The UK Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and smoking, alcohol consumption and vaping during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from eight longitudinal population surveys.
BMC Med
; 20(1): 345, 2022 09 21.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2038746
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Employment disruptions can impact smoking and alcohol consumption. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries implemented furlough schemes to prevent job loss. We examine how furlough was associated with smoking, vaping and alcohol consumption in the UK.METHODS:
Data from 27,841 participants in eight UK adult longitudinal surveys were analysed. Participants self-reported employment status and current smoking, current vaping and alcohol consumption (>4 days/week or 5+ drinks per typical occasion) both before and during the early stages of the pandemic (April-July 2020). Risk ratios were estimated within each study using modified Poisson regression, adjusting for a range of potential confounders, including pre-pandemic behaviour. Findings were synthesised using random effects meta-analysis.RESULTS:
Compared to stable employment and after adjustment for pre-pandemic characteristics, furlough was not associated with smoking (ARR = 1.05; 95% CI 0.95-1.16; I2 10%), vaping (ARR = 0.89; 95% CI 0.74-1.08; I2 0%) or drinking (ARR = 1.03; 95% CI 0.94-1.13; I2 48%). There were similar findings for no longer being employed, and stable unemployment, though this varied by sex stable unemployment was associated with smoking for women (ARR = 1.35; 95% CI 1.00-1.82; I2 47%) but not men (0.84; 95% CI 0.67-1.05; I2 0%). No longer being employed was associated with vaping among women (ARR = 2.74; 95% CI 1.59-4.72; I2 0%) but not men (ARR = 1.25; 95% CI 0.83-1.87; I2 0%).CONCLUSIONS:
We found no clear evidence of furlough or unemployment having adverse impacts on smoking, vaping or drinking behaviours during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Differences in risk compared to those who remained employed were largely explained by pre-pandemic characteristics.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Vaping
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
/
Reviews
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
BMC Med
Journal subject:
Medicine
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12916-022-02511-0
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