Intimate Violence: Alcohol and Drug Use, and Mental Health during COVID-19 among Young Mexican Adults

Authors

1.Dr. Silvia Morales-Chainé (⚑ Mexico) 1

1. Psychology Faculty, UNAM

Abstract

Although the COVID-19 pandemic triggered an increase in intimate violence, drug use, and mental health problems in low- and middle-income countries, the incidence and relationship directionality between these conditions during the pandemic in Mexico is as yet unclear. This study describes the tendency and relationship directionality between intimate violence, harmful use of alcohol and other drugs (AOD), and mental health symptoms among young adults during COVID-19 in Mexico.

Method

Longitudinal cohort of group evolution with 5102 Mexicans aged 18, 21, and 24 (with 49% of the evolution sample accomplishments).

Results

Women, men, and 18- and 22-year-old youths who had suffered intimate violence reported harmful alcohol use, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and perpetrating violence. They also revealed the harmful use of tobacco, cannabis, and sedative consumption due to risky alcohol use. The oldest young adults also reported depressive symptoms due to intimate violence. The 19- to-21, and 25-year-old youths reported perpetrating violence as a result of intimate violence victimization. During the last two years of the pandemic, the youngest cohorts engaging in harmful alcohol use also reported risky sedative use.

Conclusions

Findings reflect an increase in intimate violence, harmful AOD use, and mental health problems among young adults in Mexico during the pandemic. We suggest that politicians consider designing cost-effective, preventive interventions to address intimate violence as a strategy for reducing harmful alcohol use and improving mental health conditions.