IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i5p4613-d1088379.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4613/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4613/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ermanno Vitale & Pietro Salvago & Andrea Filippo Campanella & Luigi Cirrincione, 2024. "A Protocol of Prevention and Protection Measures on New Occupational Risk Factors in Green Jobs in Italian Workplaces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-20, August.
    2. 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.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Fatma Lestari & Margaret Cook & Kelly Johnstone & Miranda Surya Wardhany & Robiana Modjo & Baiduri Widanarko & Devie Fitri Octaviani, 2022. "COVID-19 in the Workplace in Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-23, February.
    2. Jialei Jiang & Eun-Mi Park & Seong-Taek Park, 2021. "The Impact of the COVID-19 on Economic Sustainability—A Case Study of Fluctuation in Stock Prices for China and South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.
    3. Luigi Cirrincione & Fulvio Plescia & Ginevra Malta & Marcello Campagna & Luigi Isaia Lecca & Alenka Skerjanc & Elisa Carena & Vincenzo Baylon & Kelly Theodoridou & Santo Fruscione & Emanuele Cannizzar, 2023. "Evaluation of Correlation between Sleep and Psychiatric Disorders in a Population of Night Shift Workers: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-10, February.
    4. Shixian Luo & Jing Xie & Katsunori Furuya, 2021. "“We Need such a Space”: Residents’ Motives for Visiting Urban Green Spaces during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-18, June.
    5. Elena Calvo Gallardo & Juan Carlos Fernandez de Arroyabe & Nieves Arranz, 2020. "Preventing Internal COVID-19 Outbreaks within Businesses and Institutions: A Methodology Based on Social Networks Analysis for Supporting Occupational Health and Safety Services Decision Making," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-16, June.
    6. Han, Lili & Song, Sha & Pan, Qiuhui & He, Mingfeng, 2023. "The impact of multiple population-wide testing and social distancing on the transmission of an infectious disease," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 630(C).
    7. Yuna Ma & Jiafeng Gu & Ruixi Lv, 2022. "Job Satisfaction and Alcohol Consumption: Empirical Evidence from China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-15, January.
    8. Pachito, Daniela V. & Pega, Frank & Bakusic, Jelena & Boonen, Emma & Clays, Els & Descatha, Alexis & Delvaux, Ellen & Bacquer, Dirk De & Koskenvuo, Karoliina & Kröger, Hannes & Lambrechts, Marie-Clair, 2021. "The effect of exposure to long working hours on alcohol consumption, risky drinking and alcohol use disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis from the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 146.
    9. 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.
    10. Marco De Angelis & Davide Giusino & Karina Nielsen & Emmanuel Aboagye & Marit Christensen & Siw Tone Innstrand & Greta Mazzetti & Machteld van den Heuvel & Roy B.L. Sijbom & Vince Pelzer & Rita Chiesa, 2020. "H-WORK Project: Multilevel Interventions to Promote Mental Health in SMEs and Public Workplaces," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-23, October.
    11. Michał Buszko & Witold Orzeszko & Marcin Stawarz, 2021. "COVID-19 pandemic and stability of stock market—A sectoral approach," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(5), pages 1-26, May.
    12. Hande Barlin & Murat A. Mercan, 2020. "Occupation, Working Hours and Arthritis: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Sample of Older Age Adults," Advances in Management and Applied Economics, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 10(2), pages 1-8.
    13. Rodolfo Buselli & Sigrid Baldanzi & Martina Corsi & Martina Chiumiento & Elena Del Lupo & Claudia Carmassi & Liliana Dell’Osso & Alfonso Cristaudo, 2020. "Psychological Care of Health Workers during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Italy: Preliminary Report of an Occupational Health Department (AOUP) Responsible for Monitoring Hospital Staff Condition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-15, June.
    14. Marinella Coco & Claudia Savia Guerrera & Giuseppe Santisi & Febronia Riggio & Roberta Grasso & Donatella Di Corrado & Santo Di Nuovo & Tiziana Ramaci, 2021. "Psychosocial Impact and Role of Resilience on Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-9, June.
    15. Pavel Castka & Cory Searcy & Sönke Fischer, 2020. "Technology-enhanced Auditing in Voluntary Sustainability Standards: The Impact of COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-24, June.
    16. Young-Jae Kim & So-Young Lee & Jeong-Hyung Cho, 2020. "A Study on the Job Retention Intention of Nurses Based on Social Support in the COVID-19 Situation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-10, September.
    17. Jing Xie & Shixian Luo & Katsunori Furuya & Dajiang Sun, 2020. "Urban Parks as Green Buffers During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-17, August.
    18. Zazdravnykh, Evgeniy & Rodionova, Tatiana & Taraskina, Elena & Garipova, Farida, 2023. "The effects of occupational hazards and health-related behavior on workers’ health: A multivariate probit approach," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 71, pages 76-98.
    19. Paweł A. Atroszko & Zsolt Demetrovics & Mark D. Griffiths, 2020. "Work Addiction, Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, Burn-Out, and Global Burden of Disease: Implications from the ICD-11," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-13, January.
    20. Shira Bukchin-Peles & Tammie Ronen, 2021. "The Role of Adolescents’ Personal and Social Resources in Achieving Desired Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes during an Anxiety-Provoking Pandemic Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-17, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4613-:d:1088379. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.