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Silva CF, Beirão D, Sá L, Santos P. Adolescents and young adults' concerns under stress, the COVID-19 pandemic: a Portuguese cross-sectional study. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1260070. [PMID: 37920740 PMCID: PMC10618418 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1260070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Adolescents and young adults are a critical target regarding reducing healthrisk behaviors' adoption, particularly in a stressful context such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveying their perceptions and behavioral changes may lead to a revised health promotion approach. Objectives This study aims to describe adolescents' and young adults' early reactions to a stressful event, the COVID-19 pandemic, characterizing their social determinants and preferences, such as sources of information, experienced symptoms, habits, and main concerns regarding themselves, their relatives, and the community. We intended to explore the association of their concerns and significant determinants such as age, gender, education, source of information, feelings of fear, prospecting the implications of communication, and individual and social determinants in managing stressful events. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based, self-report survey of 3,898 individuals aged between 16 and 24 years from Portugal. Results The main concerns about COVID-19 were the possibility of transmitting to someone and permanent social changes. Our findings present significant differences according to gender, education, age, and expressing fear. Conclusion The pandemic deteriorated baseline community inequalities. Young people appreciate official information and are available to contribute to society's safety. However, valuing official information is associated with deeper expressed concerns. Therefore, official information should include strategies to reach young people, promote healthier choices, and avoid distress and disinformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Franclim Silva
- MEDCIDS – Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, MEDCIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniel Beirão
- MEDCIDS – Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, MEDCIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luísa Sá
- MEDCIDS – Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, MEDCIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paulo Santos
- MEDCIDS – Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, MEDCIDS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Marrone M, Pititto F, Stellacci A, Nicolì S, Buongiorno L, De Luca BP, Aventaggiato L, Strisciullo G, Solarino B, Benevento M. Alcohol and Drug Consumption among Drivers before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Observational Study. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2023; 13:897-905. [PMID: 37232706 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe13050068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic might have changed recreational habits. In this study, the results of toxicological tests for alcohol and drugs in blood were compared among drivers stopped at roadside checks in the periods before (1 January 2018 to 8 March 2020) and after the lockdown measures (9 March 2020 to 31 December 2021). A total of 123 (20.7%) subjects had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit for driving of 0.5 g/l, 21 (3.9%) subjects tested positive for cocaine, and 29 (5.4%) subjects positive for cannabis. In the COVID-19 period, the mean blood alcohol level was significantly higher than in the previous period. Cannabis use, which was more frequent among younger subjects, was statistically associated with cocaine use. There has also been a quantitative increase in alcohol levels in the population with values above the legal limits, indicative of greater use of alcohol in the population predisposed to its intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maricla Marrone
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Fortunato Pititto
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Alessandra Stellacci
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Simona Nicolì
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Luigi Buongiorno
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Benedetta Pia De Luca
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Lucia Aventaggiato
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Strisciullo
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Biagio Solarino
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Marcello Benevento
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Piazza Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
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Thielmann B, Böckelmann I, Schumann H. [Drinking behavior at the beginning and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: results of a literature review]. Notf Rett Med 2022; 26:1-7. [PMID: 35506007 PMCID: PMC9051819 DOI: 10.1007/s10049-022-01031-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Background and objective It is well known that alcohol consumption and abuse, as well as alcohol-induced problems, increase during difficult economic times. Previous studies showed increased alcohol consumption in the 2003 SARS outbreak in China. The review examines global changes in alcohol consumption under current SARS-CoV‑2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) pandemic. Materials and methods The databases PubMed, Ovid, Cochrane Library, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science with a cut-off date of 11 January 2022 were used. An initial hit count of 791 publications was found. After reading the title and abstract, 62 texts were still eligible. After reviewing the full text, 40 studies were included in this review. Results Study results were available from North and South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Increases as well as reductions in alcohol consumption were shown. Studies examining multiple waves of the pandemic found that alcohol consumption increased with duration of the pandemic. Binge drinking played a large role in this. There were very large regional differences in the increase in alcohol consumption: from about 10% of respondents to > 45%. In most studies, alcohol consumption was about the same for 40-50% of respondents and decreased for 30-40%. Conclusions Further study follow-ups under the continuing pandemic are relevant. Since the populations studied were predominantly of working age, occupational prevention measures of elevated stress levels for some of the respondents with increased alcohol consumption seem reasonable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Thielmann
- Bereich Arbeitsmedizin, Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Deutschland
| | - Irina Böckelmann
- Bereich Arbeitsmedizin, Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Deutschland
| | - Heiko Schumann
- Bereich Arbeitsmedizin, Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Deutschland
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Nin MS, Heidrich N, Almeida FB, Izolan LR, Constant HMRM, Freese L, Gomez R, Barros HMT. Social distancing and changes in drug use: Results from a cross-sectional study during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:999372. [PMID: 36440408 PMCID: PMC9682187 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.999372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The outbreak of coronavirus disease 19 has led to measures of social distancing and quarantine worldwide. This stressful period may lead to psychological problems, including changes in substance use. In addition, sociodemographic factors are linked to changed levels of drug use and abuse observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which are also associated with increased anxiety, depression, and other disorders. Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate (i) changes in drug use during the COVID-19 pandemic associated with social distancing, and (ii) to verify factors associated with those changes. METHODS A web-based cross-sectional observational survey was completed by a self-selected adult general population in Brazil (N = 2,435) during September/October 2020 (first wave) before and throughout the pandemic. Key outcomes: social distancing, self-reported drug use (ASSIST), and emotional states (DASS-21). RESULTS High social distancing was associated with fewer chances (prevalence ratio) of increased drug use for alcohol (0.71, CI95%: 0.64-0.80), tobacco (0.72; CI95%: 0.60-0.87), cannabis (0.65; CI95%: 0.55-0.78), and others. Low social distancing presented a higher DASS-21 score for anxiety (P = 0.017). Concerning covariates analysis by a general linear model, men (alcohol: 1. 71; cannabis: 3.86), younger age (alcohol: 0.97), less education (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and cocaine/crack comparing several lower schooling categories vs. higher education), lower income (alcohol: 0.42; tobacco: 0.47; and cannabis: 0.36), and higher depression DASS-21 score (alcohol: 1.05; tobacco: 1.08; cannabis: 1.07; and cocaine/crack: 1.07) were associated with higher use prevalence of several drugs. CONCLUSIONS Individuals reporting low social distancing increased the use of most drugs during the pandemic, while high social distancing significantly decreased drug use. Anxiety and depressive states and several sociodemographic factors (men; lower income; less education) were associated with higher drug use patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurício Schüler Nin
- Institute of Basic Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brazil
| | - Nubia Heidrich
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Felipe B Almeida
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lucas R Izolan
- Graduate Program in Neurosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Hilda M R M Constant
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Luana Freese
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Rosane Gomez
- Graduate Program in Neurosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Therapeutics and Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Helena M T Barros
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Driving under the influence of alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 329:111076. [PMID: 34736051 PMCID: PMC8539202 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.111076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
AIM The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the pattern of alcohol use in drivers. MATERIALS and methods. At the National Institute of Legal Medicine from Bucharest, we performed a retrospective study on toxicology reports between January 1st, 2019 and December 31st, 2020. Breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) was tested using Dräger breathalyzers by police units at the scene, and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was evaluated using headspace gas chromatography. Most drivers gave two blood samples, separated by a one-hour interval, case in which they could request a retrograde extrapolation of the BAC at the time when they were stopped in traffic. RESULTS The distribution of the number of cases depending on the month showed a sharp decline in the first six months of the lockdown, with a slow upward trend afterward. Mean overall values for BrAC were 0.49 +/- 0.40 mg/L, for 1st sample BAC - 1.15 +/- 0.99 g/L and for 2nd sample BAC - 1.29 +/- 0.81 g/L. Mean values obtained for BrAC were 0.48 +/- 0.39 mg/L before the pandemic and 0.52 +/- 0.43 mg/L during the pandemic. The increase was similar in absolute numbers in both male and female drivers (0.03 versus 0.04 mg/L respectively for BrAC and 0.02 g/L for both genders for 1st sample BAC). However, the percentage increase was significantly higher in women. There were 253 cases in which BrAC had values between 0.01 and 0.05, of which 138 occurred before the pandemic and 115 during the pandemic, the increase being highly statistically significant. The percentage of drivers with BAC levels below and above 0.8 g/L (the threshold value for which DUI is a felony in Romania) were similar before and during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS During the lockdown, the number of alcohol tests in traffic has decreased significantly. This reduction was not associated with statistically significant changes in BrAC or BAC. We have seen a substantial increase in the number of minimally elevated BrAC and negative BAC cases, changes that could be caused by an increased use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
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Kim J, Hong K, Gómez Gómez RE, Kim S, Chun BC. Lack of Evidence of COVID-19 Being a Risk Factor of Alopecia Areata: Results of a National Cohort Study in South Korea. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:758069. [PMID: 34722594 PMCID: PMC8550157 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.758069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Concerns about alopecia areata (AA) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have emerged among dermatologists. However, most of the extant kinds of literature have limited implications by relying on cross-sectional studies with restricted study subjects without the control group. Objective: Our study aims to investigate the risk of developing AA among COVID-19 patients in South Korea using national representative data. Methods: We used the National Health Insurance Service COVID-19 cohort database, comprising COVID-19 patients and the control group, all of whom were diagnosed from January 1, 2020, to June 4, 2020. Patients were defined as individuals who were confirmed as COVID-19 positive, regardless of disease severity. Controls were defined as those who were confirmed as COVID-19 negatives. People with a history of AA during the period 2015-2019 were excluded. The primary endpoint was a new diagnosis of AA (ICD-10-Code: L63). The adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) of developing AA was estimated using a log-link Poisson regression model based on incidence density. The model adjusted for (1) age and sex and (2) demographic variables (age, sex, place of residence, and income level). Results: A total of 226,737 individuals (7,958 [3.5%] cases and 218,779 [96.5%] controls) were included in the final analysis. The ratio of newly diagnosed AA was 18/7,958 (0.2%) in cases and 195/218,779 (0.1%) in controls. IRRs of COVID-19 patients having newly diagnosed AA compared to controls were 0.78 (95% CI: 0.48-1.27) when age and sex were adjusted for and 0.60 (95% CI: 0.35-1.03) when all demographic variables were adjusted for. Conclusion: Diagnosis of COVID-19 was not significantly associated with the development of AA even after appropriately adjusting for covariates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeehyun Kim
- Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Transdisciplinary Major in Learning Health Systems, Department of Healthcare Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kwan Hong
- Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Raquel Elizabeth Gómez Gómez
- Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Soojin Kim
- Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Transdisciplinary Major in Learning Health Systems, Department of Healthcare Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Byung Chul Chun
- Graduate School of Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Transdisciplinary Major in Learning Health Systems, Department of Healthcare Sciences, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
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Beccegato E, Angiola F, Favretto D, Ruggeri A, Terranova C. Coronavirus lockdown: Excessive alcohol consumption and illicit substance use in DUI subjects. TRAFFIC INJURY PREVENTION 2021; 22:355-360. [PMID: 34037479 DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2021.1923701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study investigates the consequences of the SarS-CoV-2 outbreak and of the resulting control measures on alcohol and illicit substance use in a high-risk population for substance-related disorders, utilizing an integrated medico-legal and toxicological approach. METHODS The research was structured as a retrospective case-control study of subjects found to be driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and/or other psychoactive substances who were examined for driver's license regranting. Alcohol and/or drug use was assessed by comparing cases examined in the period from May to August 2020 (immediately after the lockdown in Italy) to control subjects examined in the same period in 2019. DUI subjects were examined by an integrated approach, descriptive analyses were conducted, and significance was determined by chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests. Variables linked to the pandemic outbreak and resulting lockdown were investigated as predictive factors in determining unfitness to drive. RESULTS Cases (281) were significantly different from controls (261) concerning the judgment of unfitness to drive (p<.001) and had more subjects with chronic excessive alcohol use and/or illicit substance use. The two groups were rather homogeneous concerning the other variables, except for a difference in blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at the time of DUI (p = .027). No statistical association was found between the investigated variables linked to the lockdown and the judgment of unfitness to drive. CONCLUSIONS Chronic excessive alcohol consumption and illicit substance use were more frequently observed in cases, which suggests a possible correlation between the pandemic/lockdown restrictions and an increase in psychoactive substance misuse. While these potentially correlative factors are discussed in this article, they require further study. If confirmed, the results should be considered in forensic and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Beccegato
- Legal Medicine and Toxicology, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Italy Padova
| | - Francesco Angiola
- Legal Medicine and Toxicology, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Italy Padova
| | - Donata Favretto
- Legal Medicine and Toxicology, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Italy Padova
| | - Angelo Ruggeri
- Legal Medicine and Toxicology, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Italy Padova
| | - Claudio Terranova
- Legal Medicine and Toxicology, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Italy Padova
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