Alcohol Use and COVID-19: Can we Predict the Impact of the Pandemic on Alcohol Use Based on the Previous Crises in the 21st Century? A Brief Review

Gonçalves, Priscila Dib; Moura, Helena Ferreira; Amaral, Ronaldo; Castaldelli-Maia, João Maurício; Malbergier, André

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.581113

Cited by 68 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Isolated and quarantined people frequently turn to substances (e.g., alcohol consumption) or rewarded behaviors (e.g., online gaming) to cope with their negative feelings (5,6). Previous studies have reported that the impact of disasters, such as traumatic events (i.e., terrorism as 9/11), epidemic outbreaks (i.e., severe acute respiratory syndrome [SARS] in 2003), economic crises (2008's Great Recession), have resulted in increased rates of addictive behaviors, including alcohol drinking and problematic Internet use (7)(8)(9).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Problematic Use of Alcohol and Online Gaming as Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mini Review

Park

Kang

et al. 2021

Front. Psychiatry

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The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic has dramatically changed our daily lives and activities, including those originally intended to serve for leisure and pleasure. Drinking and online gaming became coping behaviors used to rescue ourselves from the stress and restricted lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, frequent drinking and gaming can result in the pathological consequences of addiction. Those affected use the stimuli not to obtain pleasure, but rather to avoid the displeasure induced by stress and previous use, often unsuccessfully. This review aims to provide an overview of recent longitudinal cohort studies on alcohol and gaming use during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to analyze how the pandemic has affected alcohol and gaming use. There was a substantial risk of alcohol and online gaming overuse during the lockdown, which may depend on the pandemic's duration or overuse patterns. Previous studies have shown that increased alcohol consumption and online gaming are associated with heightened stress and anxiety levels caused by social isolation/quarantine. Over time, frequent or excessive alcohol consumption and gaming could lead to an increased risk of more serious mental health problems. Every effort should be made to mitigate mental health problems and ensure adequate adaptation to these exceptional circumstances. Therefore, it would be helpful to encourage physical activity, social interaction, and collaboration to facilitate psychological and physical health.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Problematic Use of Alcohol and Online Gaming as Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mini Review

Park

Kang

et al. 2021

Front. Psychiatry

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“…Exposing children more frequently to parental alcohol consumption may endorse lower risk perception of negative consequences (36) and positive expectations surrounding alcohol use (37) and may also promote a more accessible environment that may facilitate their teenage children's initiation to drinking (38). At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was not clear which direction alcohol consumption would take and two hypotheses were raised based on a literature review of previous public health emergencies: a possible increase due to stress, and a possible reduction due to lack of access (3,13). Findings from the present study point to the negative association between HED and those who reported being in quarantine.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was not clear which direction alcohol consumption would take and two hypotheses were raised based on a literature review of previous public health emergencies: a possible increase due to stress, and a possible reduction due to lack of access ( 3 , 13 ). Findings from the present study point to the negative association between HED and those who reported being in quarantine.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America and the Caribbean

García-Cerde

Valente

Sohi

et al. 2021

Revista Panamericana De Salud Pública

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Objective. To assess the association between drinking behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine, anxiety symptoms, and sociodemographic characteristics in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Method. Data was collected through a cross-sectional online survey (non-probabilistic sample) conducted by the Pan American Health Organization between May 22 and June 30, 2020, in 33 countries and two territories of LAC. Participants were 18 years of age or older and must not have traveled outside of their country since March 15, 2020 (n= 12 328, M age= 38.1 years, 65% female). Four drinking behaviors (online socializing drinking [OSD], drinking with child present [DCP], drinking before 5 p.m. [DB5]), heavy episodic drinking [HED]) were response variables, and quarantining, anxiety symptoms and sociodemographic covariables were explanatory variables. Results. Quarantine was positively associated with a higher frequency of OSD and with DCP, but negatively associated with a higher frequency of HED. Anxiety symptoms were associated with a higher frequency of HED, more OSD, and DB5. Higher incomes seemed to be more associated with all the studied drinking behaviors. Women tended to report less DB5 and less HED during the pandemic. Conclusions. Quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic seems to affect drinking behavior and mental health indicators like anxiety symptoms. This study is the first effort to measure the consequences of the quarantine on alcohol consumption and mental health in LAC during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the associations found, screenings and brief interventions targeting alcohol consumption and mental health are recommended.

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“…Other studies have reported a high rate of problematic alcohol use as a response to stress and as a coping mechanism following a major life event. [22][23][24][25] For example, almost 25% of New York residents reported increased alcohol use following the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001. 26 A link between anxiety and depressive symptoms and an increase in harmful alcohol use has been documented previously.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Mental Health Symptoms in Adults Undergoing Covid-19 Testing

Osaghae

Nguyen

Chung

et al. 2021

J Prim Care Community Health

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Background and objective: Understanding the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on persons receiving COVID-19 testing will help guide mental health interventions. We aimed to determine the association between sociodemographic factors and mental health symptoms at 8 weeks (baseline) after a COVID-19 test, and compare prevalence of mental health symptoms at baseline to those at 16-week follow-up. Materials and Methods: Prospective cohort study of adults who received outpatient COVID-19 testing at primary care clinics. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between sociodemographic characteristics and COVID-19 test results with mental health symptoms. Mental health symptoms reported at baseline were compared to symptoms at 16 weeks follow-up using conditional logistic regression analyses. Results: At baseline, a total of 124 (47.51%) participants reported at least mild depressive symptoms, 110 (42.15%) participants endorsed at least mild anxiety symptoms, and 94 participants (35.21%) endorsed hazardous use of alcohol. Females compared to males were at increased risk of at least mild depressive symptoms at baseline (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.08; 95% CI: 1.14-3.79). The odds of at least mild depressive symptoms was significantly lower among those residing in zip codes within the highest quartile compared to lowest quartile of household income (AOR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.17-0.81). Also, non-Hispanic Whites had significantly higher odds of reporting hazardous alcohol use compared to non-Whites at baseline (AOR: 1.94; 95% CI: 1.05-3.57). The prevalence of mental health symptoms remained elevated after 16 weeks. Conclusion and Relevance: We found a high burden of symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as hazardous alcohol use in a diverse population who received testing for COVID-19 in the primary care setting. Primary care providers need to remain vigilant in screening for symptoms of mental health disorders in patients tested for COVID-19 well after initial testing.

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Alcohol Use and COVID-19: Can we Predict the Impact of the Pandemic on Alcohol Use Based on the Previous Crises in the 21st Century? A Brief Review

Cited by 68 publications

References 66 publications

Problematic Use of Alcohol and Online Gaming as Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mini Review

Problematic Use of Alcohol and Online Gaming as Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mini Review

Alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America and the Caribbean

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Mental Health Symptoms in Adults Undergoing Covid-19 Testing

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