What happens when the party moves home? The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on U.S. college student alcohol consumption as a function of legal drinking status using longitudinal data

Abstract

Many young adults in the United States (U.S.) moved from college accommodations to live with their parents/family during the Spring 2020 semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While alcohol consumption fluctuates during a typical semester among students, the impact of the sudden changes stemming from the pandemic on students’ alcohol consumption patterns is unclear. To examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on college student alcohol consumption while accounting for legal drinking age and living situation. Data were collected from students (n = 302) at a large, northeastern U.S. university at the beginning and end of the of the 2019 and 2020 Spring semesters via an online survey that assessed socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, race/ethnicity, living situation) and alcohol consumption using the daily drinking questionnaire. Data were analyzed using a 2 (cohort group: COVID-19 vs. normal) × 2 (age group: above 21 vs. under 21) × 2 (time: beginning vs. end of the semester) mixed model ANOVA. There was a significant three-way interaction. Students over the legal drinking age impacted by the pandemic demonstrated a drastic decrease in alcohol consumption by the end of the semester compared to those under normal circumstances. Change in living situation as a result of the pandemic drastically impacted the alcohol consumption patterns of students over the legal drinking age. Suggestions for future research on the continuing effects of the pandemic on students are discussed.

Alcohol and the Risk of Injury

“…Expansion of off-trade sales often occurred simultaneously to the closure of workplaces, schools, childcare, leisure and physical activity centres [ 126 ]. Although evidence is still emerging, reports in the media and grey literature suggest increased drinking in the home in some countries [ 127 , 128 , 129 ] (largely off-setting reductions in on-premises drinking). These reports have appeared alongside several studies showing increased abusive head trauma among children [ 130 ] and family violence [ 131 , 132 ].…”

Alcohol use, cannabis use, and psychopathology symptoms among college students before and after COVID-19

“…Studies of alcohol use in United States (U.S.) college students have produced conflicting results with reference to changes related to COVID. On the one hand, two studies suggested increases in alcohol use ( Charles et al, 2021 ; Lechner et al, 2020 ), while three studies found decreases in alcohol use following university closures ( Jaffe et al, 2021 ; Ryerson et al, 2021 ; White et al, 2020 ). A sixth found a complex pattern of changes, with increases in frequency of use that were counteracted by declines in quantity of use and binge drinking, all of which was moderated by pre-COVID use patterns ( Jackson et al, 2021 ).…”

The Effect of Social and Stress-Related Factors on Alcohol Use Among College Students During the Covid-19 Pandemic

“…A growing literature has investigated the effects of the pandemic on alcohol use among adolescents, young adults, and college students in the U.S. and found mixed results [ [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] ]. Decreases in opportunities to socialize related to the pandemic were associated with decreases in alcohol use among college students [ 11 , 12 , 18 , 20 ].…”

“…A growing literature has investigated the effects of the pandemic on alcohol use among adolescents, young adults, and college students in the U.S. and found mixed results [ [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] ]. Decreases in opportunities to socialize related to the pandemic were associated with decreases in alcohol use among college students [ 11 , 12 , 18 , 20 ]. College students who changed residence to live with parents and those who believed that Covid-19 precaution-taking was important, which presumably was associated with fewer opportunities to socialize, decreased their alcohol use more than their peers [ 11 , 12 , [18] , [19] , [20] ].…”

“…Decreases in opportunities to socialize related to the pandemic were associated with decreases in alcohol use among college students [ 11 , 12 , 18 , 20 ]. College students who changed residence to live with parents and those who believed that Covid-19 precaution-taking was important, which presumably was associated with fewer opportunities to socialize, decreased their alcohol use more than their peers [ 11 , 12 , [18] , [19] , [20] ]. Research has also found an important role for stressors in determining alcohol use among U.S. college students during the pandemic [ 24 , 25 ], along with associations between drinking to cope motives and heavier alcohol use [ 17 , 24 ].…”