Factors Associated with Self-Reported Changes in Alcohol Use among Young Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Analysis between Canada and France

Pierre-Julien Coulaud (), Guillaume Airagnes, Kai McGrath, Naseeb Bolduc, Karine Bertrand, Marie Jauffret-Roustide and Rod Knight
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Pierre-Julien Coulaud: Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
Guillaume Airagnes: AP-HP. Centre-Université Paris Cité, DMU Psychiatrie et Addictologie, 75006 Paris, France
Kai McGrath: British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada
Naseeb Bolduc: British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada
Karine Bertrand: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
Marie Jauffret-Roustide: British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada
Rod Knight: Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 24, 1-17

Abstract: While the COVID-19 pandemic impacted young adults’ alcohol use patterns, little is known about how changes in alcohol use may differ across different settings. Our objective was to identify and compare factors associated with changes in alcohol use among young adults in Canada and France during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey in October–December 2020 with young adults aged 18–29 ( n = 5185) in Canada and France. In each country, weighted multinomial logistic regressions were performed to identify factors associated with self-reported decrease and increase in alcohol use separately (reference: no change). Respectively, 33.4% and 21.4% reported an increase in alcohol use in Canada and France, while 22.9% and 33.5% reported a decrease. Being 25–29 was a predictor of decrease in Canada, while living away from family was associated with an increase in France. In both countries, participants were more likely to report an increase if they reported depressive symptoms, smoking tobacco, or cannabis use. Conversely, those who had been tested for COVID-19 and those who were highly compliant with COVID-19 preventive measures were more likely to report a decrease. Efforts are needed to develop alcohol use interventions for young adults, including in ways that prioritize those with mental health challenges.

Keywords: alcohol; young adults; COVID-19; depressive symptoms; Canada; France; online survey (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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