The association between psychological distress and alcohol consumption and physical activity: a population-based cohort study

Silvia Eiken Alpers; Ståle Pallesen; Jørn Henrik Vold; Ellen Haug; Linn-Heidi Lunde; Jens Christoffer Skogen; Asgeir Mamen; Silje Mæland; Lars Thore Fadnes

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1181046

The association between psychological distress and alcohol consumption and physical activity: a population-based cohort study

Front Psychiatry. 2023 Jun 22:14:1181046. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1181046. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Silvia Eiken Alpers^{1

2}, Ståle Pallesen^{3

4}, Jørn Henrik Vold^{5

6

7}, Ellen Haug^{8

9}, Linn-Heidi Lunde^{1

2}, Jens Christoffer Skogen^{10

11

12}, Asgeir Mamen¹³, Silje Mæland⁶, Lars Thore Fadnes^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Addiction Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
² Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
³ Department of Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
⁴ Optentia Research Focus Area, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa.
⁵ Bergen Addiction Research, Department of Addiction Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
⁶ Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
⁷ Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
⁸ Department of Health Promotion and Development, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
⁹ Department of Teacher Education, NLA University College, Bergen, Norway.
¹⁰ Department of Health Promotion, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway.
¹¹ Alcohol and Drug Research Western Norway, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
¹² Centre for Evaluation of Public Health Measures, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
¹³ School of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, Oslo, Norway.

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic and infection control measures caused changes to daily life for most people. Heavy alcohol consumption and physical inactivity are two important behavioral risk factors for noncommunicable diseases worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic, with its social distancing measures, home office policies, isolation, and quarantine requirements may have an impact on these factors. This three-wave longitudinal study aims to investigate if psychological distress and worries related to health and economy were associated with levels and changes in alcohol consumption and physical activity during the two first years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway.

Methods: We used data collected in April 2020, January 2021, and January 2022 from an online longitudinal population-based survey. Alcohol consumption and physical activity status were assessed at all three measuring points via the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT-C) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF). COVID-19-related worries, home office/study, occupational situation, age, gender, children below 18 years living at home, and psychological distress (measured with the Symptom Checklist (SCL-10)) were included as independent variables in the model. A mixed model regression was used and presented with coefficients with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results: Analysis of data from 25,708 participants demonstrates that participants with substantial symptoms of psychological distress more often reported higher alcohol consumption (1.86 units/week, CI 1.48-2.24) and lower levels of physical activity [-1,043 Metabolic Equivalents of Task (METs) per week, CI -1,257;-828] at baseline. Working/studying from home (0.37 units/week, CI 0.24-0.50) and being male (1.57 units/week, CI 1.45-1.69) were associated with higher alcohol consumption. Working/studying from home (-536 METs/week, CI -609;-463), and being older than 70 years (-503 METs/week, CI -650;-355) were related to lower levels of physical activity. The differences in activity levels between those with the highest and lowest levels of psychological distress reduced over time (239 METs/week, CI 67;412), and similarly the differences in alcohol intake reduced over time among those having and not having children < 18 years (0.10 units/week, CI 0.01-0.19).

Conclusion: These findings highlight the substantial increases in risks related to inactivity and alcohol consumption among those with high levels of psychological distress symptoms, and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and increase the understanding of factors associated with worries and health behavior.

Keywords: alcohol consumption; pandemic (COVID-19); physical activity; psychological distress; risk factors; worries.