Grief After COVID-19 Elevates Substance Use Risk in Men, Not Women
| Author | Shervin Assari | en |
| Author | Gandom Assari | en |
| Author | Babak Najand | en |
| Issued Date | 2026-04-30 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Stressful life events (SLEs), such as the loss of a family member, predict mental health problems and substance use. However, knowledge remains limited regarding how these associations vary by sex or gender in global populations. Objectives: In a global sample drawn from 22 countries, this study aimed to examine whether the long-term impact of losing a family member to COVID-19 predicts subsequent substance use differently in men and women. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of Waves 1 and 2 of the Global Flourishing Study (GFS), a longitudinal panel survey conducted in 22 countries. The sample included 109, women and 97,761 men. Variables included the loss of a family member due to COVID-19 (yes/no), substance use (drinking and smoking) at baseline and follow-up, sex/gender, and covariates (age, education, and employment). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used for data analysis. Results: Among men, the loss of a family member due to COVID-19 was associated with a statistically significant increase in substance use from Wave 1 to Wave 2. Among women, the loss of a family member due to COVID-19 was associated with a reduction in subsequent substance use. Conclusions: The mental health consequences of losing a family member to COVID-19, as reflected in substance use, differ between men and women, and the effect may be disproportionately greater in men. The observed sex/gender differences may reflect differences in coping patterns and social roles. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.69107/cphh-170399 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/cphh/articles/170399 | en |
| Keyword | Stressful Life Events | en |
| Keyword | Substance Use | en |
| Keyword | Depression | en |
| Keyword | Sex Differences | en |
| Keyword | Global Flourishing Study | en |
| Keyword | Longitudinal Study | en |
| Keyword | Global Sample | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Grief After COVID-19 Elevates Substance Use Risk in Men, Not Women | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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