Drinking during a pandemic: How was stress, boredom and inhibitory control related to alcohol use behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Aims. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused increased distress worldwide (e.g., social isolation, loss of income, increased childcare responsibilities and monotony). Both stress and boredom are associated with alcohol craving and drinking, particularly among those with poor inhibitory control. Therefore, we aimed to assess whether stress, boredom and/or inhibitory control was related to alcohol use during the first ‘lockdown’. Methods. To address our preregistered hypotheses, we analysed data (N = 337) collected during the first wave of the pandemic (07 April to 03 May 2020). We first assessed changes in drinking behaviour (number of units, drinking days and heavy drinking days and alcohol-related problems), stress and boredom. We then examined the relationship between drinking behaviour, trait impulsivity and risk-taking, stress, and boredom. Finally, we investigated the interactions between change in stress/boredom and inhibitory control. Results. A significant minority of respondents reported increased alcohol use (units = 23.52%, drinking days = 20.73%, heavy days = 7.06%), alcohol-related problems (9.67%), and stress (36.63%). Meanwhile, most respondents reported increased boredom (67.42%). Surprisingly, several facets of inhibitory control (negative urgency, sensation seeking, lack of premeditation, and risk taking) were associated with decreased alcohol use. Furthermore, several boredom x inhibitory control interactions were statistically significant and suggested that for those who were more impulsive, a decrease in boredom was associated with an increase in alcohol use behaviour. Conclusions. These data provide a nuanced overview of how some of the theoretical mechanisms which underlie alcohol misuse may have operated during a COVID-19 induced period of social isolation.