COVID-19, Alcohol Consumption and Stockpiling Practises in Midlife Women: Repeat Surveys During Lockdown in Australia and the United Kingdom
Introduction: This project examined the impact of COVID-19 and associated restrictions on alcohol practises (consumption and stockpiling), and perceptions of health risk among women in midlife (those aged 45–64 years).Methods: We collected online survey data from 2,437 midlife women in the United Ki...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.642950/full |
| _version_ | 1818742446916370432 |
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| author | Emma R. Miller Ian N. Olver Carlene J. Wilson Carlene J. Wilson Carlene J. Wilson Belinda Lunnay Samantha B. Meyer Kristen Foley Jessica A. Thomas Barbara Toson Paul R. Ward |
| author_facet | Emma R. Miller Ian N. Olver Carlene J. Wilson Carlene J. Wilson Carlene J. Wilson Belinda Lunnay Samantha B. Meyer Kristen Foley Jessica A. Thomas Barbara Toson Paul R. Ward |
| author_sort | Emma R. Miller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: This project examined the impact of COVID-19 and associated restrictions on alcohol practises (consumption and stockpiling), and perceptions of health risk among women in midlife (those aged 45–64 years).Methods: We collected online survey data from 2,437 midlife women in the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia in May 2020, recruited using a commercial panel, in the early days of mandated COVID-19 related restrictions in both countries. Participants were surveyed again (N = 1,377) in July 2020, at a time when COVID-19 restrictions were beginning to ease. The surveys included the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test—Consumption (AUDIT-C) and questions alcohol stockpiling. Analysis involved a range of univariate and multivariate techniques examining the impact of demographic variables and negative affect on consumption and acquisition outcomes.Results: In both surveys (May and July), UK women scored higher than Australian women on the AUDIT-C, and residence in the UK was found to independently predict stockpiling of alcohol (RR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.20, 1.91). Developing depression between surveys (RR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.14, 2.04) and reporting pessimism (RR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.81), and fear/anxiety (RR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.70) at the beginning of the study period also predicted stockpiling by the end of the lockdown. Having a tertiary education was protective for alcohol stockpiling at each time point (RR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.54, 0.87).Conclusions: COVID-19 was associated with increases in risky alcohol practises that were predicted by negative emotional responses to the pandemic. Anxiety, pessimism and depression predicted stockpiling behaviour in UK and Australian women despite the many demographic and contextual differences between the two cohorts. Given our findings and the findings of others that mental health issues developed or were exacerbated during lockdown and may continue long after that time, urgent action is required to address a potential future pandemic of alcohol-related harms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T02:12:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f79719aa9c224588ac2336a1f7a447b0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T02:12:39Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-f79719aa9c224588ac2336a1f7a447b02022-12-21T21:24:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652021-06-01910.3389/fpubh.2021.642950642950COVID-19, Alcohol Consumption and Stockpiling Practises in Midlife Women: Repeat Surveys During Lockdown in Australia and the United KingdomEmma R. Miller0Ian N. Olver1Carlene J. Wilson2Carlene J. Wilson3Carlene J. Wilson4Belinda Lunnay5Samantha B. Meyer6Kristen Foley7Jessica A. Thomas8Barbara Toson9Paul R. Ward10College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaSchool of Psychology, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaSchool of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaOlivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, AustraliaCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaSchool of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Ontario, ON, CanadaCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaIntroduction: This project examined the impact of COVID-19 and associated restrictions on alcohol practises (consumption and stockpiling), and perceptions of health risk among women in midlife (those aged 45–64 years).Methods: We collected online survey data from 2,437 midlife women in the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia in May 2020, recruited using a commercial panel, in the early days of mandated COVID-19 related restrictions in both countries. Participants were surveyed again (N = 1,377) in July 2020, at a time when COVID-19 restrictions were beginning to ease. The surveys included the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test—Consumption (AUDIT-C) and questions alcohol stockpiling. Analysis involved a range of univariate and multivariate techniques examining the impact of demographic variables and negative affect on consumption and acquisition outcomes.Results: In both surveys (May and July), UK women scored higher than Australian women on the AUDIT-C, and residence in the UK was found to independently predict stockpiling of alcohol (RR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.20, 1.91). Developing depression between surveys (RR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.14, 2.04) and reporting pessimism (RR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.81), and fear/anxiety (RR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.70) at the beginning of the study period also predicted stockpiling by the end of the lockdown. Having a tertiary education was protective for alcohol stockpiling at each time point (RR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.54, 0.87).Conclusions: COVID-19 was associated with increases in risky alcohol practises that were predicted by negative emotional responses to the pandemic. Anxiety, pessimism and depression predicted stockpiling behaviour in UK and Australian women despite the many demographic and contextual differences between the two cohorts. Given our findings and the findings of others that mental health issues developed or were exacerbated during lockdown and may continue long after that time, urgent action is required to address a potential future pandemic of alcohol-related harms.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.642950/fullCOVID-19alcoholmidlife womenhealth perceptionsurvey |
| spellingShingle | Emma R. Miller Ian N. Olver Carlene J. Wilson Carlene J. Wilson Carlene J. Wilson Belinda Lunnay Samantha B. Meyer Kristen Foley Jessica A. Thomas Barbara Toson Paul R. Ward COVID-19, Alcohol Consumption and Stockpiling Practises in Midlife Women: Repeat Surveys During Lockdown in Australia and the United Kingdom Frontiers in Public Health COVID-19 alcohol midlife women health perception survey |
| title | COVID-19, Alcohol Consumption and Stockpiling Practises in Midlife Women: Repeat Surveys During Lockdown in Australia and the United Kingdom |
| title_full | COVID-19, Alcohol Consumption and Stockpiling Practises in Midlife Women: Repeat Surveys During Lockdown in Australia and the United Kingdom |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19, Alcohol Consumption and Stockpiling Practises in Midlife Women: Repeat Surveys During Lockdown in Australia and the United Kingdom |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19, Alcohol Consumption and Stockpiling Practises in Midlife Women: Repeat Surveys During Lockdown in Australia and the United Kingdom |
| title_short | COVID-19, Alcohol Consumption and Stockpiling Practises in Midlife Women: Repeat Surveys During Lockdown in Australia and the United Kingdom |
| title_sort | covid 19 alcohol consumption and stockpiling practises in midlife women repeat surveys during lockdown in australia and the united kingdom |
| topic | COVID-19 alcohol midlife women health perception survey |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.642950/full |
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