Abstract
The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic has dramatically changed our daily lives and activities, including those originally intended to serve for leisure and pleasure. Drinking and online gaming became coping behaviors used to rescue ourselves from the stress and restricted lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, frequent drinking and gaming can result in the pathological consequences of addiction. Those affected use the stimuli not to obtain pleasure, but rather to avoid the displeasure induced by stress and previous use, often unsuccessfully. This review aims to provide an overview of recent longitudinal cohort studies on alcohol and gaming use during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to analyze how the pandemic has affected alcohol and gaming use. There was a substantial risk of alcohol and online gaming overuse during the lockdown, which may depend on the pandemic's duration or overuse patterns. Previous studies have shown that increased alcohol consumption and online gaming are associated with heightened stress and anxiety levels caused by social isolation/quarantine. Over time, frequent or excessive alcohol consumption and gaming could lead to an increased risk of more serious mental health problems. Every effort should be made to mitigate mental health problems and ensure adequate adaptation to these exceptional circumstances. Therefore, it would be helpful to encourage physical activity, social interaction, and collaboration to facilitate psychological and physical health.
Highlights
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused unprecedented disruptions in the 21st century
This study identified that duration of Internet use, psychopathologies, and decreased sleep quality were predictable factors of Internet addiction during self-quarantine, especially in individuals with confirmed/suspected COVID-19 cases within households [58]
Preliminary studies indicated that increased alcohol consumption as a coping strategy could be associated with social isolation, boredom, and lack of a routine
Summary
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused unprecedented disruptions in the 21st century. Since this pandemic outbreak in 2019, our lives have radically changed, with serious consequences in terms of health, economy, and psychosocial perspectives. Isolated and quarantined people frequently turn to Alcohol and Gaming Use During COVID-19 substances (e.g., alcohol consumption) or rewarded behaviors (e.g., online gaming) to cope with their negative feelings [5, 6]. The use of rewarded behaviors/actions (e.g., online gaming) as putative coping strategies can increase considerably in crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, and can develop into habits that are difficult to break [12]
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