@article{ref1,
title="Alcohol use and life stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study of young adults",
journal="Journal of substance use",
year="2024",
author="Cho, Junhan and Sussman, Steve and Kechter, Afton and Vogel, Erin A. and Barrington-Trimis, Jessica L. and Unger, Jennifer B. and Leventhal, Adam M.",
volume="29",
number="4",
pages="554-561",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To estimate the extent to which drinking to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and experiencing pandemic-related life stressors are associated with alcohol use escalation among young adults. <br><br>METHODS: Respondents in Los Angeles, CA, USA (N=2,130) completed prospective cohort study surveys before (baseline; October 2018-November 2019; mean age: 19.7[SD=0.4) and during (follow-up; May-August 2020) the COVID-19 outbreak. Past 30-day drinking days and number of drinks per drinking day were assessed from baseline to follow-up. At follow-up, participants reported drinking to cope with social isolation and pandemic-related stressors. <br><br>RESULTS: Pandemic-related stressor prevalence ranged from 5.5% (evicted/lost home) to 72.6% (worried about education) and 27.1% drank to cope with social isolation during the pandemic. Respondents who did (vs. did not) report pandemic-related coping drinking were more likely to increase past 30-day drinking days and drinks per drinking day from baseline to follow-up after adjustment for possible confounders. Employment loss/reduction, financial problems, and perceived likelihood of contracting COVID-19 or handling the pandemic poorly were each associated with increases in drinking days or drinks per drinking day. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Experiencing certain life stressors and drinking to cope with social isolation may be associated with drinking escalation among young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1465-9891",
doi="10.1080/14659891.2023.2183909",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14659891.2023.2183909"
}