A qualitative exploration of triggers for alcohol use and access to support during the COVID‐19 pandemic among people identifying as problem drinkers in the United Kingdom.
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| Title: | A qualitative exploration of triggers for alcohol use and access to support during the COVID‐19 pandemic among people identifying as problem drinkers in the United Kingdom. |
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| Authors: | Yaqubi, Hadia (AUTHOR), May, Tom (AUTHOR), Burton, Alexandra (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Drug & Alcohol Review. Mar2025, Vol. 44 Issue 3, p858-870. 13p. |
| Subjects: | Alcohol drinking, COVID-19 pandemic, Medical care, Thematic analysis, Helplines, People with alcoholism, Qualitative research |
| Geographic Terms: | United Kingdom |
| Abstract: | Introduction: A polarisation of drinking behaviour was observed during the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic, with some people reported to be drinking more alcohol and others less. We aimed to understand how and why the COVID‐19 pandemic and associated restrictions impacted alcohol use and access to support and services during this time. Methods: We conducted semi‐structured qualitative interviews with 27 participants, including 20 people identifying as problem drinkers and seven alcohol service providers. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: We identified two main triggers for alcohol use during the pandemic: (i) loss of daily routine and activity resulted in drinking to cope with social isolation and boredom; and (ii) drinking alleviated feelings of fear, anxiety and anger over the imposition of pandemic restrictions. Regarding access to services, two main themes were generated: (i) remote service provision was perceived as inferior to in‐person services; and (ii) the need to offer choice and flexibility in how services were provided, with service providers reporting more positive experiences of online and telephone service delivery than service users. Discussion and Conclusions: This study provides new insights into potential triggers for alcohol use among people identifying as problem drinkers during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The acceptability of remote forms of service provision were dependent on service user access to, and comfort with using technology. Hybrid delivery models may therefore be suitable in some but not all circumstances, and efforts should be made to promote equitable access to services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Drug & Alcohol Review is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Header | DbId: pbh DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection An: 183913646 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: A qualitative exploration of triggers for alcohol use and access to support during the COVID‐19 pandemic among people identifying as problem drinkers in the United Kingdom. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yaqubi%2C+Hadia%22">Yaqubi, Hadia</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22May%2C+Tom%22">May, Tom</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Burton%2C+Alexandra%22">Burton, Alexandra</searchLink> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Drug+%26+Alcohol+Review%22">Drug & Alcohol Review</searchLink>. Mar2025, Vol. 44 Issue 3, p858-870. 13p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Alcohol+drinking%22">Alcohol drinking</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19+pandemic%22">COVID-19 pandemic</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+care%22">Medical care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Helplines%22">Helplines</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22People+with+alcoholism%22">People with alcoholism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom%22">United Kingdom</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Introduction: A polarisation of drinking behaviour was observed during the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic, with some people reported to be drinking more alcohol and others less. We aimed to understand how and why the COVID‐19 pandemic and associated restrictions impacted alcohol use and access to support and services during this time. Methods: We conducted semi‐structured qualitative interviews with 27 participants, including 20 people identifying as problem drinkers and seven alcohol service providers. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: We identified two main triggers for alcohol use during the pandemic: (i) loss of daily routine and activity resulted in drinking to cope with social isolation and boredom; and (ii) drinking alleviated feelings of fear, anxiety and anger over the imposition of pandemic restrictions. Regarding access to services, two main themes were generated: (i) remote service provision was perceived as inferior to in‐person services; and (ii) the need to offer choice and flexibility in how services were provided, with service providers reporting more positive experiences of online and telephone service delivery than service users. Discussion and Conclusions: This study provides new insights into potential triggers for alcohol use among people identifying as problem drinkers during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The acceptability of remote forms of service provision were dependent on service user access to, and comfort with using technology. Hybrid delivery models may therefore be suitable in some but not all circumstances, and efforts should be made to promote equitable access to services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Drug & Alcohol Review is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1111/dar.14013 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 13 StartPage: 858 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Alcohol drinking Type: general – SubjectFull: COVID-19 pandemic Type: general – SubjectFull: Medical care Type: general – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis Type: general – SubjectFull: Helplines Type: general – SubjectFull: People with alcoholism Type: general – SubjectFull: Qualitative research Type: general – SubjectFull: United Kingdom Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: A qualitative exploration of triggers for alcohol use and access to support during the COVID‐19 pandemic among people identifying as problem drinkers in the United Kingdom. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Yaqubi, Hadia – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: May, Tom – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Burton, Alexandra IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 03 Text: Mar2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 09595236 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 44 – Type: issue Value: 3 Titles: – TitleFull: Drug & Alcohol Review Type: main |
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