%0 Journal Article
%T Alcohol Use and Life Stressors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study of Young Adults.
%A Cho J
%A Sussman S
%A Kechter A
%A Vogel EA
%A Barrington-Trimis JL
%A Unger JB
%A Leventhal AM
%J J Subst Use
%V 29
%N 4
%D 2024
%M 39055691
%F 0.895
%R 10.1080/14659891.2023.2183909
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>To estimate the extent to which drinking to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and experiencing pandemic-related life stressors are associated with alcohol use escalation among young adults.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Respondents in Los Angeles, CA, USA (N=2,130) completed prospective cohort study surveys before (baseline; October 2018-November 2019; mean age: 19.7[SD=0.4) and during (follow-up; May-August 2020) the COVID-19 outbreak. Past 30-day drinking days and number of drinks per drinking day were assessed from baseline to follow-up. At follow-up, participants reported drinking to cope with social isolation and pandemic-related stressors.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Pandemic-related stressor prevalence ranged from 5.5% (evicted/lost home) to 72.6% (worried about education) and 27.1% drank to cope with social isolation during the pandemic. Respondents who did (vs. did not) report pandemic-related coping drinking were more likely to increase past 30-day drinking days and drinks per drinking day from baseline to follow-up after adjustment for possible confounders. Employment loss/reduction, financial problems, and perceived likelihood of contracting COVID-19 or handling the pandemic poorly were each associated with increases in drinking days or drinks per drinking day.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Experiencing certain life stressors and drinking to cope with social isolation may be associated with drinking escalation among young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.