Irizar, P, Jones, A, Christiansen, P, Goodwin, L, Gage, SH, Roberts, C, Knibb, G, Cooke, R and Rose, AK (2021) Longitudinal associations with alcohol consumption during the first COVID-19 lockdown: Associations with mood, drinking motives, context of drinking, and mental health. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 226. ISSN 0376-8716

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Abstract

Background: Coronavirus (COVID-19) resulted in lockdown measures in the UK, which has impacted alcohol use. Alcohol is often used as a coping mechanism and there are public health concerns regarding excessive consumption due to the pandemic. We aimed to longitudinally assess drinking behaviors, and associated factors, during the first UK government-mandated lockdown. Methods: An online survey was distributed through social media (8th April 2020, onwards). Fortnightly follow up surveys were emailed to participants. The primary outcome measure was ‘weekly unit consumption’ and data was collected on a range of potentially related factors: demographics, factors relating to COVID-19 (e.g., health, work status), drinking motives, context of drinking, drinking intentions, mood, depression and anxiety. Findings: A total of 539 self-selected participants completed the baseline survey, with 186 completing at least 3 follow up surveys for multilevel modelling analysis. Personal coping motives, anxiety, drinking at home alone, and drinking at home with others were positively associated with alcohol consumption during lockdown. The following baseline measures also predicted increased consumption: male gender, lower education, and higher AUDIT scores (based on behavior prior to lockdown). Findings were consistent when utilizing an inverse probability weight to account for predictors of attrition (female, younger age, higher baseline AUDIT scores). Conclusions: Those already drinking at hazardous levels were more likely to increase their consumption, as were those who were drinking to cope. As we recover from the pandemic, there is a need for widespread alcohol support, and certain groups may need targeted support.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Substance Abuse; Psychiatry; Alcohol behavior; Motives; Coping; Well-being; Covid-19; SOLITARY DRINKING; DISORDERS; HISTORY; AUDIT; Humans; Adaptation, Psychological; Alcohol Drinking; Motivation; Mental Health; Communicable Disease Control; Female; Male; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Alcohol behavior; Coping; Covid-19; Motives; Well-being; Adaptation, Psychological; Alcohol Drinking; COVID-19; Communicable Disease Control; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Health; Motivation; SARS-CoV-2; Substance Abuse; 11 Medical and Health Sciences; 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	Elsevier
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	18 Nov 2022 11:59
Last Modified:	18 Nov 2022 12:00
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108913
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/17414

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