With the wide-scale impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the United States many campuses and businesses have closed. Adverse consequences of this could include increased stress and social isolation along with increases in alcohol consumption. Due to this, the current study aims to look how alcohol use has changed following the closing of a large public University.

The final sample size for this study was 4,276 participants with 80% being female. Participants had to endorse using alcohol in the previous 30 days. Measures for this study included using the Timeline Follow-Back Interview. This measure helped to record alcohol use in the 2-weeks between March 4th and March 17th. These weeks included the week before the closure of the campus and the week after the closure. Researchers also used the Patient Health Questionnaire and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale to assess symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety during those two weeks. Finally, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support assessed social support from family, friends, and significant others.

Overall, results showed participants consumed from 0-63 standard drinks during the first week and 0-98 standard drinks during the second week. Alcohol consumption increased as time progressed, and it was found higher psychological distress was associated with more alcohol consumption. They also found more social support correlated with less alcohol consumption. These findings show the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on student’s alcohol consumption. It also highlights the need for universities to provide support to students during the time to help minimize risk factors and maximize protect factors.

Take Away: The current study aims to look how alcohol use has changed following the closing of a large public University. The final sample size for this study was 4,276 participants. Measures included alcohol consumption between March 4th and March 17th, the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Overall, results showed participants consumed from 0-63 standard drinks during the first week and 0-98 standard drinks during the second week. Findings showed alcohol consumption increased with time, and it higher psychological distress was associated with more alcohol consumption. These findings show this pandemic has had an impact on student’s alcohol consumption and highlights the need for universities to provide added support during this time.

Lechner, W. V., Laurene, K. R., Patel, S., Anderson, M., Grega, C., & Kenne, D. R. (2020). Changes in alcohol use as a function of psychological distress and social support following COVID-19 related University closings. Addictive Behaviors, 110, 106527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106527