Katelyn F Romm1,2, Brooke Patterson3, Hannah Arem4, Olga Acosta Price1, Yan Wang1, Carla J Berg1,2. 1. Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, District of Columbia, USA. 2. George Washington Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA. 3. Department of Global Health, Design, Monitoring & Evaluation Program, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA. 4. Healthcare Delivery Research, Medstar Health Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Abstract
Significance: Findings regarding changes in substance use since COVID-19 have been mixed, potentially due to differences in methods used to assess change. Thus, we compared changes in substance use per retrospective self-report at one time-point (March-May 2020) versus prospective, longitudinal self-report across 2 time-points (Sept-Dec 2019; March-May 2020), and identified predictors of discordance. Methods: We analyzed data from a longitudinal study of 1,082 young adults from 6 metropolitan areas. Across cigarettes, e-cigarettes, marijuana, and alcohol, participants were categorized as Increasers (increased based on both methods), Decreasers/Stable (decreased/same per both methods), Over-reporters (decreased/same per longitudinal data/increased via retrospective report), or Under-reporters (increased per longitudinal data/decreased/same via retrospective report). We identified predictors (e.g., sociodemographics, pre-pandemic substance use levels) of Under-reporting. Results: In this sample (Mage=24.77; 45.7% male, 32.1% sexual minority, 4.0% Black, 12.4% Asian, 12.6% Hispanic), longitudinal data indicated that the proportions of cigarette, e-cigarette, marijuana, and alcohol users who increased their use were 43.3%, 41.7%, 52.6%, and 55.6%, respectively. Examining concordance/discordance groups, Under-reporters accounted for between 17.7% (alcohol) and 26.8% (e-cigarette) of users; over-reporters comprised among the smallest proportions of each group (17.4% for alcohol to 22.2% for marijuana). Multivariable regression indicated that predictors of Under-reporting were less pre-pandemic use across substances; being older for e-cigarettes; and being older, male, and Asian for alcohol. Conclusions: Findings highlight methodological variability as a potential reason for mixed findings regarding pandemic-related substance use change and underscore the need for rigorously designed research to accurately assess the population impact of COVID-19 and other historical events.
Significance: Findings regarding changes in substance use since COVID-19 have been mixed, potentially due to differences in methods used to assess change. Thus, we compared changes in substance use per retrospective self-report at one time-point (March-May 2020) versus prospective, longitudinal self-report across 2 time-points (Sept-Dec 2019; March-May 2020), and identified predictors of discordance. Methods: We analyzed data from a longitudinal study of 1,082 young adults from 6 metropolitan areas. Across cigarettes, e-cigarettes, marijuana, and alcohol, participants were categorized as Increasers (increased based on both methods), Decreasers/Stable (decreased/same per both methods), Over-reporters (decreased/same per longitudinal data/increased via retrospective report), or Under-reporters (increased per longitudinal data/decreased/same via retrospective report). We identified predictors (e.g., sociodemographics, pre-pandemic substance use levels) of Under-reporting. Results: In this sample (Mage=24.77; 45.7% male, 32.1% sexual minority, 4.0% Black, 12.4% Asian, 12.6% Hispanic), longitudinal data indicated that the proportions of cigarette, e-cigarette, marijuana, and alcohol users who increased their use were 43.3%, 41.7%, 52.6%, and 55.6%, respectively. Examining concordance/discordance groups, Under-reporters accounted for between 17.7% (alcohol) and 26.8% (e-cigarette) of users; over-reporters comprised among the smallest proportions of each group (17.4% for alcohol to 22.2% for marijuana). Multivariable regression indicated that predictors of Under-reporting were less pre-pandemic use across substances; being older for e-cigarettes; and being older, male, and Asian for alcohol. Conclusions: Findings highlight methodological variability as a potential reason for mixed findings regarding pandemic-related substance use change and underscore the need for rigorously designed research to accurately assess the population impact of COVID-19 and other historical events.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19; longitudinal change; retrospective report; substance use; young adults
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