Abstract

Stress and Excessive Alcohol Consumption among Insured and Uninsured Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: survey result from the 2020 Northern Larimer County Health District

Sunghyun Chung, B.S¹, Han-Yun Tseng, M.A² (1)Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, (2)Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado

APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between self-reported stress, excessive drinking, including binge and heavy drinking, and health insurance status among a regionally representative sample of adults living in Northern Larimer County, Colorado. Data from the 2020 Larimer County Community Health Survey were used to conduct analyses representative of the adult population in Northern Larimer County aged 18 and older (mean age = 60.63 years, SD = 15.12). Logistic regressions were applied to examine the associations between stress and excessive drinking patterns while controlling for covariates. The associations were further stratified by health insurance status, including private, public, and lack of coverage. Results showed that 15.38% of our sample reported binge drinking and 15.58% reported heavy drinking. The proportions of individuals reporting binge drinking were different across age groups and stress levels. Likewise, the proportions of individuals reporting heavy drinking were different across racial and ethnic groups and stress levels. Individuals with higher levels of stress were more likely to report binge drinking (OR: 4.73 95% CI: 4.54-4.92 ) and heavy drinking (OR: 3.95 95% CI: 3.79-4.12). The effect of stress on binge drinking still held true after controlling for covariates (OR: 3.66 95% CI: 3.48-3.85). The interactions between stress level and health insurance status on drinking were significant. Specifically, adults without health insurance coverage were especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of stress on binge drinking (OR: 179.37; 95% CI: 145.04-221.84) and heavy drinking (OR: 64.72; 95% CI: 54.67-76.61). Our results highlighted a need for continuing state-wide and/ or national efforts (e.g., Health First Colorado, the Affordable Care Act) in closing the insurance coverage gap during a challenging time.