TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and Predictors of Increased and Hazardous Alcohol Consumption in a Cohort of Older South Australian Men during COVID-19 Restrictions
AU - Nankivell, Murray E.
AU - van Antwerpen, Natasha
AU - Turnbull, Deborah
AU - Gill, Tiffany K.
AU - Martin, Sean A.
AU - Opozda, Melissa J.
PY - 2023/2/14
Y1 - 2023/2/14
N2 - Background: Increasing levels of risky alcohol consumption in older men observed in many countries, combined with trends for increased alcohol-related misuse by men during COVID, indicate a need to examine alcohol use by older men during the pandemic. Aim: To examine the prevalence and predictors of increased and hazardous alcohol consumption in older South Australian men during COVID-19 restrictions. Method: Data collected in the latest (eighth) wave of the Men Androgen Inflammation Lifestyle Environment and Stress (MAILES) cohort study were interrogated. Participants were 746 community-dwelling older men (mean age 69 years) who completed a self-report survey on mental health, coping, COVID-related worries, and alcohol consumption during pandemic restrictions. Alcohol-related items asked about changes to over-all consumption (analysed as increased vs. decreased/same) and number of standard drinks per occasion (analysed as <5 drinks [not hazardous consumption] vs. 5+ drinks [hazardous]). Two hierarchical binary logistic regressions were conducted to explore predictors of increased and hazardous alcohol intake. Results: Eight percent of men reported increased alcohol intake and nine percent reported hazardous alcohol consumption during COVID-19 restrictions. Being in a younger age group (‘younger old’; OR=0.46, 95%CI=1.03, 2.28), having mild to severe depressive symptoms (OR=1.39, 95%CI=1.10, 5.05), and greater concern about becoming sick with COVID-19 (OR=1.52, 95%CI=1.03, 2.28) were predictive of increased alcohol consumption during restrictions. Younger age group (OR=0.46, 95%CI=0.34, 0.62) and greater concern about becoming sick with COVID-19 (OR=1.67, 95%CI=1.13, 2.51) were also predictive of hazardous alcohol consumption during this time. Discussion: Men participating in longitudinal health study follow-ups may be less inclined to engage in unhelpful coping behaviours such as problematic alcohol use. Clinicians should regularly screen older men for risky alcohol consumption; a particular focus on screening ‘younger old’ men, those with more significant concerns around COVID-19, and those with depression symptoms may be warranted.
AB - Background: Increasing levels of risky alcohol consumption in older men observed in many countries, combined with trends for increased alcohol-related misuse by men during COVID, indicate a need to examine alcohol use by older men during the pandemic. Aim: To examine the prevalence and predictors of increased and hazardous alcohol consumption in older South Australian men during COVID-19 restrictions. Method: Data collected in the latest (eighth) wave of the Men Androgen Inflammation Lifestyle Environment and Stress (MAILES) cohort study were interrogated. Participants were 746 community-dwelling older men (mean age 69 years) who completed a self-report survey on mental health, coping, COVID-related worries, and alcohol consumption during pandemic restrictions. Alcohol-related items asked about changes to over-all consumption (analysed as increased vs. decreased/same) and number of standard drinks per occasion (analysed as <5 drinks [not hazardous consumption] vs. 5+ drinks [hazardous]). Two hierarchical binary logistic regressions were conducted to explore predictors of increased and hazardous alcohol intake. Results: Eight percent of men reported increased alcohol intake and nine percent reported hazardous alcohol consumption during COVID-19 restrictions. Being in a younger age group (‘younger old’; OR=0.46, 95%CI=1.03, 2.28), having mild to severe depressive symptoms (OR=1.39, 95%CI=1.10, 5.05), and greater concern about becoming sick with COVID-19 (OR=1.52, 95%CI=1.03, 2.28) were predictive of increased alcohol consumption during restrictions. Younger age group (OR=0.46, 95%CI=0.34, 0.62) and greater concern about becoming sick with COVID-19 (OR=1.67, 95%CI=1.13, 2.51) were also predictive of hazardous alcohol consumption during this time. Discussion: Men participating in longitudinal health study follow-ups may be less inclined to engage in unhelpful coping behaviours such as problematic alcohol use. Clinicians should regularly screen older men for risky alcohol consumption; a particular focus on screening ‘younger old’ men, those with more significant concerns around COVID-19, and those with depression symptoms may be warranted.
KW - alcohol
KW - cohort
KW - consumption
KW - COVID-19
KW - men
KW - older
KW - predictors
KW - prevalence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150066494&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.22374/ijmsch.v5isp2.96
DO - 10.22374/ijmsch.v5isp2.96
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85150066494
SN - 2561-9179
VL - 5
SP - e25-e39
JO - International Journal of Men's Social and Community Health
JF - International Journal of Men's Social and Community Health
IS - SP2
ER -
