Due to the numerous transitions that one takes throughout young adulthood (ages 18-30), there can be an increased correlation between stress and internal pressure. Some may manage these in unhealthy ways. This study explores the association between young adults’ job loss and financial difficulties during the beginning of COVID-19 and substance use. This allowed them to see how much of an impact one’s job or financial situation has on substance use behaviors. The two hypotheses tested were: “Those experiencing job loss and/or financial difficulty would engage in greater alcohol and cannabis use” compared to those who did not experience those things. The second hypothesis was “Perceived control over these economic adversities would moderate the effect of job loss and financial difficulty, respectively, on changes in one’s substance use behavior.”
This study consisted of young adults around Seattle, WA. Starting February 2015 to January 2016, a total of 778 adults (ages 18-23) completed monthly surveys for 24 months, including a 30-month follow-up. All participants had drunk alcohol no less than once in the past year. 594 of these participants returned for a follow-up survey in January 2020, and then again 552 participants returned for an additional follow-up survey in April and May 2020. By January 2020, the survey now had ages of 22 to 29 and was made up of 62.8% female population. 18.9% of the cohort reported job loss due to COVID-19, and almost half of the cohort report financial hardships due to COVID-19.
The study revealed that the effect of job loss on alcohol use depended on the individual’s perceived control over the situation. So those that experienced job loss but had higher perceived control of the situation reported less frequent alcohol use. While those with lower perceived control increased peak drinking. Financial difficulty reported the same pattern. Cannabis use, however, did not report any correlation with job loss. Higher levels of perceived control appeared to help and be a protective factor against an increase in substance use. This study showcased how much one’s self-perception can impact their life.
Takeaway: Ones perception of control when experiencing job loss or dealing with financial difficulty has a substantial correlation to whether they will increase their substance use.