Changes in Maternal Substance Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: Maternal stress levels and mental health symptoms have significantly increased since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic began. As a result, experts have become concerned about elevated substance use given well-known associations between negative emotions and increased substance use. Extant research has not examined substance use among mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic which is a critical next step given links between maternal substance use and adverse childhood outcomes. Methods: Data was collected April 14th to 28th, 2020 from 508 mothers (Mage = 34.8 years, SD = 5.1) with young children between the ages of 0 to 8 years old via the Parenting During the Pandemic study. To identify associations between self-reported changes in substance use, mothers completed self-reported questionnaires on their substance use, motivations for using substances, and their mental health. Results: Of participating mothers, 54.9% did not change their substance use, 39.2% increased their use, and 5.9% decreased their use. Findings indicate that mothers with an anxiety disorder or clinically relevant anxiety symptomatology were more likely to report increased substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using substances to cope with anxiety, but not depression or boredom, was significantly elevated among mothers who self-reported increased substance use during the pandemic relative to those reporting no change to or a decrease in usage. Using substances to cope with anxiety was a risk factor for increasing substance use. Discussion: A large proportion of mothers have reported increasing their substance use since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results highlight the crucial need to treat maternal anxiety and the importance of teaching mothers alternative coping strategies, other than using substances, to reduce the incidence of increased substance use among mothers and its negative sequelae.

Responsive caregiving, opportunities for early learning, and children’s safety and security during COVID-19: A rapid review

“…These results suggest that efforts to ensure economic security may help address parents’ and other caregivers’ mental health needs and reduce adverse parenting risk. Studies also noted more couple conflict [50] and increased substance use [51] among parents and caregivers experiencing stress and anxiety during the pandemic.…”

The COVID-19 pandemic and cannabis use in Canada―a scoping review

“…Seventeen of the included studies present results from cross-sectional surveys (Myran 2020;Canadian 2020;Currie 2021;Dozois 2021;Dumas et al 2020;Farhoudian et al 2020;Imtiaz et al 2021;Joyce et al 2020;Prowse et al 2021;Rotterman 2020;Rotterman 2021;Statistics 2021;Turna 2021;Turna et al 2021;Turner 2019;Vedelago et al 2022;Zajacova et al 2020). The remaining four include an ecological study (Canadian 2021), a conceptual model (Enns et al 2020), a prospective cohort study (Leatherdale et al 2021), and a longitudinal study (Bartel et al 2020).…”

“…The remaining four include an ecological study (Canadian 2021), a conceptual model (Enns et al 2020), a prospective cohort study (Leatherdale et al 2021), and a longitudinal study (Bartel et al 2020). Eighteen studies were conducted solely in Canada (Canadian 2021;Myran 2020;Canadian 2020;Currie 2021;Dozois 2021;Dumas et al 2020;Imtiaz et al 2021;Joyce et al 2020;Prowse et al 2021;Rotterman 2020;Rotterman 2021;Statistics 2021;Turner 2019;Vedelago et al 2022;Zajacova et al 2020;Enns et al 2020;Leatherdale et al 2021;Bartel et al 2020), and the remaining three studies included global data, including Canadian data (Farhoudian et al 2020), data from Canada and the United States (US) (Turna et al 2021), or data collected from Canada, US, Brazil, and Italy (Turna 2021). A summary of the scoping review study data can be found in Table3 and characteristics of included studies can be found in Table 4.…”

“…Multiple studies indicated that self-isolation, loneliness, and boredom (Statistics 2021; Enns et al 2020), anxiety, stress, and depression (Canadian 2020; Statistics 2021; Bartel et al 2020), and ease of access (Joyce et al 2020;Enns et al 2020)were all reasons for increased consumption. A 2021 survey of Canadians reported that stress (65%), boredom (58%), and loneliness (39%) during Reasons for increased use (Statistics 2021) ¬ CPSS 6 respondents reported stress (65%), boredom (58%), loneliness (39%), convenience (lack of regular schedule and being at home) (38%), and ease of access (29%) as the most frequently reported factors contributing to increased consumption of cannabis during the pandemic.…”

Exploring resting frontal EEG and reflective functioning in maternal substance use

“…Outside of the United States, SU in pregnant women is similarly prevalent across Europe (Göransson et al., 2003), Australia (Passey et al., 2014), and Africa (Bifftu, 2020). Furthermore, during the current coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic, the incidence of maternal SU may rise, especially in anxious mothers (Joyce et al., 2020). While prenatal substance exposure is concerning for the child, including associations with low birth weight and behavioral and intellectual deficits (Bailey et al., 2012; Black et al., 2013), it is also important to recognize that maternal SU postpartum may have consequences for child development—which may have an additive or interactive effect with prenatal exposures (Hatzis et al., 2017; Molitor & Mayes, 2010; Porreca et al., 2018; Punamäki et al., 2021).…”