Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic there have been reports of increased alcohol consumption and engagement in high-risk drinking behaviors like binge drinking especially among the young adult population. In addition, higher levels of depression and anxiety symptoms have been reported during the pandemic which may contribute to changes in alcohol use over time. The link between alcohol use and depression/anxiety symptoms may be explained by coping and conformity motives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, coping motives or potentially different motives may have mediated the relationship between mental health conditions and unhealthy alcohol consumption. This study examines the associations of anxiety and drinking motives with hazardous and binge alcohol use among college students.
The study’s sample consisted of 182 college students from two universities in Tennessee. Participants completed a survey that assessed how often alcohol is consumed, how much is consumed during a typical drinking occasion, and intensity and frequency of binge drinking. Students also completed questionnaires that examined anxiety symptoms over the past 7 days and experiences of anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic over the past 2 weeks. Lastly, the modified drinking motives questionnaire (MDRQ-R) was used to assess for enhancement, coping with anxiety, coping with depression, social, and conformity motives for alcohol use. Data was analyzed using linear regression models.
Results of the data analysis showed 93% of participants consumed alcohol and 82% reported binge drinking. Drinking for social benefit, drinking for enhancement, and drinking to cope with anxiety motives had the highest scores on the MDMQ-R. The overall mediating effect of combined drinking motives (social benefit, coping with anxiety, coping with depression, and enhancement) were statistically significant for the associations between each type of anxiety and each measure of drinking behavior. The strongest mediating effects were observed for coping with depression and drinking for enhancement. The coping with depression mediating effect was statistically significant for each of the anxiety and alcohol consumption behavior associations except for the association between COVID-19 related anxiety and binge drinking frequency.
Takeaway: Changes in alcohol consumption and binge drinking behaviors among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic may be associated with coping with depression motives.