Impact of COVID-19 on Alcohol Use and Violence
Author Information
Author(s): Gyamerah Akua O., Dunham Alexandrea E., Ikeda Janet, Canizares Andy C., McFarland Willi, Wilson Erin C., Santos Glenn-Milo
Primary Institution: University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
Hypothesis
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the relationship between alcohol use and violence exposure among adults?
Conclusion
The study found that the COVID-19 pandemic increased both alcohol use and violence exposure among adults who drink alcohol.
Supporting Evidence
- 73.7% of participants reported heavy alcohol use during the pandemic.
- 26.1% reported experiencing violence during the pandemic.
- Those who experienced violence had significantly greater odds of reporting heavy alcohol use.
- Participants who reported more violence than usual had higher odds of drinking more alcohol.
Takeaway
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many adults who drink alcohol reported using more alcohol and experiencing more violence.
Methodology
Data were collected through surveys assessing alcohol use and violence exposure from January 2021 to April 2023.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may be subject to recall and social desirability biases.
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional, limiting causal inferences, and did not measure alcohol use prior to the pandemic.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 49.7% cis men, 43.5% cis women, and 4.1% queer/non-binary individuals, with a mean age of 41.6 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.1–2.4
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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