Psychiatry Department, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2023 Nov-Dec;85:19-27. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2023.09.001. Epub 2023 Sep 9.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to escalations in substance use, including alcohol consumption. Of particular concern are the potential impacts during the postpartum period, a time of heightened vulnerability to stress and potential transmission of the negative sequelae of substance use to offspring. However, postpartum alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been well characterized.
Postpartum drinking habits and COVID-19-related stress were repeatedly assessed (every two weeks for 12 weeks, and at one-, six-, and 12-months postpartum) from N = 378 individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Average alcohol use trajectories as well as heterogeneity in trajectories were characterized. COVID-19-related trauma symptoms and coping were examined in relation to alcohol use over time.
Average postpartum alcohol use included an initial quadratic increase from one-to-four-months postpartum, followed by a plateau between four-to-12-months. Higher (15.08%), moderate (26.90%), and lower consumption (57.90%) subgroups were identified. Endorsement of COVID-19-related trauma symptoms and using alcohol to cope with stress predicted higher consumption.
Findings suggest a potential sensitive period in establishing postpartum alcohol use patterns from one-to-four-months postpartum. Findings further suggest that postpartum alcohol use is heterogenous and that individual response to major traumatic stressors, like the COVID-19 pandemic, may influence emerging patterns of postpartum alcohol use.
新冠疫情大流行导致物质使用（包括饮酒）增加。尤其令人关注的是，在产后期间可能产生的影响，此时是对压力高度敏感的时期，并且可能会将物质使用的负面后果传递给后代。然而，产后期间在新冠疫情大流行期间的饮酒情况尚未得到充分描述。
在新冠疫情期间，对 378 名个体从 N = 378 名个体中反复评估（每两周评估一次，共 12 周，以及产后 1、6 和 12 个月）产后饮酒习惯和与新冠相关的压力。描述了平均饮酒轨迹以及轨迹的异质性。研究了与时间相关的与新冠相关的创伤症状和应对与饮酒之间的关系。
平均产后饮酒包括从产后 1 至 4 个月的初始二次增加，随后在 4 至 12 个月之间达到平台期。确定了较高（15.08%）、中度（26.90%）和较低（57.90%）的亚组。新冠相关创伤症状的认可和使用酒精来应对压力与较高的饮酒量有关。
研究结果表明，从产后 1 至 4 个月期间可能是建立产后饮酒模式的一个敏感时期。研究结果进一步表明，产后饮酒是异质的，并且个体对重大创伤性应激源（如新冠疫情）的反应可能会影响产后饮酒的新出现模式。
