‘We were all stuffed’: did the Australian COVID-19 lockdowns exacerbate role-specific stress and alcohol use among working mothers? A qualitative analysis

Abstract

Background: During COVID-19 lockdowns, women and parents were more likely to increase their alcohol use. Working mothers in particular faced additional stressors and roles that may have influenced how they drank. In this study, we explored how the experiences of Australian lockdowns affected drinking practices among a sample of working mothers. Methods: Between February and June 2022, we conducted 22 semi-structured interviews with working mothers aged 36–51. Participants reflected on their social roles, everyday routines, and drinking practices, highlighting changes that occurred during lockdowns. We applied a critical realist framework, analysing interviews using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Women reflected on increased alcohol use during lockdowns, experiencing intensified emotional attachments toward drinking. Women described using alcohol to manage negative affect and stress brought on by additional responsibilities, such as home-schooling. Participants also discussed increased pervasiveness and permissiveness around alcohol, noting that drinking was promoted as a way to maintain relationships within and outside of households during lockdowns. Conclusion: COVID-19 lockdowns provide a case study for examining how working mothers’ stresses were reinforced by structural barriers and social conventions. They highlight how the gendered division of domestic labour can amplify gendered drinking practices, particularly when lives are centred around the home.