Treatment access gap during the COVID-19 Pandemic: impact on problematic alcohol use and the moderating roles of perceived stress and resilience

ObjectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic may have interfered with individuals’ access to alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment, but limited research has documented the impact of treatment interference on drinking behavior. This study’s purpose was to examine the associations of AUD treatment interference with...

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Main Authors: Rhianna R. Vergeer, Jeremy W. Luk, Bethany L. Stangl, Emma M. McCabe, Ugne Ziausyte, Melanie L. Schwandt, David Goldman, Vijay A. Ramchandani, Nancy Diazgranados
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1487277/full
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author Rhianna R. Vergeer
Jeremy W. Luk
Bethany L. Stangl
Emma M. McCabe
Ugne Ziausyte
Melanie L. Schwandt
David Goldman
Vijay A. Ramchandani
Nancy Diazgranados
author_facet Rhianna R. Vergeer
Jeremy W. Luk
Bethany L. Stangl
Emma M. McCabe
Ugne Ziausyte
Melanie L. Schwandt
David Goldman
Vijay A. Ramchandani
Nancy Diazgranados
author_sort Rhianna R. Vergeer
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic may have interfered with individuals’ access to alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment, but limited research has documented the impact of treatment interference on drinking behavior. This study’s purpose was to examine the associations of AUD treatment interference with problematic alcohol use, and the moderating roles of perceived stress and resilience.MethodA cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were drawn from the baseline assessment of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Alcohol Study. Between June 2020 and March 2021, 288 participants (48.6% female, 51.4% male) responded to key measures of interest by phone and/or through an online survey. Study hypotheses were tested using multiple linear regression models adjusted for demographic characteristics (age, sex, race, ethnicity, years of education, household income, marital status), study enrollment phase, and history of AUD.ResultsSelf-reported AUD treatment interference was positively associated with problematic alcohol use as measured by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (b = 2.05, p < 0.001). Significant moderation effects indicated the association between AUD treatment interference and problematic alcohol use was stronger at a high level of perceived stress (b = 3.08, p < 0.001) and was attenuated at a high level of resilience (b = -0.13, p = 0.874).ConclusionsSelf-reported AUD treatment interference may indicate interruption to individuals’ support systems and highlight the need for continued access to treatment. Fostering positive coping strategies and resilience may help individuals mitigate risks of problematic drinking amidst a public health crisis.
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spelling doaj-art-0791e7799c634428ab8aedf99157633e2025-08-20T02:50:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402024-12-011510.3389/fpsyt.2024.14872771487277Treatment access gap during the COVID-19 Pandemic: impact on problematic alcohol use and the moderating roles of perceived stress and resilienceRhianna R. Vergeer0Jeremy W. Luk1Bethany L. Stangl2Emma M. McCabe3Ugne Ziausyte4Melanie L. Schwandt5David Goldman6Vijay A. Ramchandani7Nancy Diazgranados8Human Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research (DICBR), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Bethesda, MD, United StatesOffice of the Clinical Director, DICBR, NIAAA, Bethesda, MD, United StatesHuman Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research (DICBR), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Bethesda, MD, United StatesHuman Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research (DICBR), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Bethesda, MD, United StatesOffice of the Clinical Director, DICBR, NIAAA, Bethesda, MD, United StatesOffice of the Clinical Director, DICBR, NIAAA, Bethesda, MD, United StatesOffice of the Clinical Director, DICBR, NIAAA, Bethesda, MD, United StatesHuman Psychopharmacology Laboratory, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research (DICBR), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Bethesda, MD, United StatesOffice of the Clinical Director, DICBR, NIAAA, Bethesda, MD, United StatesObjectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic may have interfered with individuals’ access to alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment, but limited research has documented the impact of treatment interference on drinking behavior. This study’s purpose was to examine the associations of AUD treatment interference with problematic alcohol use, and the moderating roles of perceived stress and resilience.MethodA cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were drawn from the baseline assessment of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Alcohol Study. Between June 2020 and March 2021, 288 participants (48.6% female, 51.4% male) responded to key measures of interest by phone and/or through an online survey. Study hypotheses were tested using multiple linear regression models adjusted for demographic characteristics (age, sex, race, ethnicity, years of education, household income, marital status), study enrollment phase, and history of AUD.ResultsSelf-reported AUD treatment interference was positively associated with problematic alcohol use as measured by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (b = 2.05, p < 0.001). Significant moderation effects indicated the association between AUD treatment interference and problematic alcohol use was stronger at a high level of perceived stress (b = 3.08, p < 0.001) and was attenuated at a high level of resilience (b = -0.13, p = 0.874).ConclusionsSelf-reported AUD treatment interference may indicate interruption to individuals’ support systems and highlight the need for continued access to treatment. Fostering positive coping strategies and resilience may help individuals mitigate risks of problematic drinking amidst a public health crisis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1487277/fullalcohol useresiliencestressCOVID-19accessbarriers
spellingShingle Rhianna R. Vergeer
Jeremy W. Luk
Bethany L. Stangl
Emma M. McCabe
Ugne Ziausyte
Melanie L. Schwandt
David Goldman
Vijay A. Ramchandani
Nancy Diazgranados
Treatment access gap during the COVID-19 Pandemic: impact on problematic alcohol use and the moderating roles of perceived stress and resilience
Frontiers in Psychiatry
alcohol use
resilience
stress
COVID-19
access
barriers
title Treatment access gap during the COVID-19 Pandemic: impact on problematic alcohol use and the moderating roles of perceived stress and resilience
title_full Treatment access gap during the COVID-19 Pandemic: impact on problematic alcohol use and the moderating roles of perceived stress and resilience
title_fullStr Treatment access gap during the COVID-19 Pandemic: impact on problematic alcohol use and the moderating roles of perceived stress and resilience
title_full_unstemmed Treatment access gap during the COVID-19 Pandemic: impact on problematic alcohol use and the moderating roles of perceived stress and resilience
title_short Treatment access gap during the COVID-19 Pandemic: impact on problematic alcohol use and the moderating roles of perceived stress and resilience
title_sort treatment access gap during the covid 19 pandemic impact on problematic alcohol use and the moderating roles of perceived stress and resilience
topic alcohol use
resilience
stress
COVID-19
access
barriers
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1487277/full
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