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The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency on Alcohol Use: A Focus on a Cohort of Sicilian Workers

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  • Emanuele Cannizzaro

    (Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties ‘Giuseppe D’Alessandro’, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Luigi Cirrincione

    (Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties ‘Giuseppe D’Alessandro’, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Ginevra Malta

    (Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties ‘Giuseppe D’Alessandro’, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

  • Santo Fruscione

    (Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties ‘Giuseppe D’Alessandro’, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

  • Nicola Mucci

    (Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Francesco Martines

    (Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), Section of Audiology, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

  • Fulvio Plescia

    (Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties ‘Giuseppe D’Alessandro’, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

Abstract

The period between the beginning and the end of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency generated a general state of stress, affecting both the mental state and physical well-being of the general population. Stress is the body’s reaction to events or stimuli perceived as potentially harmful or distressing. Particularly when prolonged over time, it can promote the consumption of different psychotropic substances such as alcohol, and thus the genesis of various pathologies. Therefore, our research aimed to evaluate the differences in alcohol consumption in a cohort of 640 video workers who carried out activities in smart working, subjects particularly exposed to stressful situations due to the stringent rules of protection and prevention implemented during the pandemic. Furthermore, based on the results obtained from the administration of the AUDIT-C, we wanted to analyse the different modes of alcohol consumption (low, moderate, high, severe) to understand whether there is a difference in the amount of alcohol consumed that could predispose individuals to health problems. To this end, we administered the AUDIT-C questionnaire in two periods (T 0 and T 1 ), coinciding with annual occupational health specialist visits. The results of the present research showed an increase in the number of subjects consuming alcohol ( p = 0.0005) and in their AUDIT-C scores ( p < 0.0001) over the period considered. A significant decrease in subgroups who drink in a low-risk ( p = 0.0049) mode and an increase in those with high ( p = 0.00012) and severe risk ( p = 0.0002) were also detected. In addition, comparing the male and female populations, it emerged that males have drinking patterns that lead to a higher ( p = 0.0067) health risk of experiencing alcohol-related diseases than female drinking patterns. Although this study provides further evidence of the negative impact of the stress generated by the pandemic emergency on alcohol consumption, the influence of many other factors cannot be ruled out. Further research is needed to better understand the relationship between the pandemic and alcohol consumption, including the underlying factors and mechanisms driving changes in drinking behaviour, as well as potential interventions and support strategies to address alcohol-related harm during and after the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Emanuele Cannizzaro & Luigi Cirrincione & Ginevra Malta & Santo Fruscione & Nicola Mucci & Francesco Martines & Fulvio Plescia, 2023. "The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency on Alcohol Use: A Focus on a Cohort of Sicilian Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4613-:d:1088379
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fulvio Plescia & Luigi Cirrincione & Daniela Martorana & Caterina Ledda & Venerando Rapisarda & Valentina Castelli & Francesco Martines & Denis Vinnikov & Emanuele Cannizzaro, 2021. "Alcohol Abuse and Insomnia Disorder: Focus on a Group of Night and Day Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Luigi Cirrincione & Fulvio Plescia & Caterina Ledda & Venerando Rapisarda & Daniela Martorana & Raluca Emilia Moldovan & Kelly Theodoridou & Emanuele Cannizzaro, 2020. "COVID-19 Pandemic: Prevention and Protection Measures to Be Adopted at the Workplace," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Virtanen, Marianna & Jokela, Markus & Nyberg, Solja T & Madsen, Ida E H & Lallukka, Tea & Ahola, Kirsi & Alfredsson, Lars & Batty, G David & Bjorner, Jakob B & Borritz, Marianne & Burr, Hermann & Casi, 2015. "Long Working Hours and Alcohol Use: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Published Studies and Unpublished Individual Participant Data," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 350, pages 1-14.
    4. Emanuele Cannizzaro & Gianluca Lavanco & Valentina Castelli & Luigi Cirrincione & Danila Di Majo & Francesco Martines & Antonina Argo & Fulvio Plescia, 2022. "Alcohol and Nicotine Use among Adolescents: An Observational Study in a Sicilian Cohort of High School Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-14, May.
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    1. Ginevra Malta & Fulvio Plescia & Stefania Zerbo & Maria Gabriella Verso & Serena Matera & Alenka Skerjanc & Emanuele Cannizzaro, 2024. "Work and Environmental Factors on Job Burnout: A Cross-Sectional Study for Sustainable Work," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-12, April.

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