Psychological and Demographic Determinants of Substance Use and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: Alcohol consumption and distress have increased among Canadians since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: We examined whether sociodemographic and COVID-19-related worries are associated with various combinations of alcohol consumption and comorbid psychological distress variables among a Canadian sample of adults. Data were derived from a sample of Canadian adults (N = 1,005, 49.6% female) who participated in an online survey in May 2020. Four multivariate ordinal logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of binge drinking, increased alcohol consumption during the pandemic, and psychological distress. Predictor variables used in the analyses included self-reported sociodemographic characteristics, financial worries, COVID-19 impact on work, and worrying about getting ill.Results: Women were found to have higher odds of increased drinking and anxiety. Also being divorced, separated, or widowed was associated with higher odds of binge drinking and anxiety, and binge drinking and depression. Furthermore, being 60 or older was associated with lower odds of binge drinking and depression and increased drinking and depression, as well as lower odds of increased drinking and depression and increased drinking and anxiety. High income groups were associated with higher odds of binge drinking, increased drinking, and mental distress. Compared to those less worried, being very worried about finances were associated with higher odds of binge drinking and anxiety, increased drinking and anxiety, and increased drinking and depression. Also, being very worried about getting ill with COVID was associated with higher odds of binge drinking and anxiety and increased drinking and anxiety.Conclusion: Our findings identify several demographic and COVID-related worries for increased odds of alcohol intake and co-morbid psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic, including identifying as a woman, high income groups, being divorced, separated or widowed, and experiencing financial worries and COVID illness worries. These characteristics should be considered when developing prevention and treatment programs for adults with problematic alcohol use and comorbid anxiety and depression.

HIV, psychological resilience, and substance misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multi-cohort study

“…( SAMSHA, 2019 ). Distress directly related to COVID-19, as well as the unintended social and economic consequences of lockdowns contributed to increased patterns of substance misuse, along with alcohol- and drug-related overdoses ( Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020a , Czeisler, 2020 , Mougharbel et al, 2021 , Nguyen and Buxton, 2021 ). This was foreseen by many, as stress has long been linked to substance abuse and risk of relapse ( Yang et al, 2020 ).…”

Psychoactive substance use, internet use and mental health changes during the COVID-19 lockdown in a French population: A study of gender effect

“…Jackson ( N = 36,980 adults, 51.0% females) found a significant increase in smoking prevalence, with no gender effect, but a significant increase in high-risk drinking prevalence, with particularly high increases among women ( 40 ). Mougharbel ( 41 ) ( N = 1,005, 49.6% females) found that females had higher odds of increased drinking and anxiety during lockdown. Thompson (2000 adults, 51.9% females) found that while females reported higher rates of emotional distress, significant associations with increased drinking frequency were only observed among males in gender-stratified analyses ( 42 ).…”

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Do Dissociation and Emotional Metacognitive Beliefs Mediate the Role of Emotion Dysregulation?

“…[27][28][29][30][31] Some evidences report an increased selling of alcohol during the lockdown period, highlighting the potential increase in substance consumption as well as the worsening of pre-existing substance use disorder or even the risk of relapse of treatment seeking individuals. 19,[32][33][34] Several theoretical, clinical, and empirical contributions pointed out the role of potential explaining variables of the proneness to suffer from problematic alcohol consumption as such as anxiety, depression and stress levels, 35 gender, 36,37 lower age, civil status, high income, fear of COVID-19, finance concerns, 37 using social media as a source of information, experiencing child care challenges, and not being associated with a religious community. 38 As a whole, current literature provided convincing pieces of evidence documenting the impact of the COVID-19 on the propensity to experience both PTSD symptoms and alcohol use disorder.…”