Relationship Between Depression and Risky Alcohol Consumption in Women: the Mediating Role of Coping Styles and Age

Women are more likely to use alcohol as a coping strategy for psychological distress, with higher rates of comorbidity with depression being found in those with an alcohol use disorder. The objective of this study was to analyze changes in problematic alcohol consumption and depression during the COVID-19 lockdown, and to establish a predictive model based on age. A total of 1889 women aged 18-64 years (M = 36.14) participated. The Patient Health Questionnaire was applied for depression, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Short Version for alcohol, and active and avoidant coping were considered. In the period prior to the pandemic, depression and avoidant coping were good predictors of alcohol consumption in women, regardless of age. During lockdown, this predictive capacity was only maintained in women aged 35-64 years. In the mediational models, differences were observed according to age. For women aged 18-34 years, depression was the predictor variable of problematic alcohol consumption, but for women aged 35-64 years it was the avoidant coping style, which is the predominant style in women of this age with clinical depression. The relevance of age in the combined treatments of depression and problematic alcohol consumption is highlighted, and training in active coping strategies is suggested.