Alcohol Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Visual Self-Narrative Longitudinal Study About Various Drinking Habits During COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people faced life-threatening uncertainties with sociopsychological implications, and increased alcohol usage has been found to be a maladaptive form of coping induced by pandemic-related stress and isolation. Despite this, alcohol has also been found to increase people's willingness to socialize and reduce stress. We employ visual self-narrative to investigate a research gap into the usage of alcohol, thereby examining the varying roles alcohol has played in people's lives. Photographs offer deeper understanding through a collection of perishable data into social phenomena, and allow inquiry into sensitive topics with vulnerable populations. Our study, which found alcohol can play a helpful role in coping, further suggests photographic data should be considered in public health research.