Differences in hazardous drinking and drinking to cope by sexual identity among women during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACTBackgroundNo studies have investigated alcohol consumption patterns in a mixed sample of students and employees among Japanese young adults. This study estimated the prevalence of problematic drinking in a sample that includes 18‐ and 19‐year‐old individuals and aimed to identify factors related to problematic drinking, which may ultimately contribute to its prevention.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study conducted in 2019 included 5500 randomly selected adults (18–24 years) from 11 cities. Data on geographical and socioeconomic characteristics, alcohol consumption, and drinking patterns were collected. The prevalence of heavy episodic drinking (HED; consuming ≥ 60 g pure alcohol on a single occasion) and hazardous drinking (HD; daily ethanol intake ≥ 40 g for men and ≥ 20 g for women) was calculated. Binomial logistic regression analysis identified variables associated with HED + HD − group, HD + group, and HED + HD + group as dependent variables.ResultsAmong 1743 participants who were analyzed (response rate: 32.3%), the prevalence of HED and HD was 27.2% and 17.9%, respectively. Being a student (OR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.43–3.37) and male sex (OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.60–3.19) were associated with HED + HD − group, while living with parents (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.43–0.94) was negatively associated with HD. Underage drinking, all‐you‐can‐drink use, smoking, and alcohol mixed with energy drinks were positively associated with all dependent variables.ConclusionsThis study provided data on HED and HD prevalence and associated variables. These findings could help prioritize populations for targeted intervention programs.

Chronic pain (CP) and hazardous/harmful drinking (HD) commonly co-occur. HD contributes to the onset and severity of CP, while CP severity predicts alcohol use disorder relapse. Integrated treatments for CP and HD are needed in rural areas, where CP and alcohol-related consequences occur at higher rates and treatment accessibility is lower. This study assessed the acceptability and feasibility of an app-based cognitive-behavioral intervention for CP and HD. Participants (n = 32) were rural residents reporting CP and HD (mean age = 49.81, SD = 8.79). Participants were randomized to intervention or assessment-only control. Self-report questionnaires at baseline and 12-week follow-up assessed program acceptability, pain, alcohol involvement, and functioning. Timely recruitment and low attrition (3.2%) supported procedure feasibility, while app engagement suggested intervention feasibility and acceptability. Descriptive statistics suggest reductions in pain (37% reduction in median pain in intervention group vs. 10% in control group). Changes in alcohol-related behavior were not consistent across outcomes and warrant further study (e.g., no change in median heavy drinking episodes in intervention, with 77% reduction in control; 60% reduction in alcohol consequences in intervention vs. 27% in control). This mobile intervention is feasible and acceptable for rural residents and may help address CP and functioning among those who engage in HD.

Understanding hazardous drinking: The role of anxiety sensitivity and mediating drinking motives.

Genetic evidence that FGF21 signaling reduces problematic alcohol use and alcohol-related liver disease.

Despite the prevalence of chronic pain among patients presenting to primary care, access to evidence-based psychological intervention remains limited. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions offer scalable alternatives, but little is known about how specific engagement behaviors relate to clinical outcomes. This secondary analysis explored the value of distinct engagement components as predictors of pain outcomesacross two pilot trials of an eight-week mHealth program for adults (N = 39) with co-occurring chronic pain and hazardous drinking. Engagement indices included skills library access, skill reviews, homework surveys completed, videos opened and completed, and frequency of instant messaging coaching sessions. Pain outcomes were assessed with the Pain, Enjoyment of Life, and General Activity (PEG) scale at baseline and 12-16weeks post-baseline. Analyses included partial correlations controlling for trial and descriptive analyses from median split cross-tabulations to examine associations between engagement and achievement of clinical improvement in pain. Higher engagement with skills reviews, completion of homework surveys, and number of videos completed emerged as indices most highly associated with a greater likelihood of achieving ≥ 30% pain reduction. Frequency of coaching sessions, however, did not appear to be linked with outcomes. Findings suggest that certain engagement behaviors--particularly videos completed--may be predictive of clinical benefit, underscoring the potential importance of depth and quality of engagement. These results highlight specific engagement indices that may be important to track and potentially enhance to improve clinical outcomes for mHealth interventions for chronic pain.

Solitary drinking is a pattern of hazardous alcohol consumption that is problematic at any age but is more prevalent in older adults, yet most research focuses on younger samples. Research on solitary drinking and cognition is critical as older adults are more vulnerable to cognitive decline, and cognitive decline is increased by hazardous drinking. Using data from a larger project, the present study explored relationships between cognitive function and solitary drinking among 342 individuals 60 + years old (55.56% Female, 89.47% White). Solitary drinking, objective cognition via the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (Rey), and subjective cognition via the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function (FactCog) questionnaire were assessed at baseline. The FactCog was also completed at a 4-month assessment. More frequent solitary drinking was correlated with poorer Rey scores and worse scores on the FactCog subscales Perceived Cognitive Abilities (PCA) and Perceived Cognitive Impairment (PCI; ps < 0.05) among older adults who drank alcohol. Older adults who drank alcohol only in social situations had significantly higher baseline Rey learning scores compared to those who did not drink (p = 0.04) and higher delayed Recall scores compared to those who drink while alone (p = 0.03). They also had significantly higher baseline PCI scores compared to the combined pool of solitary and non-drinking individuals (p = 0.046). Finally, PCI averaged across baseline and 4 months was better among the social-only versus solitary drinking group (p = 0.03). Our results expand knowledge of solitary drinking in older adulthood by connecting it to poorer objective and subjective cognitive function.

IntroductionMental health problems, hazardous drinking, and unhealthy behaviors are global concerns among medical residents, particularly in resource-limited regions such as Latin America. Long hours, heavy workloads, and stigma increase the risk of depression, anxiety, and substance misuse. This study assessed the prevalence of mental health symptoms, alcohol use, and health behaviors among residents in Ecuador.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 307 residents at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, after inviting all 1,122 enrolled residents to participate. Validated instruments assessed depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), hazardous drinking (AUDIT), and health behaviors (Health Behavior Inventory, HBI), alongside sociodemographic and training factors. Prevalence rates were estimated, and associations were analyzed using correlations and mixed-effects logistic regression.ResultsThe prevalence of depression, anxiety, and hazardous drinking was 38.8, 33.9, and 12.1%, respectively. Depression and anxiety were strongly correlated and inversely associated with health-promoting behaviors. Higher HBI scores significantly reduced the odds of depression (OR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.24–0.47, p < 0.001) and anxiety (OR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.39–0.69, p < 0.001). Hazardous drinking was independently associated with surgical programs and tobacco use.ConclusionEcuadorian residents face substantial burdens of depression, anxiety, and hazardous drinking. Health-promoting behaviors were associated with better mental health, underscoring the importance of targeted interventions, workload reforms, and stigma reduction. From a public health perspective, supporting residents’ well-being is critical not only for individual outcomes but also for patient safety and the sustainability of healthcare systems.

Hazardous drinking and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are both highly prevalent and frequently comorbid conditions that result in more severe outcomes than either individual condition. It is therefore a priority to identify malleable treatment mechanisms that may underlie the hazardous drinking-PTSD comorbidity to inform evidence-based intervention efforts. Distress tolerance (DT), or the perceived ability to withstand negative affect states, is theoretically relevant to both hazardous drinking and PTSD symptoms. DT is relatively stable, but recent work indicates that it also maintains statelike qualities. Past work has not examined state DT as it relates to PTSD symptoms and comorbid hazardous drinking. The present study employed a national sample of adults with PTSD symptoms who endorsed hazardous alcohol use (N = 85; 71.8% female). Multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) was used to investigate the following aims using ecological momentary assessment over a 21-day period: examine whether lower state DT mediates the association between PTSD symptoms at baseline and latent variables of (a) alcohol use motivation (i.e., coping motives, craving, intention to drink) and (b) hazardous drinking behavior (i.e., consumption, drink recency, negative consequences). A statistically significant indirect effect was observed such that higher baseline PTSD severity was associated with greater alcohol use motivation via lower state DT; however, this indirect effect was not significant for the model examining hazardous drinking behavior. Results underscore the importance of assessing state DT in clinical interventions that support individuals managing PTSD symptoms and the craving, intention, and motivation to drink due to these symptoms as they navigate momentary challenges to engage with or avoid distress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

An integrated personalized feedback intervention for community adults with hazardous alcohol use, elevated anxiety sensitivity, and subclinical PTSD symptoms.

Empathy-the ability to understand and share the feelings of others-has been identified as a potential correlate of binge drinking behaviors in adolescence. Our preregistered study aimed to investigate the relationship between cognitive and affective empathy and alcohol consumption in late adolescence. Building on prior research, we predicted a dissociation of cognitive and affective empathy related to alcohol consumption. Specifically, we hypothesized that whereas a negative association between affective empathy and alcohol consumption would emerge, no significant association would be observed for cognitive empathy. To test these hypotheses, we surveyed a convenience sample of U.S. college students (N = 116; ages 18-23; 73.28% women). The online survey comprised questions assessing drinking behavior (categorized as non-binge drinking, binge drinking, and extreme binge drinking), engagement in hazardous drinking behavior (continuous measure), and self-reported empathic traits. We found that binge drinking categories and hazardous drinking scores were closely aligned, suggesting that the two measures capture similar aspects of drinking behavior. Men reported more problematic drinking patterns than women, while women scored higher on affective empathy. Age was positively related to hazardous drinking, with participants at the upper end of the age range reporting riskier alcohol use. Contrary to our preregistered hypotheses, we found no significant relationship between affective empathy and engagement in binge drinking or hazardous drinking among late adolescents. Cognitive empathy, as predicted, was not related to the extremity of alcohol consumption. Additionally, we observed a striking pattern in our data: 20.69% of our sample indicated extreme binge drinking (EBD), which is higher than the 12% reported by a U.S. national survey conducted in 2020. While the relationship between drinking behavior and empathy may be more nuanced than expected, the observed disparity in EBD behavior emphasizes the importance of addressing its prevalence within U.S. college communities and implementing proactive measures to promote responsible alcohol consumption during late adolescence.

BackgroundPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and hazardous drinking remain significant problems in military‐connected populations. Prior research suggests that specific PTSD symptom clusters may relate differently to hazardous drinking behaviors, but longitudinal data are limited, especially among reservists.MethodsUsing a subset of data (N = 485 US Army Reserve/National Guard soldiers) from the Operation: SAFETY study, we examined the longitudinal associations between PTSD symptom clusters (re‐experiencing, avoidance, negative cognitions and mood, hyperarousal) and domains of hazardous drinking (consumption, dependence, alcohol‐related problems) measured by the AUDIT. We used generalized estimating equation models adjusting for anxiety and depression, and interactions with biological sex were tested.ResultsControlling for the effects of time and anxiety and depression symptomatology, re‐experiencing symptoms were not associated with any domains of hazardous drinking (ps >0.05). Greater avoidance symptoms (p < 0.001) and negative cognitions and mood (p < 0.05) were both associated with greater alcohol‐related problems over time. Greater symptoms of hyperarousal were associated with greater consumption (p < 0.05) and alcohol‐related problems (p < 0.01). No symptom clusters were associated with dependence (ps >0.05). There was a significant interaction between symptoms of hyperarousal and sex on alcohol‐related problems (p < 0.01), such that greater symptoms of hyperarousal were associated with greater alcohol‐related problems over time among male soldiers, but not female soldiers.ConclusionsFindings suggest that specific PTSD symptom clusters, rather than overall severity, may influence hazardous drinking. These effects primarily manifest in consumption behaviors and alcohol‐related problems, with greater risk observed among male soldiers experiencing hyperarousal features of PTSD.

PurposeFew studies have examined how psychosocial risk and protective factors in adolescence shape mental health outcomes and other multimorbid conditions in adulthood, particularly among Canadian youth. The Research on Eating and Adolescent Lifestyle (REAL) 2.0 study was a 15-year follow-up cohort study designed to investigate how early etiological factors, including body image and disordered eating symptoms in adolescence, contribute to the development of eating, weight-related concerns, mental health and substance use health problems in early adulthood. In this paper, we describe the REAL 2.0 cohort’s demographic and clinical characteristics alongside an overview of the study procedures, laying the groundwork for collaboration on future learnings with this unique data.ParticipantsThe cross-sectional REAL study initially surveyed middle and high school students from 2004 to 2010 (n=3043) across 43 schools in the Ottawa, Canada region. Of those, respondents in grade 7 or 9 (n=1197 from 25 of the 43 original schools) were asked to participate in a longitudinal arm of the study that consisted of yearly follow-ups. From the longitudinal cohort, there were 278 participants (29.1% male; Mage=28.6) from those who consented to be re-contacted (n=912), who completed the REAL 2.0 survey electronically (30.4%), providing comprehensive data on demographic, clinical, eating and weight-related behaviour, psychological, social, environmental and substance use health factors in adulthood.Findings to date9.4% of REAL 2.0 participants met DSM-5 criteria for an eating disorder, while 17.6% met criteria for disordered eating. Moderate to severe anxiety was reported by 28% of participants, while 21.6% experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Regarding substance use, 16.9% engaged in hazardous drinking, 16.9% used cannabis daily or almost daily, and 4.3% reported daily tobacco use.Future plansREAL 2.0 has the potential to answer multiple research questions about several mental health outcomes, but its priority focus is to answer questions related to risk and protective factors of multimorbidity in adulthood. Additionally, profiling work, linked to health service utilisation data for systems planning work and predictive modelling studies are secondary goals. By leveraging the Health Data Nexus (HDN) platform, we welcome collaboration with interested researchers who would like to utilise the breadth of data both in adolescence and adulthood to answer other pertinent aetiological questions in mental health and substance use health outcomes. Future plans to conduct additional follow-ups remain feasible.

Affective predictors of day-level impaired control over alcohol use.

Objective Investigate the demographic, psychosocial, and Reasoned Action Approach (RAA) factors influencing sexual minority undergraduate college students’ intentions to seek alcohol-related help. Participants A non-probability sample of sexual minority college students throughout the U.S. (N = 253). Methods Participants completed an online cross-sectional survey of psychosocial and RAA scales. A hierarchical linear regression tested associations with intentions to seek alcohol related-help. Results Racial/ethnic minority students reported lower intentions to seek help than Non-Hispanic White students. Greater childhood adversity was associated with higher help-seeking intentions, whereas more hazardous drinking was associated with lower intentions. Regarding the RAA, more favorable attitudes, stronger norms, and greater autonomy were associated with higher intentions. Conclusions There is a need for alcohol screening and brief interventions that integrate racial and sexual minority cultural competency. Universities should implement behavioral health screenings to identify hazardous drinking and incorporate RAA constructs into social marketing campaigns to promote alcohol and other behavioral health help seeking.

Chronic skin diseases such as psoriasis (PSO), atopic dermatitis (AD) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) are frequently associated with psychological distress, potentially promoting maladaptive coping mechanisms including addictive behaviours. Despite evidence of higher addiction rates among dermatology patients, comprehensive multicenter data across Europe are lacking. To estimate the prevalence and patterns of addictive behaviours among patients with chronic skin diseases in European tertiary dermatology centres and explore associated sociodemographic and clinical factors. This multicentre cross-sectional study recruited adult patients with PSO, AD, HS, alopecia areata (AA), urticaria, or vitiligo from dermatology departments in 20 European countries. Participants completed a standardized questionnaire assessing sociodemographics, disease characteristics, and addictive behaviours (smoking, alcohol use, drug use, gambling, internet addiction, and eating disorders). Descriptive analyses and multivariate logistic regression were performed. Among 3585 participants (median age 43 years; 51.1% female), the prevalence of addictive behaviours was notable: smoking (25.7%), pathological gambling (4.5%), hazardous drinking (8.8%), alcohol dependence (2.5%), drug use disorders (5.3%), eating disorders (1.8%), and internet addiction (29.7%). Smoking was most common among PSO and HS patients (48.6%), and gambling among AA and vitiligo patients (8.2%). Significant associations included male sex, younger age, single status, higher Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores, and regional variation. Addictive behaviours are prevalent in dermatology patients and are associated with both sociodemographic and disease-related factors. The DLQI was positively correlated with multiple addictions, suggesting that reduced quality of life may contribute to maladaptive coping. However, due to the absence of a control group, the tertiary care setting, limited center distribution, and unknown response rate, generalizability is restricted. Addiction screening and supportive mental health strategies should be integrated into dermatologic care, particularly for high-risk patients. Population-based studies with control groups are needed to confirm these findings.

Skin picking disorder is characterized by repetitive excoriation of one's skin. Although skin picking disorder is associated with substance use problems, no previous research has examined the associations of alcohol use on skin picking symptomatology. Adults with skin picking disorder (n=182) were recruited from the general community via an online survey. Participants completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) to measure alcohol use and various self-report measures to assess clinical profiles and associated characteristics. We compared variables of interest between those with hazardous alcohol use in the past year (AUDIT ≥8) compared to those with low-risk or no alcohol use in the past year. We also examined the extent to which skin picking disorder symptoms were dimensionally related to AUDIT scores while controlling for confounders. Of the 182 adults with skin picking disorder, 62 (34.1%) met criteria for hazardous alcohol use. Hazardous drinking was associated with less frequent skin picking but higher overall picking-related severity and impairment, aggression, and rates of comorbid borderline personality disorder, gambling disorder, and compulsive sexual behavior disorder. Skin picking-related impairment predicted the degree of hazardous drinking while controlling for sex. This study highlights the importance of screening for hazardous alcohol use in people with skin picking disorder. More research is needed to explore the relationship between aggression, hazardous alcohol use, and skin picking, as well as how treatments might best be adapted to treat individuals with this cluster of symptoms.

ABSTRACT Background: Prescription opioid misuse (i.e. use without a prescription or in ways other than prescribed) is a significant health concern among individuals with chronic pain. Hazardous alcohol use (i.e. drinking that increases risk of negative consequences) is common among individuals with pain, including among those who are prescribed opioids. Everyday discrimination, which is characterized by interpersonal experiences of identity-based harassment, has been independently linked to both depressive symptoms and prescription opioid misuse. Although promising as a potentially modifiable intervention target, the mediating role of depressive symptoms in associations between everyday discrimination and prescription opioid misuse remain largely unexplored. Further, it is important to identify factors associated with prescription opioid misuse among individuals with chronic pain who engage in hazardous alcohol use, as both are positively associated with prescription opioid misuse. Objectives: To examine indirect associations between everyday discrimination and prescription opioid misuse via depressive symptoms among adults with chronic pain who engage in hazardous drinking. Methods: Participants included 150 adults with pain (35.7% Black/African American; 59.7% female; M age = 44.27) who were prescribed opioids and drank hazardously. Results: A process model revealed that depressive symptoms acted as mediator of associationsbetween everyday discrimination and prescription opioid misuse (b = 0.26, bootstrapped 95% CI [0.15, 0.39]). Specifically, everyday discrimination was associated with greater depressive symptoms, which in turn was associated with greater prescription opioid misuse. Conclusion: These findings suggest that providers should screen for depressive symptoms in the context of prescription opioid misuse, particularly among individuals who experience discrimination.

BackgroundThis study is a randomized controlled trial evaluating an adaptation of the Future Possible Selves Task (FPST). This adaptation focuses on possible hope for and feared future selves related to drinking alcohol. The study will evaluate whether the FPST can reduce the typical increase in self-concept related to drinking (i.e., drinking identity) and accompanying escalation in alcohol misuse that commonly occurs during the transition out of high school in the United States. Its use of a factorial design will also provide a test of the most optimal FPST condition(s) to do so.MethodThe study will recruit 528 soon-to-graduate or recently-graduated high school students from the states of Texas and Washington. Recruitment will occur in two waves (once per year) at each site. Participants need to report drinking alcohol within the last year and interest in either decreasing or not increasing their drinking. The study has a 2 (write about future hoped-for self vs. not) × 2 (write about a future feared self vs. not) × 2 (dose: write once vs. write once per week for 3 weeks) design for the FPST. Procedures will occur online. Participants’ drinking identities, drinking behaviors, and other cognitive/affective/motivational factors related to drinking will be evaluated. Participants will be followed up to 12 months post-FPST.DiscussionAnalyses will evaluate the efficacy of the adapted FPST to prevent the typical escalation of drinking identity and alcohol misuse that commonly accompany the transition out of high school. It is expected that the FPST condition, which includes three doses of writing about a possible hoped-for and feared self, will be most effective in preventing escalation. If successful, the FPST has the potential to be a novel, scalable strategy for the prevention and intervention of alcohol misuse.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov registration # NCT06191861, registration date: December 8, 2023.

Brief report: Are changes in cannabis use frequency associated with changes in alcohol use and smoking among people with HIV (PWH) - A substitution question.