Longitudinal and self-attributed change in alcohol use among young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.
Drug Alcohol Rev
; 42(3): 625-632, 2023 03.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2213529
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced a unique concern regarding the potential for pandemic-related increases in alcohol use. However, most studies which have measured pandemic-related changes to date utilise self-attribution measures of changes in alcohol use using cross-sectional designs, which rely on accurate self-attributions for validity. There has been minimal investigation of correspondence of self-attributed and longitudinally measured changes in alcohol use during the pandemic. The current study seeks to examine this correspondence.METHODS:
A total of 856 participants originally recruited from Australian secondary schools completed follow-up surveys of an ongoing study at two timepoints (2018-2019, mean age 18.6 and 2020-2021, mean age 19.9; 65.3% female). Alcohol use was measured as any drinking (1+ drinks) and binge drinking (5+ drinks) frequency in the past 6 months. The correspondence and relationship between 'longitudinal change' measured from the first to the second timepoint and 'self-attributed change' measured at the second timepoint were examined.RESULTS:
For both any drinking and binge drinking frequency, moderate correspondence was observed between self-attributed and longitudinal change in drinking (37.1% and 39.3%). Most participants with longitudinal increases in any drinking or binge drinking frequency failed to correctly self-attribute this increase. DISCUSSION ANDCONCLUSIONS:
The findings suggest that self-attributed increases do not correspond well with longitudinally measured increases in pandemic-related drinking and may underestimate increases measured longitudinally. Method of measurement needs to be taken into account if data are to be used to identify sub-groups at risk of alcohol use increases and facilitate appropriate direction of public health efforts.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Binge Drinking
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Young adult
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
English
Journal:
Drug Alcohol Rev
Journal subject:
Substance-Related Disorders
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Dar.13602
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