ABSTRACT
Objectives The predictors of heavy drinking among U.S. young women during the COVID-19 pandemic are not well examined. This study aims to determine the prospective relationship between COVID-19 psychological distress and heavy alcohol use among U.S. young adult women. Design This study used the CARES (COVID-19 Adult Resilience Experiences Study) data collected April 13, 2020 - August 31, 2020 (T1) and September 21, 2020 - March 15, 2021 (T2). Among the young adults (ages 18-30) who participated in both surveys, a total of 684 identified as women (including transgender women) were included in the analysis. Three or more drinks as a typical intake were defined as heavy drinking. Psychological distress in T1 was measured using scores for financial stress, COVID-19-related worry, and COVID-19-related grief. A series of logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with young women’s heavy drinking during the pandemic. Results 22.5% of young women reported heavy drinking in a typical intake. After controlling for covariates, women who reported high levels of COVID-19-related grief were more likely to report heavy drinking (OR=1.06, CI: 1.01-1.13, p<0.05). Those with high levels of COVID-19-related worry were less likely to report drinking heavily (OR=0.90, CI: 0.85-0.97, p<0.01). Conclusion Those who suffer from a deeper sense of COVID-19-related grief are particularly at risk of heavy drinking and should be targeted for outreach and clinical intervention. Further research is necessary to determine the long-term impacts of the pandemic on heavy drinking among young women and should include a more comprehensive assessment of psychological distress.