Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | COVID-19 | Research

Factors related to increased alcohol misuse by students compared to non-students during the first Covid-19 lockdown in France: the Confins study

Authors: Shérazade Kinouani, Mélissa Macalli, Julie Arsandaux, Ilaria Montagni, Nathalie Texier, Stéphane Schück, Christophe Tzourio

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2024

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

The closure of bars and lockdowns related to the Covid-19 pandemic changed alcohol use levels in France during the spring of 2020. We wondered whether this sudden cessation of social interactions impacted students more than non-students and what factors specific to students would explain the increase in alcohol misuse. The aims of this study were to compare self-reported changes in alcohol misuse (alcohol intake and binge-drinking frequency) during the first Covid-19 lockdown from March 17 to May 10, 2020, between French students and non-students and describe factors associated with this alcohol misuse in each subgroup.

Methods

Data collected in the Confins study from April 8 to May 10, 2020, were used in cross-sectional analyses stratified by student status. Multiple logistic regression was performed to estimate the association between self-reported increase in alcohol intake or binge-drinking frequency (at least six drinks of alcohol on one occasion) and demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors, as well as conditions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. The population-attributable fraction was then used to estimate the contribution of identified risk factors to increased alcohol misuse in students and non-students.

Results

Among both students and non-students, a self-reported decrease or no change in alcohol intake or binge-drinking was more common than an increase. However, the risk factors explaining an increase in alcohol intake differed among students (≥ 25 years old, not working or studying in the health field, and having suicidal ideation during the last 7 days) and non-students (having a medical diagnosis of mental disorders). The risk factors explaining an increase in binge-drinking frequency were similar in the two subgroups (being a tobacco smoker before lockdown and not practicing any physical activity during the last 7 days), except suicidal thoughts, which was a risk factor for alcohol misuse specific to students.

Conclusions

These results highlight the vulnerability of certain French students to alcohol misuse and the necessity of combining both mental health and substance use-related screening in the student population.
Literature
1.
2.
Cascini F, Failla G, Gobbi C, Pallini E, Hui J, Luxi W, et al. A cross-country comparison of Covid-19 containment measures and their effects on the epidemic curves. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):1765.PubMedPubMedCentral
3.
4.
Kilian C, Rehm J, Allebeck P, Braddick F, Gual A, Barták M, et al. Alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe: a large-scale cross-sectional study in 21 countries. Addiction. 2021;116(12):3369–80.PubMed
5.
Leifman H, Dramstad K, Juslin E. Alcohol consumption and closed borders - how COVID-19 restrictions have impacted alcohol sales and consumption in Europe. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):692.PubMedPubMedCentral
6.
Manthey J, Kilian C, Carr S, Bartak M, Bloomfield K, Braddick F, et al. Use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other substances during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Europe: a survey on 36,000 European substance users. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2021;16(1):36.PubMedPubMedCentral
7.
Sohi I, Chrystoja BR, Rehm J, Wells S, Monteiro M, Ali S, et al. Changes in alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic and previous pandemics: a systematic review. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2022;46(4):498–513.PubMedPubMedCentral
8.
Guignard R, Andler R, Quatremère G, Pasquereau A, du Roscoät E, Arwidson P, et al. Changes in smoking and alcohol consumption during COVID-19-related lockdown: a cross-sectional study in France. Eur J Public Health. 2021;31(5):1076–83.PubMed
9.
Beck F, Legleye S, Peretti-Watel P. Alcohol and tobacco use after one month of containment measures for the COVID-19 sanitary crisis in France. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2022;83(2):169–74.PubMed
10.
Babicki M. Use of alcohol, cannabinoids, psychostimulants, and sedatives before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among students in 40 European countries. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(22):14879.PubMedPubMedCentral
11.
Tavolacci MP, Wouters E, Van de Velde S, Buffel V, Déchelotte P, Van Hal G, et al. The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on health behaviors among students of a French university. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(8):4346.PubMedPubMedCentral
12.
Evans S, Alkan E, Bhangoo JK, Tenenbaum H, Ng-Knight T. Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on mental health, wellbeing, sleep, and alcohol use in a UK student sample. Psychiatry Res. 2021;298:113819.PubMedPubMedCentral
13.
van Hooijdonk KJM, Rubio M, Simons SSH, van Noorden THJ, Luijten M, Geurts SAE, et al. Student-, Study- and COVID-19-Related Predictors of Students’ Smoking, Binge Drinking and Cannabis Use before and during the Initial COVID-19 Lockdown in The Netherlands. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(2):812.PubMedPubMedCentral
14.
Busse H, Buck C, Stock C, Zeeb H, Pischke CR, Fialho PMM, et al. Engagement in Health Risk Behaviours before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in German University Students: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(4):1410.PubMedPubMedCentral
15.
16.
17.
Verger P, Combes JB, Kovess-Masfety V, Choquet M, Guagliardo V, Rouillon F, et al. Psychological distress in first year university students: socioeconomic and academic stressors, mastery and social support in young men and women. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2009;44(8):643–50.PubMed
18.
Beiter R, Nash R, McCrady M, Rhoades D, Linscomb M, Clarahan M, et al. The prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and stress in a sample of college students. J Affect Disord. 2015;173:90–6.PubMed
19.
Verger P, Guagliardo V, Gilbert F, Rouillon F, Kovess-Masfety V. Psychiatric disorders in students in six French universities: 12-month prevalence, comorbidity, impairment and help-seeking. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2010;45(2):189–99.PubMed
20.
Dyson R, Renk K. Freshmen adaptation to university life: depressive symptoms, stress, and coping. J Clin Psychol. 2006;62(10):1231–44.PubMed
21.
McCloud T, Kamenov S, Callender C, Lewis G, Lewis G. The association between higher education attendance and common mental health problems among young people in England: evidence from two population-based cohorts. Lancet Public Health. 2023;8(10):e811–9.PubMed
22.
Stone AL, Becker LG, Huber AM, Catalano RF. Review of risk and protective factors of substance use and problem use in emerging adulthood. Addict Behav. 2012;37(7):747–75.PubMed
23.
Chen CM, Dufour MC, Yi H. Alcohol consumption among young adults ages 18–24 in the United States: results from the 2001–2002 NESARC Survey. Alcohol Res Health. 2004;28(4):269–80.PubMedCentral
24.
Barnes GM, Welte JW, Hoffman JH, Tidwell MC, Cecile O. Comparisons of gambling and alcohol use among college students and noncollege young people in the United States. J Am Coll Health. 2010;58(5):443–52.PubMedPubMedCentral
25.
Carter AC, Brandon KO, Goldman MS. The college and noncollege experience: a review of the factors that influence drinking behavior in young adulthood. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2010;71(5):742–50.PubMedPubMedCentral
26.
Reckdenwald A, Ford JA, Murray BN. Alcohol use in emerging adulthood: can Moffitt’s Developmental Theory help us understand binge drinking among college students? J Child Adolesc Subst Abuse. 2016;25(6):497–503.
27.
White A, Hingson R. The burden of alcohol use: excessive alcohol consumption and related consequences among college students. Alcohol Res Curr Rev. 2013;35(2):201–18.
28.
Sussman S, Arnett JJ. Emerging adulthood: developmental period facilitative of the addictions. Eval Health Prof. 2014;37(2):147–55.PubMed
29.
Richard JB, Andler R, Cogordan C, Spilka S, Nguyen-Thanh V, le Groupe Baromètre de Santé Publique France 2017. [La consommation d’alcool chez les adultes en France en 2017]. Bulletin Epidemiologique Hebdomadaire. 2019;(5–6):89–97.
30.
31.
Saunders JB, Aasland OG, Babor TF, Fuente JRDL, Grant M. Development of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): WHO Collaborative Project on Early Detection of Persons with Harmful Alcohol Consumption-II. Addiction. 1993;88(6):791–804.PubMed
32.
Bush K, Kivlahan DR, McDonell MB, Fihn SD, Bradley KA. The AUDIT alcohol consumption questions (AUDIT-C): an effective brief screening test for problem drinking. Ambulatory Care Quality Improvement Project (ACQUIP). Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Arch Intern Med. 1998;158(16):1789–95.
33.
Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JBW, Löwe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(10):1092–7.PubMed
34.
Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001;16(9):606–13.PubMedPubMedCentral
35.
Baghdadi Y, Gallay A, Caserio-Schönemann C, Fouillet A. Evaluation of the French reactive mortality surveillance system supporting decision making. Eur J Public Health. 2019;29(4):601–7.PubMed
36.
Rosen L. An intuitive approach to understanding the attributable fraction of disease due to a risk factor: the case of smoking. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2013;10(7):2932–43.PubMedPubMedCentral
37.
Quatremère G, Guignard R, Andler R, Sempé S, Houzelle N, Nguyen-Thanh V. Changes in tobacco and alcohol consumption in France during the spring 2020 lockdown: results of the Coviprev and Viquop surveys. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(22):14808.PubMedPubMedCentral
38.
Rolland F, Frajerman A, Falissard B, Bertschy G, Diquet B, Marra D. Impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on French Health students. Encephale. 2023;49(3):219–26.PubMed
39.
Husky MM, Kovess-Masfety V, Swendsen JD. Stress and anxiety among university students in France during Covid-19 mandatory confinement. Compr Psychiatry. 2020;102:152191.PubMedPubMedCentral
40.
Wicki M, Kuntsche E, Gmel G. Drinking at European universities? A review of students’ alcohol use. Addict Behav. 2010;35(11):913–24.PubMed
41.
Anderson Goodell EM, Kuntsche E, Labhart F, Thrul J. Drinking location moderates the association between social group size and alcohol consumption among young adults: an event-level study. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2022;41(1):238–45.PubMed
42.
White HR, Stevens AK, Hayes K, Jackson KM. Changes in alcohol consumption among college students due to COVID-19: effects of campus closure and residential change. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2020;81(6):725–30.PubMedPubMedCentral
43.
Jaffe AE, Kumar SA, Ramirez JJ, DiLillo D. Is the COVID-19 pandemic a high-risk period for college student alcohol use? A comparison of three spring semesters. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2021;45(4):854–63.PubMedPubMedCentral
44.
Jackson KM, Merrill JE, Stevens AK, Hayes KL, White HR. Changes in alcohol use and drinking context due to the COVID-19 pandemic: a multimethod study of college student drinkers. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2021;45(4):752–64.PubMedPubMedCentral
45.
Gordon-Wilson S. An exploration of the substitutions of British pub consumers during the COVID-19 crisis. Int J Hosp Manag. 2021;96:102998.PubMedPubMedCentral
46.
Pakdaman S, Clapp JD. Zoom (virtual) happy hours and drinking during COVID-19 in the US: an exploratory qualitative study. Health Behav Policy Rev. 2021;8(1):3–12.
47.
Grossman ER, Benjamin-Neelon SE, Sonnenschein S. Alcohol consumption and alcohol home delivery laws during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subst Abuse. 2022;43(1):1141–6.
48.
Hultgren BA, Smith-LeCavalier KN, Canning JR, Jaffe AE, Kim IS, Cegielski VI, et al. College students’ virtual and in-person drinking contexts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2022;46(11):2089–102.PubMedPubMedCentral
49.
Holland AL, Sharma P, Kurani S, Pazdernik V, Patten C, Kremers HM, et al. Longitudinal factors associated with increased alcohol consumption in adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2023;49(4):481–90.PubMed
50.
Gubner NR, Delucchi KL, Ramo DE. Associations between binge drinking frequency and tobacco use among young adults. Addict Behav. 2016;60:191–6.PubMedPubMedCentral
51.
Tavolacci MP, Boerg E, Richard L, Meyrignac G, Dechelotte P, Ladner J. Prevalence of binge drinking and associated behaviours among 3286 college students in France. BMC Public Health. 2016;16:178.PubMedPubMedCentral
52.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Results from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Summary of National Findings. 2013;184.
53.
Kuntsche E, Rehm J, Gmel G. Characteristics of binge drinkers in Europe. Soc Sci Med. 2004;59(1):113–27.PubMed
54.
Molaeipour L, Ghalandari M, Kangavari HN, Alizadeh Z, Jafari E, Gholami F, et al. The association between current smoking and binge drinking among adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies. Front Psychiatry. 2023;13:1084762.PubMedPubMedCentral
55.
Blomqvist O, Ericson M, Johnson DH, Engel JA, Söderpalm B. Voluntary ethanol intake in the rat: effects of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor blockade or subchronic nicotine treatment. Eur J Pharmacol. 1996;314(3):257–67.PubMed
56.
Clark A, Lindgren S, Brooks SP, Watson WP, Little HJ. Chronic infusion of nicotine can increase operant self-administration of alcohol. Neuropharmacology. 2001;41(1):108–17.PubMed
57.
Lê AD, Wang A, Harding S, Juzytsch W, Shaham Y. Nicotine increases alcohol self-administration and reinstates alcohol seeking in rats. Psychopharmacology. 2003;168(1–2):216–21.PubMed
58.
López-Moreno JA, Trigo-Díaz JM, Rodríguez de Fonseca F, González Cuevas G, Gómez de Heras R, Crespo Galán I, et al. Nicotine in alcohol deprivation increases alcohol operant self-administration during reinstatement. Neuropharmacology. 2004;47(7):1036–44.
59.
Nock MK, Borges G, Bromet EJ, Alonso J, Angermeyer M, Beautrais A, et al. Cross-national prevalence and risk factors for suicidal ideation, plans and attempts. Br J Psychiatry J Ment Sci. 2008;192(2):98–105.
60.
Nock MK, Hwang I, Sampson N, Kessler RC, Angermeyer M, Beautrais A, et al. Cross-national analysis of the associations among mental disorders and suicidal behavior: findings from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys. PLOS Med. 2009;6(8):e1000123.PubMedPubMedCentral
61.
Mortier P, Cuijpers P, Kiekens G, Auerbach RP, Demyttenaere K, Green JG, et al. The prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behaviours among college students: a meta-analysis. Psychol Med. 2018;48(4):554–65.PubMed
62.
Borges G, Nock MK, Abad JMH, Hwang I, Sampson NA, Alonso J, et al. Twelve-month prevalence of and risk factors for suicide attempts in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys. J Clin Psychiatry. 2010;71(12):21777.
63.
Sareen J, Cox BJ, Afifi TO, de Graaf R, Asmundson GJG, ten Have M, et al. Anxiety disorders and risk for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts: a population-based longitudinal study of adults. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005;62(11):1249–57.PubMed
64.
Akram U, Ypsilanti A, Gardani M, Irvine K, Allen S, Akram A, et al. Prevalence and psychiatric correlates of suicidal ideation in UK university students. J Affect Disord. 2020;272:191–7.PubMed
65.
Pandey S, Bolstad I, Lien L, Walby FA, Myhre MØ, Bramness JG. Sex-specific factors associated with lifetime suicide attempt among patients with alcohol use disorders. BJPsych Open. 2022;8(4):e135.PubMedPubMedCentral
66.
Czeisler MÉ, Lane RI, Petrosky E, Wiley JF, Christensen A, Njai R, et al. Mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic - United States, June 24–30, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(32):1049–57.PubMedPubMedCentral
67.
Killgore WDS, Cloonan SA, Taylor EC, Dailey NS. Mental health during the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:561898.PubMedPubMedCentral
68.
Lechner WV, Laurene KR, Patel S, Anderson M, Grega C, Kenne DR. Changes in alcohol use as a function of psychological distress and social support following COVID-19 related university closings. Addict Behav. 2020;110:106527.PubMedPubMedCentral
69.
Zhou T, Bao Y, Guo D, Bai Y, Wang R, Cao X, et al. Intolerance of uncertainty and future career anxiety among Chinese undergraduate students during COVID-19 period: Fear of COVID-19 and depression as mediators. Front Public Health. 2022;10:1015446.PubMedPubMedCentral
70.
Busetta G, Campolo MG, Panarello D. Economic expectations and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic: a one-year longitudinal evaluation on Italian university students. Qual Quant. 2023;57(1):59–76.PubMed
71.
Bu F, Steptoe A, Fancourt D. Who is lonely in lockdown? Cross-cohort analyses of predictors of loneliness before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public Health. 2020;186:31–4.PubMed
72.
Macalli M, Kinouani S, Texier N, Schück S, Tzourio C. Contribution of perceived loneliness to suicidal thoughts among French university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):16833.ADSPubMedPubMedCentral
73.
Weber M, Schulze L, Bolzenkötter T, Niemeyer H, Renneberg B. Mental Health and Loneliness in University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: a Longitudinal Study. Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:848645.PubMedPubMedCentral
Metadata
Title
Factors related to increased alcohol misuse by students compared to non-students during the first Covid-19 lockdown in France: the Confins study
Authors
Shérazade Kinouani
Mélissa Macalli
Julie Arsandaux
Ilaria Montagni
Nathalie Texier
Stéphane Schück
Christophe Tzourio
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keyword
COVID-19
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18182-w

Other articles of this Issue 1/2024

BMC Public Health 1/2024 Go to the issue

Research

The individuals’ awareness and adoption of electronic health records in China: a questionnaire survey of 1,337 individuals

Research

The effect of physical fitness on psychological health: evidence from Chinese university students

Research

Sodium, potassium intake, and all-cause mortality: confusion and new findings

Research

Association between multiple-heavy-metal exposures and systemic immune inflammation in a middle-aged and elderly Chinese general population

Research

Determination of moderate walking intensity using step rate and VO2 reserve in healthy men

Research

Health literacy in the context of child health promotion: a scoping review of conceptualizations and descriptions