Changes in tobacco and e-cigarette consumption in Spanish university students during the COVID-19 lockdown: Identification of vulnerable groups.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to determine the changes in tobacco consumption in Spanish university students during the lockdown in 2020, and to identify vulnerable groups based on gender, age, and living situation. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. From a sample of 1540 Spanish university students, 19.9% (n=306; 77.6% women; mean age=30.9 years; SD=8.3) reported having consumed tobacco. The frequency and average daily consumption of cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) before the pandemic and during lockdown were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 97.1% of students consumed only cigarettes, 2.9% only ENDS, and 3.3% were dual consumers. During lockdown, cigarette consumption was significantly reduced (5.3 before; 4.0 during; t(71)=3.6255; p<0.001) in the youngest group (aged 18-24 years). However, women daily users significantly increased their consumption (t(149)= -2.5461; p<0.05) and so did the 35-44 years age group (t(32)= -2.2285; p<0.05). Cigarette consumption significantly increased in those who were living alone (5.6 to 7.2; Z= -2.351; p<0.05) and with a partner (7.2 to 8.0; t(97)= -2.3771; p<0.05), but decreased in those who were living with their parents or other relatives (6.2 to 4.5; t(101)=3.4298; p<0.001). A total of 17.0% ceased consumption during lockdown, mainly women, younger students (aged 18-24 years), and those who lived with their parents. None of the people who used cigarettes daily during the pre-pandemic period stopped smoking during lockdown. CONCLUSIONS: Younger university students and those living with their parents decreased their tobacco use during the lockdown. Potentially vulnerable groups at risk of increasing their consumption were women who consumed tobacco daily before the pandemic and students aged 35-44 years who lived alone or with their partner.

Keep Playing or Restart? Questions about the Evaluation of Video Game Addiction from a Systematic Review in the Context of COVID-19

This is a systematic review of the impact of COVID-19 confinement on problematic video game use and addiction. The research questions were: (1) What instruments were used to measure problematic gaming and video game addiction in the context of COVID-19;(2) how many studies made comparisons with analogous samples measured at two timepoints (pre-confinement and confinement);and (3) what were the results of these studies in terms of a possible increase of problematic gaming and video game addiction during confinement. The review followed the PRISMA model and used Web of Science and Scopus. Following an initial identification of 99 articles, inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied leaving 31 articles in response to the first two research questions and 6 articles for the third. The results show that a wide variety of instruments were used, with IGDS9-SF and IGD-20 being the most common. A high number of non-validated ad hoc instruments were used. Only six (22.58%) of the 31 studies examined compared pre-confinement measures with measures during confinement. Those studies were inconclusive about the negative impact of confinement on the variables mentioned, with some studies noting an increase in problematic behaviors (n = 4) and others not confirming that (n = 2). The conclusion is a need for more scientific evidence based on validated instruments, consolidation of the concepts related to problematic gaming, and consideration of other theories such as the active user to produce more robust, transferrable findings.

Depression, Suicidal Ideation, and Consumption of Psychotropic Drugs During Lockdown by COVID-19 According to Gender and Age.

The objective was to analyze the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation and psychotropic drugs use during COVID-19 lockdown in adult population considering gender and age. The method used is a descriptive and non-probabilistic study, with a convenience sampling of 3780 participants (70.1% female), aged 18-64 years (M = 37.8). 18.3% participants presented depression and 5.1% exhibited suicidal ideation. The depression rate for female was double (21.4%) than male and 5 times higher (30.2%) for the youngest participants (18-24 years old) compared to oldest (55-64 years old), being this rate triple in suicidal ideation (9%). Depression correlated positively with tranquilizers and sleeping pills' consumption; and suicidal ideation did so with tranquilizers and sedatives. The rate of tranquilizer users was 8 times higher for severe depression compared to those who did not present depression, 5 times higher for sleeping pills, and 6 times higher for sedatives. The rate of tranquilizer users exhibiting suicidal ideation was more than triple than those who did not present suicidal ideation, between 3 and 4 times higher for sleeping pills, and almost 7 times higher for sedatives. The higher the level of depression and suicidal ideation during lockdown, the greater the consumption of psychotropic drugs. The consumption of psychotropic drugs should be monitored in people with depression and suicidal ideation during periods of crisis.

Problematic Internet Use, Depressive Symptomatology and Suicidal Ideation in University Students During COVID-19 Confinement.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to estimate the rate of PIU in Spanish university students during the lockdown, taking sex and age into account, and to analyze its relationship with depression and suicidal ideation. METHOD: 921 university students (55% women) from 18 to 30 years old (M = 24.8 years; SD = 3) participated. RESULTS: The results showed that 21% of the participants presented PIU, 25.1% moderate depression, 2.1% severe depression, and 6.6% suicidal ideation. The 18 to 21-year-old age group presented the highest rate of PIU (37.8%). A positive correlation was observed between PIU and depression (r = .38; p (241.813) = -8.21; < d = .78) in university students with PIU (M = 9.8; SD = 5.1) than those without it (M = 6.4; SD = 4.1). The rate of severe depression was six times greater (χ2 (3) = 73.25; p < .001) in undergraduates with PIU (6.2%) than those without PIU (0.8%). Moreover, 3.6% of university students with PIU presented suicidal ideation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings establish the association between PIU and depression and suicidal ideation in the university population, providing novel contributions for prevention policies.

Age and Living Situation as Key Factors in Understanding Changes in Alcohol Use during COVID-19 Confinement.

(1) The aim of the present study was to evaluate and characterize changes in alcohol use during the COVID-19 confinement in a sample of Spanish adults, analyzing their age and living situation as defining life cycle variables. (2) Method: Data from 3779 individuals were collected through a set of online surveys. AUDIT-C was used to measure the frequency of consumption, the average daily consumption, intensive consumption, risky consumption, and Standard Drink Units. (3) Results: Although alcohol consumption during confinement showed a significant general decline, age revealed important differences, with the decline being more pronounced in adults from 18 to 29 years old. The living situation also showed significant differences. The largest decreases in alcohol consumption were found in those who lived with their parents or other relatives, whereas those who lived alone or with a partner even increased their level of consumption. In addition, the data show a significant interaction between these two variables and gender. (4) Conclusions: Age and cohabitation processes are key factors in understanding the life situation of each individual during confinement and, consequently, in explaining consumption patterns. The results obtained provide interesting recommendations for designing prevention policies in both normal and crisis circumstances, emphasizing the need to understand alcohol use from a psychosocial perspective.

Changes in Alcohol Consumption Pattern Based on Gender during COVID-19 Confinement in Spain.

(1) The goal of this study was to analyze the prevalence and pattern of alcohol consumption (frequency of consumption, average daily consumption, and risky consumption) before and during confinement due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the adult population and based on gender. (2) Methods: Data from 3779 individuals were collected via a set of online surveys. The AUDIT alcohol consumption questions (AUDIT-C) were used to measure the frequency of consumption, the average daily consumption, intensive consumption, risky consumption, and standard drink units. (3) Results: During confinement, the prevalence of alcohol consumption declined in both males and females, but only intensive consumption showed significant differences, with a greater reduction in males. The number of females who consumed alcohol four or more times per week doubled, whereas the number of males who did so was multiplied by a factor of 1.5; in both females and males, the percentage who presented intensive consumption doubled. The percentage of females with risky consumption was higher than that of males both before and during confinement. In addition to gender, the interaction between age and the employment situation explain consumption before and during confinement. (4) Conclusions: During confinement due to COVID-19, alcohol consumption declined in both sexes, but alcohol-risk consumers increased their frequency of use. The interaction between gender, age, and employment situation was related to these changes. These findings are relevant for guiding public health and health-risk management policies related to alcohol consumption in environmental situations similar to COVID-19.