Impacts of changes in alcohol consumption patterns during the first 2020 COVID-19 restrictions for people with and without mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions: A cross sectional study in 13 countries

Emma L. Davies; Cheneal Puljevic; Gail Gilchrist; Laura Potts; Ahnjili Zhuparris; Larissa J. Maier; Monica J. Barratt; Adam R. Winstock; Jason A. Ferris

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103563

Impacts of changes in alcohol consumption patterns during the first 2020 COVID-19 restrictions for people with and without mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions: A cross sectional study in 13 countries

Emma L. Davies^*, Cheneal Puljevic, Gail Gilchrist, Laura Potts, Ahnjili Zhuparris, Larissa J. Maier, Monica J. Barratt, Adam R. Winstock, Jason A. Ferris

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Background: The initial period of COVID-19-related restrictions affected substance use in some population groups. We explored how changes in alcohol use at the beginning of the pandemic impacted the health and wellbeing of people with and without mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions (MHDCs). Methods: Data came from the Global Drug Survey Special Edition on COVID-19 conducted in May-June 2020. Measured were; changes in drinking compared to February 2020 (pre-COVID-19 restrictions), reasons for changes, and impact on physical health, mental health, relationships, finances, work/study, and enjoyment. This study included 38,141 respondents (median age = 32 IQR 25-45; 51.9% cis man; 47.8% cis woman; 1.2% trans/non-binary; 30.2% with MHDCs e.g. depression 20.0%, anxiety 16.3%, ADHD 3.8%, PTSD 3.3%). Results: A third (35.3%) of respondents with MHDCs and 17.8% without MHDCs indicated that increased drinking affected their mental health negatively (p<.001); 44.2% of respondents with MHDCS compared to 32.6% without MHDCs said it affected their physical health negatively (p<.001). Reduced drinking was associated with better mental health among a fifth (21.1%) of respondents with MHDCS and 14.4% without MHDCs (p<.001). Age, relationship status, living arrangements, employment, coping and distress were significant predictors of increases in drinking. Conclusion: Among people with MHDCS, reduced alcohol consumption was associated with better mental health, while the negative effects of increased drinking were more pronounced when compared to people without MHDCS. When supporting people in reducing alcohol consumption during uncertain times, people with MHDCS may need additional support, alongside those experiencing greater levels of distress.

Original language	English
Article number	103563
Journal	International Journal of Drug Policy
Volume	101
Early online date	8 Dec 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103563
Publication status	Published - Mar 2022

Keywords

Alcohol consumption
COVID-19
Cross-sectional study
Global drug survey
Mental health

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Davies, E. L., Puljevic, C., Gilchrist, G., Potts, L., Zhuparris, A., Maier, L. J., Barratt, M. J., Winstock, A. R., & Ferris, J. A. (2022). Impacts of changes in alcohol consumption patterns during the first 2020 COVID-19 restrictions for people with and without mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions: A cross sectional study in 13 countries. International Journal of Drug Policy, 101, Article 103563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103563

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title = "Impacts of changes in alcohol consumption patterns during the first 2020 COVID-19 restrictions for people with and without mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions: A cross sectional study in 13 countries",

abstract = "Background: The initial period of COVID-19-related restrictions affected substance use in some population groups. We explored how changes in alcohol use at the beginning of the pandemic impacted the health and wellbeing of people with and without mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions (MHDCs). Methods: Data came from the Global Drug Survey Special Edition on COVID-19 conducted in May-June 2020. Measured were; changes in drinking compared to February 2020 (pre-COVID-19 restrictions), reasons for changes, and impact on physical health, mental health, relationships, finances, work/study, and enjoyment. This study included 38,141 respondents (median age = 32 IQR 25-45; 51.9% cis man; 47.8% cis woman; 1.2% trans/non-binary; 30.2% with MHDCs e.g. depression 20.0%, anxiety 16.3%, ADHD 3.8%, PTSD 3.3%). Results: A third (35.3%) of respondents with MHDCs and 17.8% without MHDCs indicated that increased drinking affected their mental health negatively (p<.001); 44.2% of respondents with MHDCS compared to 32.6% without MHDCs said it affected their physical health negatively (p<.001). Reduced drinking was associated with better mental health among a fifth (21.1%) of respondents with MHDCS and 14.4% without MHDCs (p<.001). Age, relationship status, living arrangements, employment, coping and distress were significant predictors of increases in drinking. Conclusion: Among people with MHDCS, reduced alcohol consumption was associated with better mental health, while the negative effects of increased drinking were more pronounced when compared to people without MHDCS. When supporting people in reducing alcohol consumption during uncertain times, people with MHDCS may need additional support, alongside those experiencing greater levels of distress.",

keywords = "Alcohol consumption, COVID-19, Cross-sectional study, Global drug survey, Mental health",

author = "Davies, {Emma L.} and Cheneal Puljevic and Gail Gilchrist and Laura Potts and Ahnjili Zhuparris and Maier, {Larissa J.} and Barratt, {Monica J.} and Winstock, {Adam R.} and Ferris, {Jason A.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2022",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103563",

language = "English",

volume = "101",

journal = "International Journal of Drug Policy",

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Davies, EL, Puljevic, C, Gilchrist, G , Potts, L, Zhuparris, A, Maier, LJ, Barratt, MJ, Winstock, AR & Ferris, JA 2022, 'Impacts of changes in alcohol consumption patterns during the first 2020 COVID-19 restrictions for people with and without mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions: A cross sectional study in 13 countries', International Journal of Drug Policy, vol. 101, 103563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103563

Impacts of changes in alcohol consumption patterns during the first 2020 COVID-19 restrictions for people with and without mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions: A cross sectional study in 13 countries. / Davies, Emma L.; Puljevic, Cheneal; Gilchrist, Gail et al.
In: International Journal of Drug Policy, Vol. 101, 103563, 03.2022.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Impacts of changes in alcohol consumption patterns during the first 2020 COVID-19 restrictions for people with and without mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions

T2 - A cross sectional study in 13 countries

AU - Davies, Emma L.

AU - Puljevic, Cheneal

AU - Gilchrist, Gail

AU - Potts, Laura

AU - Zhuparris, Ahnjili

AU - Maier, Larissa J.

AU - Barratt, Monica J.

AU - Winstock, Adam R.

AU - Ferris, Jason A.

PY - 2022/3

Y1 - 2022/3

N2 - Background: The initial period of COVID-19-related restrictions affected substance use in some population groups. We explored how changes in alcohol use at the beginning of the pandemic impacted the health and wellbeing of people with and without mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions (MHDCs). Methods: Data came from the Global Drug Survey Special Edition on COVID-19 conducted in May-June 2020. Measured were; changes in drinking compared to February 2020 (pre-COVID-19 restrictions), reasons for changes, and impact on physical health, mental health, relationships, finances, work/study, and enjoyment. This study included 38,141 respondents (median age = 32 IQR 25-45; 51.9% cis man; 47.8% cis woman; 1.2% trans/non-binary; 30.2% with MHDCs e.g. depression 20.0%, anxiety 16.3%, ADHD 3.8%, PTSD 3.3%). Results: A third (35.3%) of respondents with MHDCs and 17.8% without MHDCs indicated that increased drinking affected their mental health negatively (p<.001); 44.2% of respondents with MHDCS compared to 32.6% without MHDCs said it affected their physical health negatively (p<.001). Reduced drinking was associated with better mental health among a fifth (21.1%) of respondents with MHDCS and 14.4% without MHDCs (p<.001). Age, relationship status, living arrangements, employment, coping and distress were significant predictors of increases in drinking. Conclusion: Among people with MHDCS, reduced alcohol consumption was associated with better mental health, while the negative effects of increased drinking were more pronounced when compared to people without MHDCS. When supporting people in reducing alcohol consumption during uncertain times, people with MHDCS may need additional support, alongside those experiencing greater levels of distress.

AB - Background: The initial period of COVID-19-related restrictions affected substance use in some population groups. We explored how changes in alcohol use at the beginning of the pandemic impacted the health and wellbeing of people with and without mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions (MHDCs). Methods: Data came from the Global Drug Survey Special Edition on COVID-19 conducted in May-June 2020. Measured were; changes in drinking compared to February 2020 (pre-COVID-19 restrictions), reasons for changes, and impact on physical health, mental health, relationships, finances, work/study, and enjoyment. This study included 38,141 respondents (median age = 32 IQR 25-45; 51.9% cis man; 47.8% cis woman; 1.2% trans/non-binary; 30.2% with MHDCs e.g. depression 20.0%, anxiety 16.3%, ADHD 3.8%, PTSD 3.3%). Results: A third (35.3%) of respondents with MHDCs and 17.8% without MHDCs indicated that increased drinking affected their mental health negatively (p<.001); 44.2% of respondents with MHDCS compared to 32.6% without MHDCs said it affected their physical health negatively (p<.001). Reduced drinking was associated with better mental health among a fifth (21.1%) of respondents with MHDCS and 14.4% without MHDCs (p<.001). Age, relationship status, living arrangements, employment, coping and distress were significant predictors of increases in drinking. Conclusion: Among people with MHDCS, reduced alcohol consumption was associated with better mental health, while the negative effects of increased drinking were more pronounced when compared to people without MHDCS. When supporting people in reducing alcohol consumption during uncertain times, people with MHDCS may need additional support, alongside those experiencing greater levels of distress.

KW - Alcohol consumption

KW - COVID-19

KW - Cross-sectional study

KW - Global drug survey

KW - Mental health

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U2 - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103563

DO - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103563

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AN - SCOPUS:85121609675

SN - 0955-3959

VL - 101

JO - International Journal of Drug Policy

JF - International Journal of Drug Policy

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Davies EL, Puljevic C, Gilchrist G , Potts L, Zhuparris A, Maier LJ et al. Impacts of changes in alcohol consumption patterns during the first 2020 COVID-19 restrictions for people with and without mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions: A cross sectional study in 13 countries. International Journal of Drug Policy. 2022 Mar;101:103563. Epub 2021 Dec 8. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103563

Impacts of changes in alcohol consumption patterns during the first 2020 COVID-19 restrictions for people with and without mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions: A cross sectional study in 13 countries

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