Back to Search Start Over

Perceptions of and adherence to early COVID-19-related restrictions and associations with substance use among youth in Canada.

Authors :
Romano, Isabella
Patte, Karen A.
de Groh, Margaret
Ying Jiang
Leatherdale, Scott T.
Source :
Promotion de la Santé et Prévention des Maladies Chroniques au Canada; 11/1/2022, Vol. 42 Issue 11, p479-489, 11p
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

Introduction: As a largely social behaviour, substance use may have decreased for some youth overall in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, continued use may indicate nonadherence to pandemic-related restrictions and social distancing measures. In a sample of Canadian adolescents (aged 12-19 years), our objective was to examine how substance use (cannabis, binge drinking, cigarettes, vaping) is associated with perceptions of, and adherence to, early COVID-19-related public health measures, taking into consideration sociodemographic factors. Methods: Cross-sectional data were retrieved from online data collected during Year 8 of the COMPASS school-based study, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic (May-July 2020) in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. We fitted two models using generalized estimating equations to examine how substance use was associated with separate measures of (1) perceptions of, and (2) adherence to early COVID-19 restrictions. Results: In our sample, 10% of adolescents perceived COVID-19 restrictions as too weak and 14% perceived them as too strict. Nearly half (46%) reported taking restrictions very seriously, and 5% did not take them seriously at all. Binge drinking, cigarette use and vaping were associated with perceptions that restrictions were too strict and with nonadherence. However, adolescents who used cannabis were less likely to perceive COVID-19-related restrictions as too strict. Conclusion: This study highlights the association of adolescent substance use with perceptions of, and adherence to, COVID-19-related public health restrictions in Canada. Our findings emphasize a need for continual monitoring of substance use behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic to better characterize adolescent risk and further inform targeted public health strategies accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
23687398
Volume :
42
Issue :
11
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Promotion de la Santé et Prévention des Maladies Chroniques au Canada
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
167300661
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.24095/hpcdp.42.11/12.03