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. 2024 Feb 29;24(1):646.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-18182-w.

Factors related to increased alcohol misuse by students compared to non-students during the first Covid-19 lockdown in France: the Confins study

Shérazade Kinouani  1   2 , Mélissa Macalli  3 , Julie Arsandaux  4 , Ilaria Montagni  3 , Nathalie Texier  5   6 , Stéphane Schück  5   6 , Christophe Tzourio  3
Affiliations

Factors related to increased alcohol misuse by students compared to non-students during the first Covid-19 lockdown in France: the Confins study

Shérazade Kinouani et al. BMC Public Health. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: The closure of bars and lockdowns related to the Covid-19 pandemic changed alcohol use levels in France during the spring of 2020. We wondered whether this sudden cessation of social interactions impacted students more than non-students and what factors specific to students would explain the increase in alcohol misuse. The aims of this study were to compare self-reported changes in alcohol misuse (alcohol intake and binge-drinking frequency) during the first Covid-19 lockdown from March 17 to May 10, 2020, between French students and non-students and describe factors associated with this alcohol misuse in each subgroup.

Methods: Data collected in the Confins study from April 8 to May 10, 2020, were used in cross-sectional analyses stratified by student status. Multiple logistic regression was performed to estimate the association between self-reported increase in alcohol intake or binge-drinking frequency (at least six drinks of alcohol on one occasion) and demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors, as well as conditions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. The population-attributable fraction was then used to estimate the contribution of identified risk factors to increased alcohol misuse in students and non-students.

Results: Among both students and non-students, a self-reported decrease or no change in alcohol intake or binge-drinking was more common than an increase. However, the risk factors explaining an increase in alcohol intake differed among students (≥ 25 years old, not working or studying in the health field, and having suicidal ideation during the last 7 days) and non-students (having a medical diagnosis of mental disorders). The risk factors explaining an increase in binge-drinking frequency were similar in the two subgroups (being a tobacco smoker before lockdown and not practicing any physical activity during the last 7 days), except suicidal thoughts, which was a risk factor for alcohol misuse specific to students.

Conclusions: These results highlight the vulnerability of certain French students to alcohol misuse and the necessity of combining both mental health and substance use-related screening in the student population.

Keywords: Alcohol-related disorders; Binge-drinking; Covid-19; Lockdown; Students.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart of participants in the Confins cohort, France
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