Substance use and help seeking as coping behaviors among parents and unpaid caregivers of adults in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT: Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, caregiving responsibilities may have been associated with increased substance use.Objectives: To characterize substance use to cope with stress and willingness to seek help among (i) parents, (ii) unpaid caregivers of adults, and (iii) parent-caregivers.Methods: Data were analyzed for 10,444 non-probabilistic internet-based survey respondents of the COVID-19 Outbreak Public Evaluation (COPE) initiative (5227 females, 5217 males). Questions included new or increased substance use, substance use in the past 30 days to cope, insomnia, mental health, and willingness to seek help.Results: Nearly 20% of parents and unpaid caregivers of adults each reported new or increased use of substances to cope with stress or emotions; 65.

SUBMITTER: Varma P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11698632 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature