Symposia
Addictive Behaviors
Samuel F. Acuff, B.S., M.S.
The University of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Rachel Pace, BS
Student
University of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Hannah Cole, MS
Student
University of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Kyla Belisario, MA
Statistical Analyst
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Ashley Dennhardt, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
University of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Allison Wallace, MS
Project Director
University of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Meenu Minhas, PhD
Research Scientist
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Alba González-Roz, PhD
Assistant Professor
University of Oviedo
Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
Jillian Halladay, RN, MS
Student
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Jalie Tucker, PhD
Professor
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Michael Amlung, PhD
Associate Professor
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
James MacKillop, PhD
Professor
Peter Boris Centre for Addictions Research, McMaster University & St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
James Murphy, PhD
Professor
University of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Behavioral economics suggests that alcohol use partially results from constraints on alternative substance-free reinforcers. The COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying mitigation measures decreased access to natural rewards and created conditions of uncertainty and scarcity for many, and therefore may increase alcohol use. These mechanisms may also be transdiagnostic factors that contribute to increases in depression and anxiety. This study evaluated whether the pandemic was associated with a disruption in pre-COVID trends in drinking, and then examined behavioral economic variables as predictors of changes in alcohol use, depression, and anxiety. Between May 15th – June 29th of 2020, a COVID-focused survey was distributed to emerging adults enrolled in an ongoing longitudinal study (data collected every four months) examining trajectories of drinking. Analyses were based on participants with at least 4 pre-COVID assessments (n = 312; M age = 24.76 years; 66.2% female; 46.7% White; 41.4% Black. At each timepoint, participants reported past-month binge drinking days and completed depression and anxiety measures, and the COVID assessment included a measure of environmental reward. Latent growth curve models (LGCMs) were used to determine growth trajectories and included no growth, linear, quadratic, and piecewise models (i.e., one slope for the four timepoints leading up to the survey; one slope from the time point immediately preceding the COVID survey to the COVID-19 survey). Model fit indices suggest that the piecewise model provided the best fit for heavy drinking days, depression, and anxiety. The pre-COVID slopes demonstrated a negative trajectory that was interrupted by positive slopes for anxiety and depression, and a flat slope for heavy drinking, indicating that the pandemic was associated with disruption in downward trends pre-pandemic. Lower environmental reward at the COVID assessment was associated with steeper increases in heavy drinking (Est.= -.21, p=.002), anxiety (Est.= -.39, p< .001), and depression (Est.= -.43, p<.001) after the introduction of COVID mitigation measures. These results highlight the utility of alternative reinforcement as a transdiagnostic mechanism for heavy drinking, depression, and anxiety. Future emergency contingency plans should include interventions to maintain or increase natural rewards to offset the negative impact of such catastrophes.