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. 2021 Jan 2;47(1):98-106.
doi: 10.1080/00952990.2020.1832508. Epub 2020 Dec 7.

Longer time spent at home during COVID-19 pandemic is associated with binge drinking among US adults

Sitara M Weerakoon  1   2 , Katelyn K Jetelina  1   2 , Gregory Knell  1   2   3
Affiliations

Longer time spent at home during COVID-19 pandemic is associated with binge drinking among US adults

Sitara M Weerakoon et al. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. .

Erratum in

  • Correction.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2021 Jan 2;47(1):139. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2020.1867489. Epub 2021 Jan 28. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2021. PMID: 33507841 No abstract available.

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced and exacerbated stressors (e.g., job loss, poor mental health) for adults across the United States (US) since the first statewide shelter-in-place order on March 19, 2020. Limited research has evaluated if, and how, pandemic-related stressors are associated with changes in alcohol consumption and binge drinking.Objectives: This analysis aims to identify COVID-19-related stressors associated with changes in alcohol consumption and binge drinking since the outbreak of the coronavirus.Methods: Data were collected on sociodemographics, alcohol consumption, and COVID-19-related stressors (household composition, job status, essential worker, stay-at-home duration, and depression) using a web-based, self-report survey to US adults from mid-March to mid-April 2020. Multivariable logistic and multinomial regression models were used to assess associations between COVID-19-related stressors and binge drinking and changes in alcohol consumption. Among 1,982 participants, 69% were female and 31% male.Results: Thirty-four percent of the sample reported binge drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic. More binge drinkers increased alcohol consumption during the pandemic (60%) than non-binge drinkers (28%). After adjusting for sociodemographics, for every 1-week increase in time spent at home during the pandemic, there was 1.19 (95% CI: 1.06-1.34) greater odds of binge drinking. Additionally, binge drinkers with a previous diagnosis of depression and current depression symptoms had greater odds of increased alcohol consumption compared to those reporting no depression (AOR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.16, 2.73).Conclusion: Specific COVID-19-related stressors are related to alcohol consumption. This highlights the ancillary and unintended effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which could have long-lasting population health consequences.

Keywords: Alcohol consumption; binge drinking; covid-19; shelter-in-place; stress.

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