Perceptions of and adherence to early COVID-19-related restrictions and associations with substance use among youth in Canada
IntroductionAs a largely social behaviour, substance use may have decreased for some youth overall in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, continued use may indicate nonadherence to pandemic-related restrictions and social distancing measures. In a sample of Canadian adole...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Health Agency of Canada
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada |
| Online Access: | https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-42-no-11-12-2022/perceptions-adherence-early-covid-19-restrictions-substance-use-youth-canada.html |
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| author | Isabella Romano Karen A. Patte Margaret de Groh Ying Jiang Scott T. Leatherdale |
| author_facet | Isabella Romano Karen A. Patte Margaret de Groh Ying Jiang Scott T. Leatherdale |
| author_sort | Isabella Romano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
IntroductionAs a largely social behaviour, substance use may have decreased for some youth overall in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, continued use may indicate nonadherence to pandemic-related restrictions and social distancing measures. In a sample of Canadian adolescents (aged 12–19 years), our objective was to examine how substance use (cannabis, binge drinking, cigarettes, vaping) is associated with perceptions of, and adherence to, early COVID-19-related public health measures, taking into consideration sociodemographic factors.
MethodsCross-sectional data were retrieved from online data collected during Year 8 of the COMPASS school-based study, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic (May–July 2020) in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. We fitted two models using generalized estimating equations to examine how substance use was associated with separate measures of (1) perceptions of, and (2) adherence to early COVID-19 restrictions.
ResultsIn our sample, 10% of adolescents perceived COVID-19 restrictions as too weak and 14% perceived them as too strict. Nearly half (46%) reported taking restrictions very seriously, and 5% did not take them seriously at all. Binge drinking, cigarette use and vaping were associated with perceptions that restrictions were too strict and with nonadherence. However, adolescents who used cannabis were less likely to perceive COVID-19-related restrictions as too strict.
ConclusionThis study highlights the association of adolescent substance use with perceptions of, and adherence to, COVID-19-related public health restrictions in Canada. Our findings emphasize a need for continual monitoring of substance use behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic to better characterize adolescent risk and further inform targeted public health strategies accordingly. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:56:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e8e1947115ee49b6a642543c096a4d8b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2368-738X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T10:56:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Public Health Agency of Canada |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada |
| spelling | doaj.art-e8e1947115ee49b6a642543c096a4d8b2022-12-22T02:49:31ZengPublic Health Agency of CanadaHealth Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada2368-738X2022-09-014211/1247948910.24095/hpcdp.42.11/12.03Perceptions of and adherence to early COVID-19-related restrictions and associations with substance use among youth in CanadaIsabella Romano0Karen A. Patte1Margaret de Groh2Ying Jiang3Scott T. Leatherdale4School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, CanadaApplied Research Division, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaApplied Research Division, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaSchool of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada IntroductionAs a largely social behaviour, substance use may have decreased for some youth overall in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, continued use may indicate nonadherence to pandemic-related restrictions and social distancing measures. In a sample of Canadian adolescents (aged 12–19 years), our objective was to examine how substance use (cannabis, binge drinking, cigarettes, vaping) is associated with perceptions of, and adherence to, early COVID-19-related public health measures, taking into consideration sociodemographic factors. MethodsCross-sectional data were retrieved from online data collected during Year 8 of the COMPASS school-based study, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic (May–July 2020) in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. We fitted two models using generalized estimating equations to examine how substance use was associated with separate measures of (1) perceptions of, and (2) adherence to early COVID-19 restrictions. ResultsIn our sample, 10% of adolescents perceived COVID-19 restrictions as too weak and 14% perceived them as too strict. Nearly half (46%) reported taking restrictions very seriously, and 5% did not take them seriously at all. Binge drinking, cigarette use and vaping were associated with perceptions that restrictions were too strict and with nonadherence. However, adolescents who used cannabis were less likely to perceive COVID-19-related restrictions as too strict. ConclusionThis study highlights the association of adolescent substance use with perceptions of, and adherence to, COVID-19-related public health restrictions in Canada. Our findings emphasize a need for continual monitoring of substance use behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic to better characterize adolescent risk and further inform targeted public health strategies accordingly.https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-42-no-11-12-2022/perceptions-adherence-early-covid-19-restrictions-substance-use-youth-canada.html |
| spellingShingle | Isabella Romano Karen A. Patte Margaret de Groh Ying Jiang Scott T. Leatherdale Perceptions of and adherence to early COVID-19-related restrictions and associations with substance use among youth in Canada Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada |
| title | Perceptions of and adherence to early COVID-19-related restrictions and associations with substance use among youth in Canada |
| title_full | Perceptions of and adherence to early COVID-19-related restrictions and associations with substance use among youth in Canada |
| title_fullStr | Perceptions of and adherence to early COVID-19-related restrictions and associations with substance use among youth in Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceptions of and adherence to early COVID-19-related restrictions and associations with substance use among youth in Canada |
| title_short | Perceptions of and adherence to early COVID-19-related restrictions and associations with substance use among youth in Canada |
| title_sort | perceptions of and adherence to early covid 19 related restrictions and associations with substance use among youth in canada |
| url | https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-42-no-11-12-2022/perceptions-adherence-early-covid-19-restrictions-substance-use-youth-canada.html |
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