Associations between Mental Health, Alcohol Consumption and Drinking Motives during COVID-19 Second Lockdown in Ireland

AIMS: The novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has impacted the lives of people worldwide since March 2020. Social restrictions aimed at flattening the curve may be associated with an increase in mental health problems and have raised concerns regarding their effect on alcohol consumption. The objective of this study was to characterize changes in alcohol use during lockdown in Ireland and associations with drinking motives and psychopathological symptoms. METHODS: We collected data from 713 adults (aged 18-60) during the second lockdown period (October/December 2020). By means of an online survey, participants self-reported their alcohol use before COVID and during lockdown. Motives to drink and psychopathological symptoms were also recorded. RESULTS: Our findings showed that 66% decreased their alcohol consumption, while 15% increased their alcohol consumption. An older age and coping motives were the strongest predictors of increased alcohol use during lockdown. Depression and hostility were the specific psychopathological dimensions associated with drinking to cope. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults who drink to cope-mainly with depression symptomatology-are an important at-risk population, in line with predictions from alcohol self-medication frameworks. Future research is needed to incorporate strategies into the public mental health ecosystem.