Factors Associated With Increased Alcohol Consumption During Physical and Social Distancing Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a University in Brazil

Objective: To report alcohol consumption during the first month of social home-isolation and physical distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in an public University in Mid-West Brazil. Methods: We designed an online observational study. Initial data of 2166 participants was obtained betwee...

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Main Authors: Cremildo João Baptista, Guilherme Oliveira de Arruda, Wilson Rayzel Barroso, Verusca Soares de Souza
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2022-06-01
Series:Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/11782218211061140
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author Cremildo João Baptista
Guilherme Oliveira de Arruda
Wilson Rayzel Barroso
Verusca Soares de Souza
author_facet Cremildo João Baptista
Guilherme Oliveira de Arruda
Wilson Rayzel Barroso
Verusca Soares de Souza
author_sort Cremildo João Baptista
collection DOAJ
description Objective: To report alcohol consumption during the first month of social home-isolation and physical distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in an public University in Mid-West Brazil. Methods: We designed an online observational study. Initial data of 2166 participants was obtained between April and May, 2020, less than a month after University’s measures of social distancing with remote work and classes. We used Poisson regression model with robust variance to identify the significant factors associated with self-reported increase in alcohol consumption during social and physical distancing measures. Results: Increased alcohol consumption during social and physical distancing was reported by 22.9% of 1371 alcohol drinkers. Factors associated with reporting increased alcoholic consumption during University’s physical and social distancing measures were: not professing any religion (1.52, 95% CI 1.25-1.83), having signs/symptom suggesting SARS-COV-2 infection (1.56, 95% CI 1.26-1.93), missing social interaction with peers carried out without any mediating technology (1.57, 95% CI 1.13-2.20), experiencing financial distress/hardship (1.25, 95% CI 1.02-1.54), perceiving duration of social isolation as long (1.62, 95% CI 1.10-2.41), reporting worsening of emotional/mental wellbeing (1.76, 95% CI 1.34-2.33), and previous psychological disorders (1.25, 95% CI 1.03-1.52). Conclusions: This study highlights several individual, psychological, and social determinants of increase in consumption of alcoholic beverages during physical and social distancing measures due to the pandemic and the results may reflect the presence of emotional changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It urges that sanitary authorities adopt measures to avoid excessive alcohol consumption during social distancing measures.
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spelling doaj.art-f368238318a54e649d263d3055f790572022-12-22T02:42:56ZengSAGE PublishingSubstance Abuse: Research and Treatment1178-22182022-06-011610.1177/11782218211061140Factors Associated With Increased Alcohol Consumption During Physical and Social Distancing Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a University in BrazilCremildo João BaptistaGuilherme Oliveira de ArrudaWilson Rayzel BarrosoVerusca Soares de SouzaObjective: To report alcohol consumption during the first month of social home-isolation and physical distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in an public University in Mid-West Brazil. Methods: We designed an online observational study. Initial data of 2166 participants was obtained between April and May, 2020, less than a month after University’s measures of social distancing with remote work and classes. We used Poisson regression model with robust variance to identify the significant factors associated with self-reported increase in alcohol consumption during social and physical distancing measures. Results: Increased alcohol consumption during social and physical distancing was reported by 22.9% of 1371 alcohol drinkers. Factors associated with reporting increased alcoholic consumption during University’s physical and social distancing measures were: not professing any religion (1.52, 95% CI 1.25-1.83), having signs/symptom suggesting SARS-COV-2 infection (1.56, 95% CI 1.26-1.93), missing social interaction with peers carried out without any mediating technology (1.57, 95% CI 1.13-2.20), experiencing financial distress/hardship (1.25, 95% CI 1.02-1.54), perceiving duration of social isolation as long (1.62, 95% CI 1.10-2.41), reporting worsening of emotional/mental wellbeing (1.76, 95% CI 1.34-2.33), and previous psychological disorders (1.25, 95% CI 1.03-1.52). Conclusions: This study highlights several individual, psychological, and social determinants of increase in consumption of alcoholic beverages during physical and social distancing measures due to the pandemic and the results may reflect the presence of emotional changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It urges that sanitary authorities adopt measures to avoid excessive alcohol consumption during social distancing measures.https://doi.org/10.1177/11782218211061140
spellingShingle Cremildo João Baptista
Guilherme Oliveira de Arruda
Wilson Rayzel Barroso
Verusca Soares de Souza
Factors Associated With Increased Alcohol Consumption During Physical and Social Distancing Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a University in Brazil
Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment
title Factors Associated With Increased Alcohol Consumption During Physical and Social Distancing Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a University in Brazil
title_full Factors Associated With Increased Alcohol Consumption During Physical and Social Distancing Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a University in Brazil
title_fullStr Factors Associated With Increased Alcohol Consumption During Physical and Social Distancing Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a University in Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Factors Associated With Increased Alcohol Consumption During Physical and Social Distancing Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a University in Brazil
title_short Factors Associated With Increased Alcohol Consumption During Physical and Social Distancing Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a University in Brazil
title_sort factors associated with increased alcohol consumption during physical and social distancing measures during the covid 19 pandemic in a university in brazil
url https://doi.org/10.1177/11782218211061140
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