Abstract
Objective: To examine proportions and predictors of change in alcohol intake and binge drinking during the first 2 waves of the COVID-19 pandemic among middle-aged and older participants in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) COVID-19 Questionnaire Study. Methods: A total of 28,559 (67.2% of the potential sample) CLSA participants consented to the study with 24,114 completing the exit survey (fall 2020). Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions to examine predictors of change (increase or decrease) in alcohol intake and binge drinking were performed. Results: Among alcohol users, 26.3% reported a change in alcohol consumption during the first 10 months of the pandemic. Similar percentages increased (13.0%) or decreased (13.3%) consumption. In our mutually adjusted logistic regression model, odds of change in alcohol intake were greater for younger age, higher income, current cannabis smoker, positive screen for depression, anxiety, and loneliness. The magnitude of all associations for decreased intake was less than that of increased intake, and the directions were opposite for male sex and age. Predictors of current binge drinking (27.9% of alcohol users) included male sex, younger age, higher education and income, cannabis use, depression, and anxiety. Conclusion: Factors predictive of potentially worrisome alcohol use (i.e. increased intake, binge drinking) included younger age, sex, greater education and income, living alone, cannabis use, and worse mental health. Some of these factors were also associated with decreased intake, but the magnitudes of associations were smaller. This information may help direct screening efforts and interventions towards individuals at risk for problematic alcohol intake during the pandemic.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Canadian Journal of Public Health |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Accepted/In press - 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Funding for the support of the CLSA COVID-19 Questionnaire–based study is provided by the Juravinski Research Institute; Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University; Provost Fund from McMaster University; McMaster Institute for Research on Aging; Public Health Agency of Canada; and Government of Nova Scotia. Funding for the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is provided by the Government of Canada through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) under grant reference: LSA 94473 and the Canada Foundation for Innovation, as well as the following provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia. This research was conducted using the CLSA Baseline Tracking Dataset version 3.7, Baseline Comprehensive Dataset version 5.1, Follow-up 1 Tracking Dataset version 2.2, Follow-up 1 Comprehensive Dataset version 3.0, and COVID-19 questionnaire data under Application ID No. 21CON001. The CLSA is led by Drs. Parminder Raina, Christina Wolfson, and Susan Kirkland. Parminder Raina holds the Raymond and Margaret Labarge Chair in Optimal Aging and Knowledge Application for Optimal Aging and holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Geroscience.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
PubMed: MeSH publication types
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't