COVID-19 and Latinx Alcohol Use: The Role of Health Insurance

Latinx people have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 evidenced by high rates of exposure, hospitalization, and death. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen an increase in alcohol use across numerous communities but minimal work, thus far, has examined potential underlying mechanisms among Latinxs. Social determinants of health, such as lack of health insurance, can function as systemic barriers to necessary resources to manage COVID-19 placing individuals at greater risk for negative outcomes. The present study sought to examine the ability of emotional distress and physical health problems to mediate the relationship between COVID-19 exposure and alcohol use, which is conditional on having health insurance. An online survey study of 388 Latinx adults found that emotional distress, but not physical health problems, mediated the relationship between COVID-19 exposure and alcohol use. This indirect effect was stronger among uninsured Latinx participants. These findings highlight the role of social determinants in exacerbating the negative consequences associated with the COVID-19 pandemic for Latinx adults.