The following is a summary of “Associations of history of alcohol use disorder with loneliness, social support, and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic,” published in the May 2024 issue of Psychiatry by Luk et al.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic condition characterized by problematic alcohol consumption that leads to significant distress or impairment.

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to understand how AUD and treatment history influenced loneliness, social support, and mental health symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

They used 427 participants from the NIAAA COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Alcohol Study. The participants were categorized into three groups: healthy controls, AUD without treatment, and AUD with treatment. Moreover, Statistical models were used to analyze changes in loneliness, social support, and mental health symptoms among these groups.

The results showed that loneliness increased during the pandemic, particularly among those with AUD who were not receiving treatment. Social support decreased in both the healthy control group and the group with AUD who were receiving treatment. Anxiety and depressive symptoms increased specifically in the group without AUD treatment. Individuals with a history of AUD, regardless of treatment, reported greater loneliness, which was linked to higher anxiety and depressive symptoms. 

Investigators concluded that loneliness mediates the relationship between AUD and mental health symptoms. Interventions aimed at improving social engagement among individuals with AUD could help reduce loneliness and alleviate mental health issues, also providing better public health preparedness for future crises. 

Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165178124001112