Trajectories of alcohol use and problems during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of social stressors and drinking motives for men and women

INTRODUCTION: Increased alcohol use coinciding with onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among women, has been documented among U.S. adults. This study examines trajectories of alcohol use and alcohol problems over a 9-month period during the pandemic, the extent to which these trajectories are predicted by social stress and drinking motives, and whether results differ for women and men. METHODS: Data come from three online surveys of a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults ages 30–80 conducted in May-July 2020, October-November 2020, and March 2021. The analytic sample consists of N = 1118 who initially reported any past year alcohol use. The early-COVID survey assessed demographics, social stressors, and drinking motives. All three surveys assessed average drinks per day in past month and drinking-related problems. RESULTS: Alcohol use declined for men, but remained stable for women. Alcohol problems increased for both sexes, especially for men. Level of alcohol use was associated with loneliness and social demands for men, and drinking motives for both sexes, with changes in use related to loneliness and social demands for men. Level of alcohol problems was associated with loneliness for women and drinking motives for both sexes, with changes in problems related to drinking motives for women. Interactions of social stress with drinking motives were not found. CONCLUSIONS: Sex differences in alcohol use and alcohol problems during the pandemic—as well as their associations with indicators of social stress and drinking motives—highlight the importance of tailoring prevention and treatment efforts for men and women.