In-Person Contacts and Their Relationship With Alcohol Consumption Among Young Adults With Hazardous Drinking During a Pandemic

Abstract

Purpose Social distancing strategies such as “stay-at-home” (SAH) orders can slow the transmission of contagious viruses like the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but require population adherence to be effective. This study explored adherence to SAH orders by young adults with hazardous drinking, and the role of alcohol consumption with in-person contacts on adherence. Methods Analyses included young adults with hazardous drinking (i.e., AUDIT-C score ≥3/4 for women/men; n = 50; ages 18–25) participating in a randomized trial in Pittsburgh, PA. Participants provided experience sampling reports on drinking twice per week from the week before SAH orders started on April 1, 2020 through 6 weeks during the SAH period. We examined how in-person contact with non-household friends changed over time and event-level relationships between alcohol consumption and in-person contacts. Results The percentage of participants with any in-person contact in the week before SAH was 44% (95% confidence interval [CI] 30%–59%), which decreased to 29% (95% CI 15%–43%) in the first SAH week and increased to 65% (95% CI 46%–85%) by SAH week 6. Controlling for average levels of alcohol consumption, on days when young adults drank, participants reported more in-person contacts compared to nondrinking days. Conclusions Preliminary data indicate that, among young adults with hazardous drinking, adherence to public policies like SAH orders is suboptimal, declines over time, and is associated with drinking events. Interventions aimed at enhancing young adults' adherence to social distancing policies are urgently needed.

A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Demographic and Behavioral Risk Factors of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Seropositivity Among a Sample of U.S. College Students

“…Drinking alcohol more than once a week and drinking in groups of larger than five increased the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. Young adults might adhere less strictly to COVID-19 prevention measures when drinking alcohol [ 9 ], probably because of cognitive distortion that follows drinking [ 27 ]. In a social drinking event, students are likely to drink more when more friends are present [ 10 ] because of peer pressure, which can exacerbate the cognitive distortion and correspondingly cause further noncompliance with COVID-19 prevention measures.…”

“…Finally, because of the drinking culture, social context of drinking among college students [ 7 ], and alcohol disinhibition effects [ 8 ], alcohol use patterns may be another potential predictor of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in this population. Young adults with a hazardous drinking problem have reported complying less with the stay-at-home order on days that they were drinking compared with days that they did not drink [ 9 ]. The effects of alcohol are compounded in the social setting of college drinking: when the number of friends present in an alcohol drinking event increases, the number of consumed alcohol drinks increases (at an individual level) [ 10 ].…”

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

“…In that sense, a strong association with drinking and social contact during quarantine was observed in the US (63). This non-adherence to social distancing norms was found among young adults (18-25 y.o) with previous hazardous drinking (63).…”

“…Struk et al (60) study suggests that feelings of boredom may contribute to rule-breaking behavior and some negative outcomes, including higher levels of depression and anxiety and problems with alcohol in youth and older adults (61,62). In that sense, a strong association with drinking and social contact during quarantine was observed in the US (63). This non-adherence to social distancing norms was found among young adults (18-25 y.o) with previous hazardous drinking (63).…”

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on alcohol use disorders and complications

“…Anecdotal reports from Thailand suggest outbreaks of COVID-19 among families attending alcohol parties [ 88 ]. Further, among young adults with hazardous drinking, adherence to public policies was low and declined over a period of time during the lockdown [ 89 ].…”