and mental health factors on unhealthy food and alcohol consumption. These findings highlight the need for interventions aimed at minimizing the impact of the pandemic on unhealthy food and alcohol consumption over time.

Factors Related to Psychological Distress during the First Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Chilean Population

“…The sex and age variables, as well as living with children, predict the level of PD, as has been also referred to in the literature [ 24 , 28 , 29 , 38 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ].…”

Alcohol use and the COVID-19 pandemic: Historical trends in drinking, contexts, and reasons for use among U.S. adults

“…Later studies have included cross-sectional panel or longitudinal methodology. Some of these key studies involved localized data (e.g., Bade et al, 2021 ; Charles et al, 2021 ; Evans et al, 2021 ; Fruehwirth et al, 2021 ; Graupensperger et al, 2021 ; Jackson et al, 2021 ; Lechner et al, 2021 ; Minhas et al, 2021 ; Ryerson et al, 2021 ; Salazar-Fernández et al, 2021 ; Ward et al, 2021 ), while others utilized national data. Of those using national data, some have included trend data ( Schulenberg et al, 2021 ) but have not specifically examined changes during the pandemic while controlling for existing trends; others have included limited data points (i.e., one or two) preceding the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., Barbosa et al, 2021 ; Daly and Robinson, 2021 ; Oksanen et al, 2021 ; Pollard et al, 2020 ), while others included only data points after pandemic onset (e.g., Irizar et al, 2021 ; Nordeck et al, 2021 ).…”

Changes in the clustering of health-related behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: examining predictors using latent transition analysis

“…086/20 on July 2020 and 11/2020 on June 2020). Sample characteristics are described elsewhere in Salazar-Fernández et al [ 22 ] and Salazar-Fernández et al (2021b).…”