BACKGROUND
The declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic led to public health restrictions that impacted the lives of individuals across the globe. Parents may have been particularly burdened with balancing multiple responsibilities such as working from home while caring for and educating children. Alcohol usage among parents is an area that warrants further exploration.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate patterns of parental alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS
A scoping review informed by Arksey and O’Mally’s methodology explored patterns of parental alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. Searches were conducted using CINAHL, Ovid-Medline, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Search terms were created using the Joanna Briggs Institute framework of Population-Concept-Context (PCC) with the population being parents, the concept being alcohol consumption during the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
RESULTS
The database search yielded 3568 articles which were screened for eligibility. Forty studies met the inclusion criteria and were included for the scoping review. Findings indicated: 1) having children at home was a factor associated with parental patterns of alcohol usage, 2) gendered patterns of alcohol consumption, 3) linkages between parental patterns of alcohol use and mental health.
CONCLUSIONS
This scoping review revealed heterogeneous patterns in parental alcohol usage across sociocultural contexts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the known harms of alcohol usage, it is worthwhile for clinicians to assess parental drinking patterns and initiate conversations and counsel regarding moderation in alcohol usage.