Gender differences were observed in both the change in frequency of drunkenness during the pandemic and the specific risk and protective factors associated with these increases. In the present study, women with AUD symptoms were more likely to report increases in drunkenness frequency since the start of the pandemic compared to women without a history of AUD. This was not observed for men. Interestingly, previous studies show that while there is an association between stress and increased alcohol consumption in both men and women, the same stressful life events may impact them differently [59, 60], with relapse to AUD more commonly reported in women than in men [33, 34, 61–64]. In addition to the increased drunkenness frequency observed among women with current AUD, the present study also found essential worker status, perceived stress, and media consumption were associated with increases in drunkenness among (remitted-abstinent) women, whereas perceived stress was associated with increases in drunkenness among (remitted-drinking) men. Further, social disconnection was associated with increases in drunkenness among (remitted-abstinent) women, whereas relationship quality was associated with decreases in drunkenness in (remitted-drinking)
